Date published
March 4, 2026
International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate the people shaping the future of the beverage world. Across wineries, distilleries and breweries, more women are leading innovation, guiding production and crafting some of the bottles we enjoy most.
This week, we’re highlighting a few of the women behind some standout wines, whiskies and beer you can find at Calgary Co-op Wine Spirits Beer.
At Familia Torres, one of Spain’s most respected wine families, women have played an important role in carrying forward more than 150 years of winemaking tradition. Today, leaders like Mireia Torres help guide sustainability and innovation efforts for the globally admired winery.
In California, Joel Gott Wines benefits from the expertise of winemaker Sarah Gott. With a background in fermentation science, she oversees wines sourced from top vineyards across California and the Pacific Northwest, crafting balanced, approachable bottles designed for the table.
Along California’s Central Coast, SeaGlass Wine Company winemaker Christine Morrison focuses on fresh, coastal-inspired wines. Her approach highlights bright aromatics and vibrant flavours shaped by the ocean-influenced vineyards where the grapes are grown.
Women are also playing a growing role in the world of whisky.
At The GlenDronach distillery in Scotland, Dr. Rachel Barrie brings more than three decades of casking experience to The Glendronach. A true artisan of her craft, Barrie contributes across blending, maturation and distillery operations, helping maintain the rich, sherry-cask style the single malt is known for.
Closer to home, women are part of the teams behind iconic Canadian whiskies including J.P. Wiser’s, Lot No. 40 and Pike Creek. Their work helps carry forward the craftsmanship and character that define Canadian whisky.
International Women’s Day is also a chance to celebrate women in our local craft brewing community.
At The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company, women have been woven into the business since it opened in 1996. From service and kitchen teams to leadership roles and a brewer with more than a decade behind the tanks, women continue to help shape the brewery’s success.
Their latest collaboration, Lip Smacker Cherry Limeade Sour, was brewed entirely by the women of the brewery using the hop blend from the Pink Boots Society, an organization that supports women in brewing and fermentation careers.
The beer also celebrates the 10th anniversary of Pink Boots brews at Grizzly Paw. Its playful label, designed in-house, nods to the brewery’s upcoming 30th anniversary with a 1996 throwback inspired by 90s girlhood, complete with peel-off sticker designs.
Behind every bottle, glass or can is a story of passion and craftsmanship. This International Women’s Day, it’s the perfect time to raise a glass to the women helping shape the future of wine, whisky and beer.
Explore these bottles and more at your local Calgary Co-op Wine, Spirits and Beer location and celebrate the people behind the pour.