Women Winemakers
AND SOME PROPRIETORS, TOO.
We have quite a few wines in the shop (including a bunch of J. Strecker direct imports) with woman winemakers and/or proprietors. So fun! Check them out:
NEW WORLD
Erica Orr, Erica Orr Wines
Erica Orr’s primary business is in Woodinville doing independent winemaking consulting & lab analysis for Washington State wineries including Baer, Mark Ryan, Guardian, Sparkman & more. In 2013, she decided to start making her own line of wines, and be glad she did! They’re all small production, so we carry her Old Vine Chenin Blanc & Grenache while supplies last.
Amy Alvarez-Wampfler, Abeja Winery
The Abeja winemakers are a husband/wife team: Daniel Wampfler makes the red wines, and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler crafts the whites.
Amy pursued a degree in winemaking while she worked as a Columbia Crest enologist. It was at Columbia Crest that she met Dan, who held research enology and winemaking positions with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. From there he moved to Dunham Cellars’ while Amy went to Sinclair. In 2015, Abeja approached them about working together at Abeja (maker of high-end Washington wines). They sealed the deal in 2016 and have been there ever since. “Their goal is to create handcrafted wines that are the result of meticulous viticultural practices; customized, small lot fermentation and aging; and selective blending.”
We carry Amy’s contribution year-round:
Abeja 2020 Chardonnay (Washington State) — Reg $51.99 | Mixed Case $41.59
We also carry Dan’s Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon.
Denise Isenhower, Isenhower Cellars
”Isenhower Cellars was founded in 1999 by Denise and Brett Isenhower and was the 18th winery in Walla Walla. Denise is the General Manager and Brett is the Winemaker. Brett researched every state in the Western USA and chose Washington because of the wide-open, entrepreneurial nature of the wine business. They started Isenhower Cellars in the prettiest town in Eastern Washington, Walla Walla. Isenhower Cellars is one of the few medium sized Washington wineries that is 100% husband and wife owned and operated.” —winery notes
Isenhower Cellers is known for producing fresh, flavorful, true-to-the-grape, easy-drinking wines. They source their grapes from long-term contracts in Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills, Walla Walla & the Yakima Valley and make their wines at the winery they built together in 2002. We currently carry their 2018 Cabernet Franc & 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon!
Katie Santora, Chehalem Winery
Chehalam Winery, located in Newberg (Willamette Valley) is a 3-vineyard estate known for making delicious, approachable Pinot Noir. Katie Santora (pictured middle) joined Chehalem in 2012 as assistant winemaker, learning every aspect of the winemaking process including vineyard management, making her the perfect candidate to take over the role of winemaker in 2018. Originally from Utah, Katie became interested in wine while attending UC Davis where she graduated with a degree in enology and viticulture.
We currently carry her Chehalem 2019 Chehalem Mountains Vineyard Pinot Noir — Reg $33.99 | Mixed Case $27.19
Ksenija Kostic House, Ovum
Ksenija & her husband John (pictured above) co-own Ovum which they founded in 2011. Ksenija is the winemaker producing exclusively white blends from Oregon State, focusing on Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat. She’s made quite a name for herself with these natural wines, with the Big Salt selling out swiftly each vintage.
Currently in stock: Ovum 2021 Big Salt — Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59
Athena Pappas, Boedecker Cellars
Athena was a founding winemaker at Boedecker Cellars (a sustainable, urban winery in Portland) together with her husband, Stuart, in 2003. She (like Stuart) studied winemaking at UC Davis. We hosted Athena & Stuart at our old shop/bar for a tasting many years ago, and I remember them saying that Athena digs a fuller-bodied more muscly Pinot Noir while Stuart likes a more Burgundy in style Pinot. The combo must be what makes them a great team.
Currently in stock: Boedecker 2017 Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) — Reg $29.99 | Mixed Case $23.99
Stephanie Jacobs, Cakebread Cellars
Stephanie became winemaker in at Napa Valley’s esteemed Cakebread Cellars in 2017, as only the fourth winemaker in the winery’s nearly five decade history. “Stephanie became interested in wine as an exchange student in France. After graduating from the University of California at Davis, she worked at a small winery in the Sierra Foothills, … [then] Bogle Vineyards. In 2004, Stephanie joined Cakebread Cellars as an enologist, and was soon promoted to assistant winemaker. In 2012, she became project leader for pinot noir, which remains her favorite varietal of the Cakebread Cellars wines. Today she oversees all winemaking operations, upholding the winery’s style of consistent, balanced, age-worthy wines that pair well with good food and good friends.” — Cakebread website
We currently carry:
Cakebread Cellars 2019 Chardonnay & 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
OLD WORLD
Virna (pictured left) with her sister, Ivana
Virna Borgogno, Azienda Agricola Virna Borgogno
Virna (pictured left) was the first woman to graduate with a degree in enology from Turin University. She took over for her father, Ludovico Borgogno, who founded the estate in 1950. Virna is the proprietor and head winemaker at the estate. Her sister, Ivana, handles the administrative side of the business, and her husband, Giovanni Abrigo, oversees the vineyards and viticulture. The winery covers an area of about 12 hectares and produces prestigious wines from its estate vineyards.
We carry 3 of Virna’s wines:
Virna Borgogno 2017 Langhe Rosso — Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Virna Borgogno 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo — Reg $24.99 | Mixed Case $19.99
Virna Borgogno 2016 Noi Barolo — Reg $56.99 | Mixed Case $45.59
Giulia Franchetto, Azienda Agricola Franchetto
Located near the village of Terrossa, the estate has grown grapes since 1936. In 1982, Antonio Franchetto (pictured above middle) started producing his own wine with his grapes. Today, his daughter Giulia Franchetto (pictured left) is the winemaker. She began making Soave, Pinot Grigio & a high-end bubbly from the local Durello grape. In the last years, she has added Valpolicella wines to her portfolio including Valpolicella Superiore, Ripasso & Amarone. Her wines are fabulous!
Here at the shop, we currently have in stock:
Franchetto 2019 Soave "La Capelina" — Reg $17.99 | Mixed Case $14.39
Franchetto 2018 Valpolicella Superiore — Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Franchetto 2017 Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore — Reg $33.99 | Mixed Case $27.19
Franchetto 2014 Amarone della Valpolicella — Reg $69.99 | Mixed Case $55.99
Céline Chevallier, Domaine Chevallier
Céline took over the estate (located just east of Auxerre in Chablis about 2.5 hours southeast of Paris) from her father, Claude, in 2018. Céline produces mainly Chablis as 9 of her 15.5 hectares fall in the AOC Chablis, with 6.5 hectares in Petit Chablis and 0,3 hectares in Chablis 1° Cru. We carry her 2019 Chablis, 100% minerally, stainless-steel aged Chardonnay.
Laeticia Gradassi, Domaine des Pères de L'Eglise
The Gradassi family has worked this estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for 6 generations. Today Laeticia Gradassi owns and runs the estate with her uncle, Serge Gradassi, (pictured together at the top of the post). She took over after the sudden death of her father in 2015. In 2017, Laeticia & Serge expanded their holdings, purchasing vineyards in Lirac, Côtes du Rhône & Vin de France.
We carry their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, Côtes du Rhône Rouge & their Vin de France blend called Caprice.
Laurence Rigal, Château du Grand Caumont
With 100 hectares of planted vines within the 140 hectare estate in the Lézignon Corbières commune, Château du Grand Caumont (a wine estate since Roman times) is one of the largest in Corbières. The rugged stony clay-limestone soils of the terraced vineyard create excellent filtration for the vines. Laurence Rigal owns & manages the estate which she inherited from her mother, Françoise Rigal.
Currently in stock:
Château du Grand Caumont 2020 Aurana Rosé — Reg $15.99 | Mixed Case $12.79
Château du Grand Caumont 2020 Aurana Rouge — Reg $16.99 | Mixed Case $13.59
Château du Grand Caumont 2016 Réserve de Laurence — Reg $21.99 | INSIDER $17.24 (no further volume discount)
Château du Grand Caumont 2018 Tradition — Reg $17.99 | Mixed Case $14.39
Flavie Cuisset, Château des Eyssards
Flavie did her apprenticeship in viticulture & oenology from 2012 to 2014, working extensively in the vineyards and the cellar with her father, Pascal Cuisset, during this period at their family estate in Bergerac (near Bordeaux). In 2015 she bought into the estate, purchasing 5 hectares of vines under her name in association with Château des Eyssards. “It’s a family business,” she says. She works a lot with her father, saying that are in agreement on how to develop the estate. (Photo: bottom left corner above are her new plantings.) Like her dad, Flavie plays trumpet in their local village’s festival band: Vino Vertias Banda!
We carry: Château des Eyssards 2017 Bergerac Sec — Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59 & Château des Eyssards 2016 Bergerac Rouge — Reg $21.99 | Mixed Case $17.59.
Giusi & Laura Parpinello, Poderi Parpinello
After the end of World War II, a young Giampaolo Parpinello (pictured middle right) started picking grapes for his father, Louis, in Veneto. In the 1960’s he struck out to find his own land, buying vineyards in Sardinia.
Today Giusi & Laura run the estate with their brother Paolo. They cultivate 30 hectares of land in the locality of Janna de Mare, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards with soil of calcareous marne, conglomerate and sandstone, perfect for producing wines with the authentic flavors of this ancient land.
Currently in stock: Parpinello 2018 Cagnulari — Reg $26.99 | Mixed Case $21.59 ~ Note: we have very little of this wine left, so if you’re curious… be fast!
Such a fun post to write! Hope you stop in an try these wines. These woman are doing amazing work!
Julie, co-owner
Portalis Wine Shop