Jimena Castañeda is a prominent viticulturist at Nieto Senetiner, one of Argentina’s oldest and most respected wineries. Her expertise lies in grape cultivation, where she has successfully implemented techniques to improve the quality of the harvest, particularly with the Malbec variety. Jimena's work is instrumental in maintaining the genetic diversity of old vines, using massal selections and careful vineyard orientation. This focus on the heritage of old vines has helped Nieto Senetiner produce high-quality Malbecs that reflect their unique terroir. She has also been involved in promoting the use of less oak and larger foudres, which helps create fresher wines with more pronounced terroir characteristics.Jimena’s dedication to enhancing sustainable agricultural practices and preserving vine heritage has not only garnered her accolades but also significantly contributed to positioning Nieto Senetiner as a leader in Argentine viticulture.

María Eugenia Herrera has gained acclaim for her groundbreaking work in irrigation and water conservation techniques at Ribera del Cuarzo. By implementing modern agricultural technologies, she has improved vineyard sustainability and optimized grape production despite climate challenges. María’s expertise has established her as a leader in introducing advanced agricultural practices to Argentina’s wine industry, enhancing productivity while prioritizing environmental conservation.

Macarena Herrera serves as the viticulturist at Bodega La Macarena, where her efforts to enhance vineyard quality have led to international recognition. Her work primarily focuses on cultivating indigenous Argentine grape varieties, contributing to the winery's reputation for producing award-winning wines.Macarena’s emphasis on sustainable practices in vineyard management has brought her widespread recognition within the wine community.

Born in Madrid, Sebastián works alongside Julián Palacios at Viticultura Viva, a respected Spanish viticultural consultancy whose clients include Ostatu, Lan, Valenciso, Bodegas Frontonio, Artuke and Bideona. With no family wine tradition, her love of the countryside led her to study agronomy and graduate with a Masters in Viticulture and Oenology from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. From a young age, she has taken on considerable challenges. The most difficult came when, at the age of 26, she took over the management of the vineyards of Osborne's Solaz in Castilla-La Mancha, with a whopping 700 hectares of vines and a team of 80 people.

Catherine Delaunay, from a family of Beaujolais winemakers, co-founded Les Jamelles in 1995, which has since become a global premium French Single Varietal brand with over 600 international awards. She is celebrated for her creative approach to winemaking, using her expertise in blending to ensure perfect balance in each cuvée. Her contributions to the wine industry are aligned with her deep knowledge of single-varietal wines and sustainable viticulture practices, as highlighted in recent publications. Her efforts in creating a brand that respects nature's balance make her a significant figure in showcasing French wine excellence globally.

Andrea Wirsching is the 14th-generation winemaker at Weingut Hans Wirsching, one of Franken's most renowned estates and a leading producer of Silvaner and Riesling in Germany. Since 2014, Andrea has led the winery to a top position in Germany, especially noted for its excellent dry Silvaner and sweet Rieslings. Her commitment to quality and sustainability has garnered numerous awards, further establishing Weingut Hans Wirsching's reputation on an international level.

In any given year, Joana Maçanita brings more than 60 Portuguese wines to life. Her home winery, Maçanita Vinhos, is in the famed Douro Valley, but she also works with special vineyards all over the country as a consulting winemaker. Joana Maçanita co-founded Maçanita Vinhos with her brother António and has since gained recognition for her daring and experimental approach to winemaking. Specializing in native Portuguese grape varieties, Joana's wines reflect a harmonious blend of traditional methods and modern innovation. She continues to push the boundaries of winemaking in the Douro region, enhancing the reputation of Portuguese wines globally with her bold and creative techniques. Slowly but surely, she has begun to convert even the most traditional growers to her ideas, and since 2019, all six vineyards Joana sources have been farmed organically and are on the path to certification. All these vineyards are dry-farmed with no irrigation, and hand-harvested, making for a minimal carbon footprint. In the winery, Joana exclusively uses indigenous yeast fermentation to showcase the specific combination of grape and site, and no additions are made to the fermentations. The SO2 levels in her wines are far below the requirements for organic and her use of sulfur aligns with a commonsense approach that emphasizes the health of the vineyards and the developing wines.

Viviana Navarrete is a multi-awarded Chilean winemaker on a mission to change and inspire the world of wine. Not only is she determined to make the best cold climate wines of all of Chile, but she is also leading the first-ever collaborative wine and vineyard ownership program with Chile’s Indigenous Mapuche community. She has been focusing on producing premium wines that emphasize Chile's diverse terroir at Viña San Pedro. Her wines are celebrated for their quality both domestically and internationally, and she remains a prominent figure in Chile's wine industry.She’s also in charge of Viña San Pedro’s fledgling project to produce Pinot Noir in Malleco, about 400 miles south of Leyda. Navarrete calls this the Buchahueico Project, and she works closely with the native Mapuche community to produce a style of cool-climate Pinot that’s different than those from Leyda.

Caley Shoemaker leads the distillation and innovation at Hangar 1 Distillery. Her work on rosé vodka has marked her as a trailblazer in combining wine and spirits to craft something new and exciting. Caley's focus on sustainability and craft techniques helps her create products that stand out in an increasingly crowded market. She continuously experiments with different flavor profiles and draws inspiration from California's local produce, making Hangar 1 a key player in the spirits industry.

Lorena Vásquez has been a pivotal figure at Zacapa, one of the world’s most prestigious rum brands. She is known for her expertise in using the solera aging system, which has been instrumental in the international acclaim of Zacapa’s rums. Lorena combines tradition with innovation, blending rums aged in barrels previously used for sherry, whiskey, and wine, resulting in a unique depth of flavor. Her work has cemented Zacapa’s place among the finest rum producers globally, and her influence continues to grow in the spirits industry.