Dames White 2015 and Dames Red 2013 – two fundraising wines that assist BC women in culinary educations – have been released. 100% of profits from the sales of these 520 cases of 
wine (6,240 bottles) will be donated to the scholarship fund that sends BC women through educational pursuits in the food and drink fields within our province. The wines sell for $25 per bottle, exclusive of taxes, on www.dameswine.com and in private liquor stores and restaurants across BC (prices vary click here for current list).
In 1997 Mireille Sauvé, Canada’s youngest female Sommelier graduated from George Brown College with honours standing assisted by a scholarship received from British Columbia’s Les Dames d’Escoffier. “Without that scholarship,” says Sauvé, “I would not have been able to pursue my dream to become a Sommelier”.
The 2015 Dames White is a dry, aromatic blend of 80% Pinot Blanc, 10% Riesling and 10% Gewurztraminer. Light-bodied with a lively acidity, it pairs best with shellfish and seafood, especially California Rolls. The 2013 Dames Red is an organic blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Syrah. It is a luscious, fruit-forward wine, exhibiting flavours of plum and toasty vanilla that pairs best with cheeses and meats, especially burgers. Both wines are made exclusively from Okanagan Valley fruit and were produced at Meyer Family Vineyards as a custom Crush, with Mireille Sauvé as Winemaker.
While the primary objective of this project has always been to raise money for the Dames d’Escoffier Scholarship Fund, a secondary objective, and a very important one, is to celebrate the work that women are doing in our thriving wine industry. As such, Mireille elected to work with as many talented women as possible at all levels of the project; from graphic design and photography to administration and media relations, an inspired team of BC women have come together to make the dream of Dames Wine a reality.
The Dames Wine Team includes:
Dame Mireille Sauvé, Winemaker and Project Director
Dame Cassandra Anderton, Marketing and Public Relations
Dame Jennifer Schell, Media Consultant
Dame Nancy Wong, Media Relations Consultant
Dame Alessandra Quaglia, Co-owner of Provence Mediterranean Grill
Ann Sperling, Viticulturalist
Janice Meyer Stevens, Co-owner of Meyer Family Vineyards
Katie Holmes, Viniculturalist
Christine Moulson, Branding Consultant and Designer
Kirsten Munro, Sales and Distribution
Ronnie Lee Hill, Photographer
A member of Les Dames d’Escoffier for four years now, Ms. Sauvé is delighted to finally have the opportunity to raise money for a cause that is close to her heart while doing what she loves: making, promoting and selling good wine. #DamesWine
About Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter
Les Dames d’Escoffier is the only organization of its kind: a world-wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The invitation-only membership, composed of 36 individual chapters across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico, is highly diversified and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality. The mandate of the BC Chapter is to support the advancement of women in the hospitality and culinary domains as well as fostering industry excellence through educational and charitable activities.
For information on Les Dames D’Escoffier BC Chapter and updates on its various events and programs please visit: http://www.lesdames.ca Facebook Twitter @LesDamesBC
Dames Wine Support BC Women’s Education
BC wine project supports women in beverage and food industries
