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Let’s raise a glass with Priyanka Dhar French: Diversity is good for the wine business
February 9, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Presented by Priyanka Dhar French, Winemaker, Signorello Estate
Join Winemaker Priyanka French for an intimate conversation about her journey into the industry as one of the youngest female winemakers at the helm of a revered brand and a champion of diversity in the wine industry.
A native from Mumbai, India, and an unlikely candidate in the world of wine, Priyanka is passionate about her position as the first woman winemaker at Signorello Estate bringing her unique vision, creativity, and experiences to elevating the wines and rebuilding the estate post the devastation of the 2017 fires. She believes strongly that diversity is essential to the health and success of the wine industry and credits two women as mentors for her winemaking philosophy: Linda Bisson, winemaker and professor at UC Davis, and Naoko Dalla Valle, the guiding force behind Dalla Valle and one of Napa Valley’s most respected vintners.
Achieving success in her own right, Priyanka has joined forces with others in fostering a more welcoming environment for women and BIPOC wine professionals and enthusiasts, including board roles with Batonnage Forum and Wine Unify.
Please bring your questions for an inspiring conversation with our presenter and get ready to raise a glass of Hope’s Cuvee to explore her craft!
About the Wine
Signorello Estate, Hope’s Cuvée Chardonnay 2019, $98
Please order direct from the estate and allow time for shipping: https://www.signorelloestate.com/shop
About our Presenter
At just 34 years old, Priyanka French is a fierce champion of diversity in the wine industry; she’s not only one of the youngest female winemakers to take the helm at a Napa Valley winery but also one of just a handful of Indian winemakers in California.
French grew up in Mumbai and acquired her Bachelor of Technology in Food Science and Technology from the University of Mumbai, a Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis; and was the first Indian national to do so at the prestigious university.
She cut her teeth in wine regions worldwide, from the iconic Louis M. Martini Winery in Napa Valley to Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy, Cognac, and New Zealand, before returning to California where she worked at Stags’ Leap Winery and then the preeminent Dalle Valle. French spent five years working in the cellar and vineyard, learning first-hand from three of Napa Valley’s greatest winemaking talents: Andy Erickson, Michel Rolland, and Steve Matthiasson.
Her experience in estate winemaking and crafting luxury Cabernet Sauvignon led her to Signorello Estate, where she joined as winemaker in 2019 and was tasked with helping to rebuild the winery and fine-tune winemaking to take the vaunted brand to the next level.
French is one of the industry’s leaders fighting for more diversity in wine. She serves on the board of Wine Unify, which provides scholarship programs for WSET certifications to people of color, and was an initiator in the Batonnage Forum’s mentorship program that supports women in the wine industry. She is rarely seen without her trusted sidekick, Chloe, a 3.5-year-old Australian Shephard. When not making or drinking wine, French can be found gardening, cooking, and exploring the outdoors.