Canada

Ana Bertha Gallegos Barcenas

Ana is a Mexican sommelier working as a Branch Manager at the Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ). Since 2008, Ana has studied wine and spirits, with the driving goal of becoming “the first female Master of Wine born in Mexico.” This goal is motivated by a desire to contribute to “the role of the Latin American and the LGBTQ+ community in the wine industry”, as well as “making a difference in ensuring that everyone could have opportunities to excel in their professional activities (in the wine industry).” Ana’s experience as an immigrant moving to Canada from Mexico, which meant having to learn two new languages (English and French), as well as coming from a deeply conservative country, has left her “sensitive to the challenges” faced by ethnic minorities, by women and by the LGBTQ+ community in the wine industry. In order to address some of these challenges, Ana works with the Vinica Education Society, a British-Columbia based non-profit which works on “diversifying the wine industry through innovative education and professional mentorship.” Ana has seen the power of education in helping her to rise within the wine industry and achieve her goals. She hopes that her attainment of the MW will enable her to “inspire students from under-represented groups to pursue higher-level wine courses, and to increase their confidence that they can succeed in their professional goals”.