Celebrating the Women Behind the Wine 

A stroke of luck brought Liz into the wine industry. After studying international trade, she found her calling 28 years ago in the export department at Les Maîtres Vignerons de la Presqu’île de Saint-Tropez. “Wine is a wonderful world and I feel very fortunate that I can represent wines from Provence around the world.” Calling Fleur de Mer Rosé “the perfect wine,” Liz believes that each sip brings the allure of Provence to the table. This crisp and refreshing wine entices with notes of cherry, watermelon and citrus.

Nicole discovered her passion for food and wine working in restaurants, but her path was officially set when she discovered the winegrowing and winemaking programs at the University of California at Davis. After graduating, Nicole worked her first harvest in 2001 and eventually joined E. & J. Gallo Winery as a winemaker in 2004. She now serves as head winemaker for J Vineyards and Winery, overseeing all aspects of winemaking from vineyard to bottle. Nicole has a special fondness for the CA Pinot Noir—a soft, silky red featuring bright notes of cranberry, fig and orange peel.

Katie was pursuing a career in wine marketing when an unplanned chance to work a harvest set her down a winemaking path. “My first week there was the best week of my life. I decided that’s it...I want to do this forever.” After completing her degree and several internships, Katie brought her passion and expertise to Louis M. Martini Winery, crafting wines like Sonoma County Cabernet. This wine reflects the best of the warm, narrow Dry Creek Valley and the hot yet wind-cooled Alexander Valley, creating a balanced wine with notes of dark fruit, black tea and cocoa.

Born in the historic town of Bergamo, Italy, Claudia has a profound passion for art, literature and foreign languages. After obtaining her specialist degree, Claudia worked as an interpreter before joining La Marca Prosecco in 2008 as an export manager. “When I entered the wine industry, I discovered a world where passion, territory, and tradition all play a significant role,” Claudia said. “Our goal is to take these wonderful aspects of our unique region and make them known internationally.” One such passion project is Luminore by La Marca. With a balance of crisp pear, fresh citrus and light floral notes, this wine demonstrates the apex of what Prosecco can achieve.

After growing up in Oregon with wine aficionado parents, K’Sondra took a summer job in a local winery’s tasting room. It was there she discovered her true calling. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and microbiology and interning for several prestigious wineries, K’Sondra joined Talbott Vineyards as an enologist. She works closely with Talbott Vineyards winemaker, David Coventry, producing world-acclaimed wines such as Talbott Kali Hart Chardonnay. This wine shines with a soft, clean finish, a hint of minerality and hard spice notes.

After six years of active duty service in the Navy, Lauren transitioned into the private sector. Her position as a Naval officer prepared her for a number of obvious careers requiring leadership and discipline. When it came time to choose between several offers, she chose the road less traveled. “When given the opportunity at William Hill Estate, I was excited for the chance to work with a small, passionate team to create iconic wines.” These wines include their North Coast Chardonnay—a bright, medium-bodied wine offering notes of ripe melon, peach and tropical fruit.