Women in Wine Pt 3

Women in Wine Pt 3

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. Washington's wine industry is strong and growing, but it's lagging a little bit in the number of women in the business.

Vital Wines and March Cellars winemaker, Ashley Trout says it's kind of silly because your gender could be one of the secrets to your success ...

TROUT ... "Not only do you have an easier time with marketing, but you also have an easier time with access to fruit, and you also have an easier time in a pinch, I think, borrowing something or getting somebody to help you with fixing something because there's not this machismo bravado headed your way in terms of, "oh, you're stuck in a corner and I could've done it better."

But, Trout says if you need it, no matter who you are, don't be afraid to ask for help ...

TROUT ... "You're going to need a helping hand at some point and that's not saying females need helping hands, that's saying everybody needs helping hands in every industry. And if you're female, I think those helping hands are there everywhere because I think men, overall, don't want to be looked at as the bad guy or the oppressor or the whatever, they just want women to show up. And so, if you've shown up, and you're not complaining, and you're not playing the victim, and you're not whining, and you're not whatever, they're thrilled to do anything that they can to help keep you there."

Trout has been in the wine industry for 17 years and says there is plenty of room for more women, or more of anyone who isn't afraid of hard work.

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