March is Women’s History Month and the beginning of spring. We’ve selected two awesome female vintners who grow their own organic vines, in lesser-known regions in Europe. These naturally fermented, organic wines are lightweight and perfect for the optimism brought with spring: the flowers blossoming, gathering together again outside, the sunshine cutting through the clouds. Enjoy!

Christina: Grüner Veltliner

Christina Netzl wanted to be a winemaker by the age of 5, and her family has farmed in the village of Göttlesbrunn, Carnuntum region, Austria since 1650. When Christina moved back home to the family farm in 2013, she knew she wanted to convert the farming to organic and a couple years later she started producing her own wines from the organic grapes she’s growing. Christina learned about making wine from her father, and makes some traditional wines as well as her more experimental line, which this Grüner Veltliner is part of.

Tasting: This gorgeous Grüner Veltliner says hello with a group of beneficial insects on the label. The sweet art also communicates how approachable and easygoing this wine is. A bright, effervescent, complex white with parmesan rind and orange on the nose, this wine opens up on the palate when it’s not toooo chilled (take it out of your fridge for a while before you drink it) with ripe apple, lime zest, and golden pear. Textural and lingering, this natural wine could hold up to grilled veggies, baked goat cheese, trout or a light poultry dish (like fried chicken). Or, guess what? It pairs well with your favorite chair and a nice book or a friend.

Alice Berthier: Coteaux du Giennois Rouge

Alice Berthier’s vineyards are planted on hillsides of the Loire extensions of the geologic formations of Sancerrois and Pouilly. The terroir is a mix of 50% silex soil from the town of St Père, and 30% limestone and 20% clay from the town of Pougny, both in the heart of the Central Vineyards along the Loire River. She grows her vines organically, and they are just north of the Loire region, so it’s a lesser known (and underappreciated) site. Each plot is vinified separately and brings its own complexity to the wine.

Tasting: This mineral-driven vin de soif (literally “thirst quencher”, this style of wine is a lighter red meant for easy drinking) has a beautiful blend of red fruit, dry soil, and crunchy stone. It’s a Gamay and Pinot Noir blend, with flavors of black cherry, wild strawberry vine, blackberry, and cranberry sauce. Undertones of forest floor and hints of pepper/baking spice make this a complex wine to sit and ponder, or a perfect table wine for any potluck you’re hosting or invited to! The lively mix of crunchy red and black fruit and rustic earthiness will pair well with a wide range of savory foods.

March 2026

The Scout