News

• The project, in the form of a publication, recognizes the legacy, current presence and emerging leadership of women in the wine sector of Gran Canaria
• The initiative is part of the Participatory Local Development Strategy and contributes to equality, rootedness and social cohesion in the territory

The Local Action Group (LAG)   AIDER Gran Canaria has presented “Women of Wine in Gran Canaria: Legacy, Impetus, and Transformation from the Rural World,” a publication that highlights the careers, contributions, and capabilities of women linked to the island's wine sector. The book recognizes winegrowers, winemakers, oenologists, sommeliers, tasters, wine tourism professionals, and leaders of sector organizations, bringing together their stories around a common purpose: to strengthen their visibility and stimulate fairer and more balanced rural development.

In the words of the project coordinator, Juani Vega Artiles, the publication was created with the aim of "making visible the experiences and professional trajectories of women in the wine industry of Gran Canaria, recognizing their role in all productive phases and contributing to a more equitable rural development."

The initiative aligns with the social objectives of the Local Action Group (LAG) “AIDER Gran Canaria,” which focus on equal opportunities, social sustainability, and the genuine integration of a gender perspective into rural development. From this perspective, the organization promotes programs, spaces, and resources that foster the empowerment, training, and participation of women, especially those linked to strategic sectors such as winemaking .

Publication

The book features interviews, testimonials, and images that portray the diverse women who sustain and transform the sector. From winegrowers working the land with traditional techniques to young winemakers leading innovation; from oenologists contributing technical knowledge to sommeliers, tasters, and professionals who bring wine closer to the public through tourism, communication, and marketing.

As Juani Vega Artiles explained, “from the very beginning, the participating women understood the publication as an opportunity to become visible and recognized, opening the doors of their lives, their businesses and even their homes to share their stories, concerns and knowledge.”

The narrative, accompanied by images and texts written in an accessible style, offers a glimpse into the current state of winemaking in Gran Canaria. Its introduction underscores the historical significance of these women, their quiet contributions over generations, and the renewed momentum they are currently generating, both in the fields and in management and decision-making roles.

Goals

The editorial work stems from a clear purpose: to make women in the wine industry visible and contribute to equitable rural development, through the following objectives:

1. To recognize the stories, experiences, and lessons learned by women working in different phases of the wine industry.

2. To bring together practices, professional profiles and trajectories that coexist in the wine ecosystem of Gran Canaria.

3. To highlight the generational shift and the growing role of young women who are now starting businesses, innovating and diversifying business models.

4. Incorporate a gender perspective to identify inequalities, obstacles, and opportunities within the sector.

5. Promote representation, leadership and participation in decision-making spaces and organizations linked to wine.

Results and contributions to the territory

The project directly contributes to the equality and inclusion goals set out in the Participatory Local Development Strategy (PLDS) – which prioritizes promoting the presence of women, young people, and vulnerable groups in the sustainable development of rural areas – and to the social mission of AIDER Gran Canaria, highlighting:

• Strengthening public recognition of women working in wine throughout its value chain.

• Boosting generational change , with the growing presence of young women who are starting businesses and professionalizing the sector.

• Promotion of new business models linked to wine tourism, wine culture and economic diversification.

• Raising awareness of the structural barriers that still limit their development, such as the burden of caregiving, stereotypes, or limited participation in decision-making positions.

• Strengthening social and community cohesion , thanks to initiatives and support networks such as the Meeting of Rural and Wine Women, held every March 8th at the Los Lirios Winery , which strengthen alliances and spaces for exchange.

Participation and financing

As project coordinator and member of the GAL AIDER Gran Canaria, Juani Vega Artiles highlights that “young women are leading an unprecedented opening in a historically male-dominated sector, leading projects, diversifying services and opting for new ways of experiencing wine, which directly impacts the strengthening of local economies and towns.”

The initiative is part of the work promoted by AIDER Gran Canaria within its Local Development Strategy (EDLP) and the LEADER approach , which promotes projects with social, territorial, and economic impact. Furthermore, the publication has the support of the Gran Canaria Island Council and key entities in the island's wine sector, as acknowledged in the book's acknowledgments.