Isabella Bisol
Ruggeri
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Isabella Bisol works for her family’s renowned winery, Ruggeri, that was founded in 1950 by her great grandfather, Giustino. Ruggeri is one of the founding producers of Prosecco and has earned a special classification called “Stella” as a result of earning 10 or more Tre Bicchieri – the highest award a winery can receive in Italy. She grew up living next door to the winery and spent her afternoons after school playing in the vineyards and helping her dad and grandfather crafting their wines. After high school however, she had a desire to leave her small town and “see the world”. Obtaining her university degree, Isabella traveled abroad, but then began to miss her “roots” and came back to work at the winery and has been there ever since.
Who was your biggest inspiration?
The person who inspired me the most in my job is, of course, my father Paolo, from whom I learned everything. But my mother also influenced me in that she taught me the importance of always being independent, both in your thinking and financially.
How do you see women’s roles in the wine business evolving since you began?
In my area in the Veneto, there are not a lot of women making wine, working as an enologist or in sales, or in grape growing. I never felt that being female was an issue – the only times were in the beginning, when I didn’t know anything and because I was so young, I wanted to do everything perfectly! I still care in the same way, of course, but as in everything in life, experience has made me more patient!
How do you sum up what being a woman in the wine business has been like for you?
To be really honest, I think the only person I had to prove myself to, despite being a woman, was my grandfather! He was an amazing man, but being born in 1919 he had a certain vision.......but he was also very clever, and in time he changed his mind.
What is your favorite wine and food pairing?
Our Brut Prosecco paired with tempura veggies!
The person who inspired me the most in my job is, of course, my father Paolo, from whom I learned everything. But my mother also influenced me in that she taught me the importance of always being independent, both in your thinking and financially.
How do you see women’s roles in the wine business evolving since you began?
In my area in the Veneto, there are not a lot of women making wine, working as an enologist or in sales, or in grape growing. I never felt that being female was an issue – the only times were in the beginning, when I didn’t know anything and because I was so young, I wanted to do everything perfectly! I still care in the same way, of course, but as in everything in life, experience has made me more patient!
How do you sum up what being a woman in the wine business has been like for you?
To be really honest, I think the only person I had to prove myself to, despite being a woman, was my grandfather! He was an amazing man, but being born in 1919 he had a certain vision.......but he was also very clever, and in time he changed his mind.
What is your favorite wine and food pairing?
Our Brut Prosecco paired with tempura veggies!