Award honors the legacy of Wendy Heilmann with support for women leaders advancing in wine education
January 21, 2026 (San Francisco, CA) — Badass Women in Wine (BWW), a collective of women wine professionals dedicated to supporting women in leadership in the wine industry, today announced Karina Gallegos and Jade Palmer as the 2026 recipients of The Heilmann Trophy for Badass Women in Wine. The award honors the late Wendy Heilmann, former Wine Director of Pebble Beach, whose commitment to wine education and empowerment of women in the industry left an enduring mark on all who knew her.
The Heilmann Trophy provides financial support for women wine professionals to advance their careers through education, including certifications from nationally and internationally recognized programs such as the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS), Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Society of Wine Educators (SWE), and the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), as well as educational wine travel and out-of-state winery work experience.
“Wendy embodied kindness, leadership, community, and strength while maintaining the highest standards of excellence in her work and relationships,” said the Badass Women in Wine leadership team. “This fund ensures her legacy lives on through the advancement of women wine professionals.”
Meet the 2026 Recipients
Karina Gallegos
Karina Gallegos serves as Production Assistant at Summer Dreams Wines in Healdsburg, where she handles enology after transitioning from wine sales to winemaking in 2019. A Hispanic woman breaking into the predominantly white, male-dominated wine industry without formal winemaking training, Gallegos is launching her own wine label while pursuing formal wine education.
“I’m inspired by Cathy Corison, a trailblazing female winemaker who confidently does things her own way,” said Gallegos. “There’s no right or wrong path in life; find yours, trust it, and keep moving forward.”
Gallegos, who began her wine career in restaurants before taking her first sales position at Robert Sinskey and completing a winemaking internship at Colgin Cellars, offers this advice to those starting out: “Have grit. Say yes to the dirty jobs, learn from everyone, and let consistency speak louder than ego.”
She plans to use her award funds for winemaking studies at U.C. Davis.
Jade Palmer
Jade Palmer is General Manager and Sommelier at Madeira Park in Atlanta, Georgia, bringing five years of industry experience that began at a local Atlanta wine shop. A former flight attendant who was once in pilot training, Palmer has found her calling in wine service and education.
“Jane Lopes has been such an inspiration for me to keep pushing towards my goals regardless of obstacles,” said Palmer. “As others have paved the way for me to make it in this industry, I am doing the same. I love nothing more than seeing more women find their voices and spaces in wine.”
Palmer champions supporting small producers practicing regenerative viticulture and domestic winemakers, while actively working to eliminate gatekeeping in the industry.
She will be using her award to travel overseas to wine regions, her first trip out of the country.
About Badass Women in Wine
Founded fifteen years ago as an informal women’s professional group, Badass Women in Wine recently augmented its mission to include fundraising for women’s advancement in the wine business. The organization’s focus is to support, inspire, and uplift women wine professionals while creating opportunities for leadership development. The Heilmann Trophy fund was established in 2024 with the blessing of Wendy Heilmann’s family to honor her legacy and commitment to wine education. The first awards went out in the spring of 2025.
For more information about Badass Women in Wine and The Heilmann Trophy, please find us on LinkedIn or Instagram or contact badasswomeninwine@gmail.com.
