The Juice® Voices

Deborah Brenner

As a Social Entrepreneur, Deborah Brenner measures success on the positive impact a business makes on society. She has manifested her vision with Women of the Vine & Spirits®, the leading mission-driven global membership organization comprised of women and men committed to empowering and advancing women in the alcohol and alternative beverage industry. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Women of the Vine & Spirits continues to champion women in the workplace, shaping the industry where the talents and perspectives of all women are not only valued but serve as a driving force for success and growth.

After over 20 years working in male-dominated fields, Deborah discovered during a fortuitous trip to Napa and Sonoma that many women in the wine industry were under-recognized. Compelled to tell their stories, she authored a bestselling collection of profiles on women, Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine, which Wine Spectator named a Critical Read.

Through the process of writing the book and championing these extraordinary women, Deborah became inspired to enter the wine business herself, releasing wine from a first-of-its-kind collective of seven artisan women winemakers. For seven years, Deborah learned the business inside and out. Ultimately, however, the wine brand didn’t foster women the way she had hoped, which led her to shut down the brand and return to the drawing board.

In March 2015, Deborah organized the Inaugural Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, bringing women and male allies together to focus on actions the alcohol beverage industry could make to change the status quo. It was a sold-out success. Membership to Women of the Vine & Spirits opened September 2015. What started off as a one-off event and a grass roots movement quickly expanded into a global organization with corporate and individual members connected across the globe.

She is a founding council member of 86 Harassment™, a Women of the Vine & Spirits Key Initiative and collaborative effort within the alcohol/alternative beverage and hospitality industries to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence, uniting industry partners under a single, comprehensive initiative. The initiative emphasizes a collective commitment to fostering safer environments for employees and customers alike.

To further foster education and increase pathways for more women to enter or excel in the industry, Deborah launched the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation 501(c)3 in 2017. To-date, the Foundation has awarded more than $959,620 in scholarships, with 2025 recipients being announced in November.

Deborah is also the creator of Badass Bartender®, the first-of-its-kind community, worldwide, for women bartenders to unite, be empowered and stay inspired.

Through her innovative initiatives, Deborah continues to champion women and inspire meaningful change across the industry.

https://www.womenofthevine.com
http://instagram.com/womenofthevineandspirits
https://www.facebook.com/womenofthevine365
https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-of-the-vine