The election of Wine Woman of the Year 2024 has started. On Wednesday 10 January, the professional jury of Wine Woman of the Year 2024 announced Hinke de Jong as this year's first title candidate. Her candidacy was unveiled during the trade fair for hospitality entrepreneurs, Horecava in RAI Amsterdam. With this election, Stichting Wijnvrouw van het Jaar puts the spotlight on wine women from the Netherlands every year. All nominated candidates have made a remarkable contribution to the world of wine. According to the jury, which consists of former winners and experts from the wine industry, the nominees for this title make the Dutch wine world a little more beautiful. Moreover, these hardworking women are an example for other women working in the wine industry. The other title candidates will be announced in the coming months.
First nomination for the title of Wine Woman of the Year 2024 goes to Hinke de Jong
Jury report
Hinke de Jong has a remarkable track record. Her love for wine and especially champagne is expressed in her two companies Brouzje and Champagne Travel. After her first visit to the Champagne region, she was sold. She not only became a lover, but decided to make it her job. In the jury report we read: "The jury finds Hinke a worthy candidate because of her years of commitment to the Champagne product. She is an inspiring woman with knowledge who always knows how to convey her love for champagne. Also through the sommelier trips to Champagne she organises, she conveys her expertise to the often younger generation of sommeliers."
About Hinke de Jong
Hinke is bursting with energy and passion for exclusive champagne. Her love for the drink and the region arose after visiting the region. In the years that followed, she gained a lot of knowledge, started organising tastings and travelled regularly to that magical region in France. Besides her job in business services, she founded Brouzje in 2011 and started importing special and high-quality champagne. Selected by herself. The company's name has a link to her Frisian roots: it is derived from the word brûzje, meaning effervescent, lively and energetic. This fits both the drink and Hinke herself perfectly. She soon built up a good name and started supplying champagne to renowned restaurants. Several special assignments came her way. In 2016, she was named Champagne Ambassador of the Netherlands, which gave her fame a huge boost. She now supplies high-quality champagne to restaurants from Groningen to Maastricht. In between importing, she started offering trips to the Champagne region. For her clients from all over the world, she puts together tailor-made trips with her company Champagne Travel. Hinke: "In 2007 was my first visit to Champagne Travel.
Hinke: "In 2007 was my first visit to the Champagne region. Soon after, I noticed that my interest in champagne was piqued. Besides my job in business services, I started organising tastings at home. I did so mainly with champagne from smaller producers, which at the time we were not very familiar with in the Netherlands. The group of enthusiasts grew quickly and it gave me so much energy and pleasure that I decided to do 'something' with it. This is how my first company Brouzje was born in 2011, which I expanded alongside my job in HR. Initially I only imported champagne, later I also started organising trips to the region and founded Champagne Travel. I have since become a supplier of high-quality champagne to (Michelin) restaurants, individuals and companies. And I organise trips to the Champagne region for individuals, corporate clients and study tours for sommeliers."
Road to the final
The expert jury of Wine Woman of the Year 2024 consists of Kirsten Abels (winner Wine Woman of the Year 2023), Tatjana Puklavec
(winner Wine Woman of the Year 2022), Claudia van Dongen (winner Wine Woman of the Year 2021), Magda van der Rijst (winner
Wine Woman of the Year 2020) and Barbara Verbeek (vinologist and wine expert). The final will take place during Gastvrij Rotterdam in Ahoy on Monday 23 September 2024 . Not only the jury of wine professionals will determine the final winner. After the announcement of
the final nominee, the public can vote via winewoman-of-the-year.co.uk.
Wine Woman of the Year
The wine world is changing. In recent years, we have seen more and more powerful, energetic and driven women taking on a
special way in the world of wine. They make the wine world even more beautiful with their work, passion, knowledge or creations. According to
initiators Barbara Verbeek (Wijntheater) and Clarissa Slingerland (MissPublicity) are the women in the Dutch wine industry
unique. These women work hard, inspire, are creative, colourful and mostly an encouragement to other women. It is the highest
time to put these wine women in the spotlight. In 2019, Clarissa and Barbara will establish the Wine Woman of the Year Foundation,
Meanwhile, five women have been named Wine Woman of the Year. Core values for the award include
accessibility, connection, professionalism, knowledge and ambition. Meanwhile, several sponsors are involved in the Award
including Walraven Sax, Gastvrij Rotterdam, Royal Leerdam and Bru table water.
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