Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1061132
{ SOMMjournal.com } 91 Women Rule in Seattle First place: Katelyn Peil, Wine Director for Purple Café & Wine Bar Second place: Beth Hicky, Beverage Director for Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi Second place: Alexandra Stang, Assistant Wine Director for Bastille Cafe & Bar Next, in Seattle, a group of all-female somms shone brightly (the competition was so tight, in fact, that the race for second place ended in a tie). The demographic was especially fitting considering the new generation of Portuguese winemakers also skews female: "Nowadays, like in this room, the girls are taking over," Jardim says, adding that roughly 60 percent of enology graduates in Portugal are now women. "Portuguese wines have that dual appeal," noted Alex - andra Stang, the incredibly astute Assistant Wine Director for Bastille Cafe & Bar. "They have this food-friendly, savory, bitter finish the way Old World wines work with food, but they're not like what New World wine lovers say they don't like about Old World wines: dirty, funky, and rustic. There's more emphasis on fruit and they're just so food- friendly. I think that makes them fun to work with." Fast Facts on Portuguese Winemaking and Viticulture Evidence of winemaking in Portugal dates back to 2000 B.C. More than 250 native grape varieties grow in the country. Roughly 350 miles long, Portugal has 1,115 miles of coastline and a population of 10.8 million. DNA studies indicate that Portugal's native grape varieties are more closely related to the Iberian Vitis silvestris than the common Vitus vinifera vine. Portugal has more native grape varieties planted per square kilometer than any other country in the world. Information sourced by Wines of Portugal. p y j friendly. I y. think that k makes them fun to work with." k F W Katelyn Peil, Wine Director for Purple Café & Wine Bar, proudly displays a sign commemorating her scholarship trip to Portugal. The Seattle victors: Beth Hicky, Katelyn Peil, and Alexandra Stang. Peil came in first while Hicky and Stang tied for second. PHOTO: GRANT HINDSLEY PHOTO: GRANT HINDSLEY