Original “Thirsty Girl” Lands in Austin

Leslie Sbrocco

One thing that has changed dramatically in the hospitality industry lately is the growth of the female market for wine. In fact recent surveys have shown that women now account for 64% of the total wine drinking population in the U.S. And it’s not just white Zinfandels and other blush wines but a variety of “big dog” cabs as well.

Surprised? Well Leslie Sbrocco isn’t. As one of the leading experts on women and wine in America, this author and frequent contributor to The Today Show has been chronicling and documenting the misconceptions about women wine drinkers that exist in both the restaurant and wine industries. She came into Austin last week to launch another local chapter of her “Thirsty Girl” franchise: a group where women can sip and compare their favorite wines, nosh and network a bit, and generally have a great time. The event occurred upstairs at the Parkside and from what I could tell, there were nearly 100 enthusiastic thirsty girls in attendance.

Sbrocco came up with the Thirsty Girl idea as she was searching for a title to her third book. She trademarked the phrase and soon chapters were sprouting up across the U.S. I had a chance to sit down with her in Austin for a few moments. And we talked about how women are often talked down to by waiters and sommeliers. The woman, for example, will order a bottle and yet the tasting opportunity is afforded to the man. The sommelier will address his description of the wine to the man and virtually ignore the woman. She hopes that by empowering thirsty girls across the country to stand up and be counted, that women can enjoy the world of wine on equal footing with men. And it’s not about gender equality: it also makes good business sense.

She’s got an engaging personality, a good palate, and has the ability to demystify the often needlessly complicated world of wine. In her world, the only rules you need are your own. Who says you can’t drink a Bordeaux with sea bass or a smooth chardonnay with a steak? She’s an advocate of whatever tastes good to you. She recognizes that women are more intuitive about wine than men: they care less about Wine Spectator awards and more about how they enjoy a particular vintage.

You know what? If I were working at an Austin restaurant where the wine list is a priority, or at a wine store, I’d pay attention to Leslie Sbrocco and make sure you cater to the tastes of your own thirsty girls!