For a long time, the world of Napa Valley wine—of all wine really—was a bit of a boys’ club—tradition-bound, male-dominated, and slow to change. Over time, the dynamic has shifted, and the face of wine today is, thankfully, not so one-dimensional.
The story of women in Napa Valley wine goes back more than a century. Hannah Weinberger, Napa Valley’s first recorded female winemaker, took over her family’s winery in the 1880s after her husband’s untimely death. She not only ran it for 38 years but expanded production to 100,000 gallons (around 40,000 cases), and earned the first medal given to a woman winemaker on the world wine stage for her 1889 Cabernet Sauvignon, before the winery was forced to close due to Prohibition in 1920.
Eleanor McCrea of Stony Hill was making her mark as early as the 1950s, and Cathy Corison proved in the 1980s that power and elegance could peacefully co-exist in quality wine. Progress has been slow, but it’s happening: today, women make up about 14% of Napa Valley winemakers, and that number is climbing.
The impact of these trailblazers isn’t just about producing exceptional wine—it’s about changing the narrative. They’ve paved the way for generations of women winemakers who are pushing boundaries, innovating, and shattering glass ceilings in Wine Country and beyond as they go. International Women’s Day is March 8, and this year’s theme is #AccelerateAction. For the following women—some of the best and brightest in the wine industry today—this isn’t just a hashtag. They are living this mantra every day, not waiting for the industry to evolve, but making it happen, one memorable bottle at a time.
There’s a reason Heidi Peterson Barrett has earned no fewer than five 100-point wines in her illustrious winemaking career. Dubbed “The First Lady of Wine” and “the Queen of Cult Cabernet,” Barrett’s name is etched into Napa Valley’s history, thanks to her role in crafting some of the region’s most coveted wines. Do a roll call of Napa’s top wineries, including Screaming Eagle, Fantesca, and Paradigm, and she has inevitably left an indelible mark on each with her artistry. Another UC Davis alum, her influence extends beyond her own wines, which she now makes under her label La Sirena, as she’s inspired a new generation of winemakers—including her own daughter, Chelsea Barrett—to continue pushing Napa’s boundaries. Whether shaping iconic brands or consulting for rising stars, Barrett’s legacy is one of innovation, intuition, and a relentless pursuit of perfection.
Pam Starr had intentions of going to dental school but found the magnetic pull of wine far too strong after attending UC Davis and interning at Sonoma Cutrer after graduation. “I was simply smitten—the way one is when falling madly in love,” she says. “Winemaking is mysterious, it’s sexy, it’s magical.” Today, as the co-owner and founding winemaker at Crocker & Starr, she is translating that love affair into delicious Bordeaux-style blends, gently coaxing a sense of place out of the land and lovingly imbuing each bottle with it. She is also incredibly active in the wine industry, serving on various regional and national associations as well as Wine Entre Femme, an international consortium of women winemakers.
If you’ve ever had a sip of wine from Markham Vineyards you’ll know that not only does head winemaker Kimberlee Nicholls have incredible talent, but that Merlot—Markham’s signature variety—always deserves a place at the table, Sideways be damned. Nicholls’ commitment to quality extends far beyond the glass; she’s reimagining how the winery approaches sustainability, from packaging innovations to eco-conscious recycling initiatives. Nicholls is also a passionate advocate for equity in the wine industry. At Markham, she leads an all-women winemaking team (and viticulture team) and believes in fostering a culture of mentorship. Markham’s partnerships with numerous women’s organizations, including MAPP, a nonprofit that supports women in culinary and hospitality through mentorship and advocacy, and the James Beard Foundation, align perfectly with her mission.
Cathy Corison has never followed trends—she’s set them. Her journey began around five decades ago, at Pomona College, where she was studying to be a marine biologist. She signed up for a wine appreciation course on a whim, a casual move that catapulted her into a career trajectory that would one day make her one of the most celebrated winemakers in the world, male or female. Her journey wasn’t easy, though. In the 1970s, with various roles at some of Napa’s top wineries under her belt, she started making her own wine using borrowed production space before finally building her Corison Winery in 1987, after no fewer than 13 vintages of Corison Cabernet. Dozens of vintages later, and a San Francisco Chronicle ‘Winemaker of the Year’ title along the way, she remains a true Wine Country trailblazer, proving that great wines—and great careers—are built on persistence, patience, and vision.
When Kristy Melton stepped into her role at Freemark Abbey in 2020, she became only the second female winemaker in the winery’s history—following in the footsteps of founder Josephine Tychson, one of Napa’s first female vintners, who led the winery in the late 1800s. With nearly two decades of experience, Melton has built a reputation for staying true to the winery’s classic style while carefully introducing thoughtful innovations. She compares the ephemeral qualities of nature with winemaking, noting the importance of balancing tradition with evolution. “Nature does not stand still, and neither does our winemaking,” she says. “There’s always room to push the boundaries, and experimentation is at the heart and soul of winemaking.” Credited with introducing malolactic fermentation to the winery’s Chardonnay program, Melton is committed to learning, adapting, and elevating every vintage. Under her guidance, Freemark Abbey continues to stand as a beacon of classic Napa winemaking with a modern sensibility.
Kathryn Walt Hall is more than a winery owner—she’s a force of nature. Her journey in wine began in 1972 when her family purchased a vineyard, laying the foundation for what would become a lifelong passion, and today, alongside her husband, Craig Hall, she leads HALL, WALT, and BACA Wines. A former U.S. Ambassador to Austria and fluent in French and German, she previously worked in law and corporate leadership before returning to her roots in Napa Valley wine. Hall is a New York Times best-selling author and an advocate for numerous social causes who has served on multiple nonprofit boards as well as the U.S. House of Representatives Hunger Advisory Committee, the Texas Mental Health Association, and the National Advisory Council for Violence Against Women. She also co-founded the North Texas Food Bank. A fellow graduate of UC Davis among so many other prominent women winemakers, she has a global perspective and a deep commitment to sustainability, and continues to shape Napa’s wine scene with vision and purpose.
Sustainability may be a term that gets tossed around a lot in the wine industry, but it’s a guiding principle for some Napa Valley wineries. We’re shining a spotlight on 10 Napa wineries putting sustainability at the forefront.
Photos courtesy of Larkmead Vineyards
Winemaker Avery Heelan of Larkmead Vineyards is a rising star in the next generation of winemakers, blending over 125 years of history with cutting-edge innovation. One of her biggest wins? Tackling Napa’s increasingly extreme heat with a game-changing approach to vineyard management. She led the charge in implementing a modified California sprawl trellis system across three blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, using the vines’ natural canopy to create shade and prevent over-ripening. The results speak for themselves—when a brutal 120-degree heatwave hit Calistoga in 2022, these vines outperformed the rest of the estate. She’s also the brains behind Larkmead’s Research Block, a three-acre experimental vineyard studying how different grape varieties adapt to Napa’s shifting climate.
The first Black-owned estate winery in Napa? Check. Some of the most luscious Zinfandels around? Double check. Founded in 1995 by CEO Deneen Brown and her siblings David and Coral, Brown Estate Winery has been redefining inclusion in the wine industry ever since. With a deep commitment to authenticity and community, the Brown family has built a brand that resonates far beyond its wines. After years of success starting with the family’s first vintage—a much-lauded Zinfandel—they expanded their vision in 2018 with House of Brown, a sister label designed to make the Brown wine experience even more accessible. The first vintage—a Chardonnay—was bottled in 2019, but when the pandemic put their launch on pause, they pivoted. Rather than go the traditional launch route, Deneen and House of Brown opted to debut in Atlanta in June 2020 by partnering with four women-owned wine shops to bring their vision to life, showing that it’s always better to lift as you rise.
As the first Mexican-American woman ever to be elected president of a winery, Amelia Morán Ceja has built Ceja Vineyards into a powerhouse of culture, heritage, and resilience, not to mention delicious wine. Her journey began in Jalisco, Mexico, where she learned to cook alongside her grandmother using fresh, homegrown ingredients. At just 12 years old, Amelia moved to Napa Valley and found herself harvesting grapes at Robert Mondavi’s Tokalon Vineyard, unknowingly planting the seeds for a lifelong career in wine, and meeting her husband, Pedro Ceja with whom she founded Ceja Vineyards in 1980. Amelia’s vision has been integral to Ceja’s success, from overseeing the winemaking process to pioneering over 100 video blogs on pairing Mexican cuisine with wine, making the once-exclusive world of Napa more approachable for diverse audiences. Amelia is also a force in business and philanthropy, championing equity and representation in the wine industry.
Photos Courtesy of Materra Canut
Regardless of her heritage—yes, she’s the daughter of Napa Valley wine icon Heidi Barrett—Chelsea Barrett is cementing her own role as a visionary in wine. Raised in Calistoga and educated at UC Davis, Barrett cut her teeth in wine at Opus One, Joel Gott Wines, and internationally in Austria and Australia before joining Materra Cunat as winemaker in 2019. Materra Cunat, founded by Miki and Brian Cunat, is known for crafting wines with a global perspective. Now director of winemaking, one of Chelsea’s standout projects is the Japanese series, a collection inspired by Miki Cunat’s Japanese heritage and culinary passions, made to pair seamlessly with Japanese cuisine. Chelsea continues to push Materra forward, expanding its hospitality space and vineyard holdings while staying true to her approach to winemaking: producing wines that are vibrant, balanced, and expressive of place.
Maya Dalla Valle was born into wine greatness—the year she was born, Naoko and Gustav planted what would become one of the most celebrated vineyard sites in California and ultimately earn the family its first 100-point score not long after. But Maya didn’t want to just ride the coattails of her parents. She felt compelled to forge her own path in the winemaking field. After earning a master’s degree in viticulture and enology from Cornell University and a Master of Business and Science in vineyard and winery management from Bordeaux Science Agro, Maya Dalla Valle trained with some of the best in the world, including at Ornellaia e Masseto, Bodegas Rolland, Pétrus, and Château Latour. Now working alongside her mother, Naoko, Maya brings a global perspective to Dalla Valle Vineyards, blending deep-rooted family tradition with modern innovation. Her approach to winemaking is both precise and passionate, ensuring that the estate’s wines remain among Napa’s most coveted.
From iconic wineries like Jordan Winery to exciting new(ish)comers like Abbot’s Passage Winery + Mercantile, founded by 6th generation winemaker Katie Bundschu, Sonoma County’s winemaking scene is just as dynamic as Napa’s. Frankly, an entire stand-alone article could be dedicated to the powerhouse women shaping this region.
Take Alice Sutro of SUTRO, who is proving that art and wine often go hand in hand. Jamie Benziger carries forward her family’s legacy at Imagery Estate, infusing tradition with a modern touch, while Lisa Amaroli upholds the biodynamic philosophy at Benziger Family Winery with dedication and vision. Bibiana González Rave, the mastermind behind Cattleya, blends precision and artistry in every bottle she creates.
Debra Mathy at Dutcher Crossing is not only crafting remarkable wines but also redefining what it means to run a boutique winery. Maggie Kruse, leading the charge at Jordan Winery, ensures that their classic Bordeaux-style wines maintain their world-class reputation. Meanwhile, Martha Stoumen is revolutionizing the industry with her natural, low-intervention approach, and Carol Shelton continues to transform her passion for Zinfandel into unforgettable wines.
Then there’s Heidi Bridenhagen, who upholds MacRostie’s reputation for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; Kathleen Inman, pushing the boundaries of Pinot Noir with her elegant, expressive wines at Inman Family Wines; and Kristina Shideler at Stonestreet Estate, crafting bold, structured wines that showcase the untamed beauty of Alexander Valley.
Winemaking has always been about passion, patience, and a deep connection to the land. These women bring all that and more to a historically male-dominated industry, shaping the future of wine with bold ideas, sustainable practices, and wines that tell a story, all while lifting others as they rise. Their work challenges outdated norms, proving that talent and vision—not tradition alone—define great winemaking.
Wineries
Restaurant
