…with the Women of Tibaldi & Barone Sergio
March 18, 2025
As a Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Dialect Imports is proud to have 75% of the portfolio represented by women-led wineries and producers. We’re not just importing exceptional Italian wines—we are delighted to source and support the incredible producers who craft them.
For Women’s History Month, we had the privilege of hosting a roundtable discussion with two inspiring sister duos out of our portfolio: Monica & Daniela Tibaldi from Tibaldi Winery (Piedmont) and Angela & Luigia Sergio from Barone Sergio (Sicily). We got to chat about tradition, innovation, and the unique dynamics of being Italian women running family-owned wineries.
Check out the full video here or read on to learn more about the women behind Tibaldi and Barone Sergio.
The Winemakers’ Journeys
Q: How did your journey in wine begin? What are your first memories of wine, and what inspired you to enter the industry?
Daniela Tibaldi (Tibaldi Winery):
“Our family used to sell grapes rather than make wine, so our earliest memories revolve around harvest time, which felt like a big celebration with our family. One of my favorite memories is sneaking sips of sweet Favorita wine that our grandfather made in his garage—it was like Moscato, and we loved it. That early exposure made us fall in love with wine, and in 2014, my sister and I decided to start our own winery, embracing the rich biodiversity of the Roero region.”
Luigia Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“My family has been making wine for six generations, but I initially took a different path—I worked in Milan in a marketing agency. It wasn’t until the pandemic, when I was stuck in my apartment, that I had a moment of realization. My family sent me a bottle of our new sparkling Moscato, and when I opened it, it instantly transported me home. That moment made me reconnect with my roots, and I decided to return to Sicily and join my sister Angela in running the winery.”
Angela Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“I also took a different route—I studied law and became a lawyer before returning to the family business. When Luigia came back from Milan, we combined our different experiences to bring a fresh perspective to our winery. We realized that storytelling was key, and we wanted to share our family’s long history in a way that felt modern and exciting.”
Challenges and Triumphs
Q: Winemaking has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, especially in Italy. What were some of the challenges you faced as women starting out, and how did you navigate them?
Monica Tibaldi (Tibaldi Winery):
“When Daniela and I started, we knew the science of winemaking from our studies, but we didn’t have hands-on experience. There was also an overwhelming amount of bureaucracy, which is the same for a small winery like ours as it is for big producers. But the hardest part was being young women in an industry that is very traditional. It took time to be taken seriously. At first, many male winemakers would offer us unsolicited advice or overlook our opinions. After 10 years, we’ve earned our place, but in the beginning, it was a challenge.”
Luigia Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“I had to learn everything from scratch, and I often felt like I was ‘interning’ at my own company! I wanted to understand every part of the business, from vineyard work to winemaking, so I immersed myself in every task. The hardest part was defining my own voice in the industry. Over time, I realized the importance of being connected—surrounding myself with other women in wine who could offer advice and support.”
Angela Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“I had to shift my mindset completely. Being a lawyer is one thing, but learning to run a winery is another. Every day in this industry is a challenge, and we constantly have to adapt. But I’ve grown to love telling our story, connecting with people, and watching our wines reach new markets.”
The Power of Storytelling in Wine
Q: Your labels and branding are unique. How did you develop your winery’s visual identity?
Monica Tibaldi (Tibaldi Winery):
“We knew we wanted to stand out. Most labels from Piedmont are very traditional—white, simple, classic. But we’re a new generation of winemakers, so we wanted something different. A friend designed our labels to represent the two of us as sisters, and it worked. People see our bottles and are curious—they want to learn about our story. That’s been a huge advantage for us.”
Luigia Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“We love murals and street art, so we turned our winery into a gallery with rotating artists painting murals on the walls. I have the name of the artist (currently, Ligama) that we do the label because if I sold the wine and the export it, the name of the artist is coming with me. Our labels also change every few years to feature new artists. This way, we’re not just telling our family’s story—we’re creating a platform for young artists to share theirs as well.”
Balancing Family and Business
Q: As sisters running a family business, how do you divide responsibilities?
Daniela Tibaldi (Tibaldi Winery):
“We don’t have employees, so we have to do everything ourselves. I focus more on the winery operations, while Daniela handles the vineyards. In the office, I take care of enology records, and she manages invoices. But we’re interchangeable—we both need to know how to do everything.”
Luigia Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“It’s a bit easier for us because we live in different parts of Sicily. I work in the vineyards, while Angela handles the business side. But we collaborate on everything, and we both have a say in how we tell our story.”
Advice for Women Entering the Wine Industry
Q: What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter this field? And what’s your hope for the future of women in wine?
Daniela Tibaldi (Tibaldi Winery):
“Be stubborn. Believe in yourself. If you want to be in this industry, don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t belong.”
Monica Tibaldi (Tibaldi Winery):
“Also, learn English! I didn’t think it would be important, but now I see that 40% of my job involves communicating with international buyers.”
Luigia Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“Stay connected. Talk to other women in wine, learn from them, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You have to forget sometimes that you are a girl. You are a person who loves something and we are passionate about it otherwise you cannot do this job honestly. My hope is that we stop talking about ‘women in wine’ and just talk about ‘people in wine’—that gender won’t matter anymore.”
Angela Sergio (Barone Sergio):
“Never stop learning. Face challenges head-on and trust in your abilities. The number of women in wine is growing, and that’s proof that we belong here.”
Looking Ahead
Dialect Imports is proud to celebrate and support women in wine. This discussion highlighted the resilience, passion, and creativity of women shaping the future of the industry. We are honored to work with producers like Tibaldi and Barone Sergio, and we look forward to sharing their wines.
📺 Watch the full discussion here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eFzHewqy-I
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