Photo by Heather Daenitz
Santa Barbara County is making a bigger and brighter mark in the California wine scene by the year. Home to 350 wineries, seven approved American Viticulture Areas (AVAs) and 75 grape varieties, Santa Barbara County wine country is considered one of the most diverse wine-growing regions in the world. Explore the Urban Wine Trail or take a day trip to the Santa Ynez Valley and beyond to discover it for yourself!
Among these impressive numbers lie another noteworthy statistic: Santa Barbara County proudly features one of the highest percentages of women winemakers in the world, with an impressive 10% per capita. Because the list of accomplished women winemakers in Santa Barbara County is so long, we’ve highlighted a select few—some of the “movers and shakers” of the industry. Read on to learn about 16 prominent women winemakers in Santa Barbara County and see where you can sip the fruits of their labor.
Prominent Women Winemakers in Santa Barbara County
Samra Morris | Alma RosA Winery
Samra Morris is a pioneering winemaker at Alma Rosa Winery, located in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. As the first female Bosnian winemaker in California, she brings a unique perspective and passion to her craft after graduating from University of Sarajevo. Born in Bosnia, Morris’s official journey into winemaking began after she moved to the United States, near Napa Valley, and fell in love with the intricacies of viticulture and enology. The winery has a tasting room in Solvang and also offers a guided hiking experience through five noncontiguous vineyards located just a few miles from downtown Solvang that ends with a wine tasting.
Claire Wilson | Provignage
Claire Wilson is the accomplished winemaker at Provignage, a renowned winemaking company (located in the Ballard Canyon AVA) located in Lompoc. Fueled by a deep passion for winemaking that started in her childhood growing up on a zinfandel vineyard in Napa Valley, Wilson focuses on crafting exceptional vintages for not only Provignage, but for Domaine de la Cote, Pedrasassi, Sandhi Wines and Pence Vineyards, too. One of Wilson’s favorite varietals is the chardonnay produced by Sandhi—try it for yourself at Sandhi’s Lompoc tasting room.
Angela Osborne | A Tribute to Grace
Angela Osborne is the visionary winemaker behind A Tribute to Grace, a boutique winery dedicated to crafting exceptional grenache wines. Hailing from New Zealand, Osborne moved to the United States in 2006 with a singular passion for grenache, a grape variety she deeply admires for its versatility and elegance. Osborne’s dedication to organic and biodynamic practices underscores her commitment to sustainability and respect for the land. Visit the Los Alamos tasting room (by reservation only) to sip on tasty, single-origin grenache vintages.
Clarissa Nagy | Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
Clarissa Nagy, the esteemed winemaker at Riverbench Vineyard, has been a notable figure in Santa Barbara wine country for nearly three decades. With a background in agricultural engineering, Clarissa transitioned into winemaking in 1995, starting her career in the cellar at Edna Valley Vineyards. Her journey includes pivotal roles at renowned wineries such as Byron and Longoria. At Riverbench Vineyard, Nagy focuses on producing exquisite pinot noir and chardonnay, showcasing her meticulous attention to detail and profound understanding of the region’s terroir. Visit the Funk Zone tasting room or spend an afternoon at the Santa Maria location to try these wines.
Kristin Bryden | Zaca Mesa Winery
Kristin Bryden, the accomplished winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery, brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted passion for viticulture to Santa Barbara wine country. With a degree in food science from California Polytechnic State University, Bryden embarked on her winemaking journey, gaining valuable experience at several esteemed wineries, including Wild Horse Winery and Lockwood Winery. Since joining Zaca Mesa in 2011 and being promoted to head winemaker in 2016, she has been instrumental in crafting renowned Rhône varietals, such as syrah and grenache. Open daily, the tasting room is family-friendly (pups included!) and allows for you to pack a picnic for a perfect afternoon in the valley.
Kristin Harris Luis | Cote of Paint
BIPOC winemaker Kristin Harris Luis is one of the owners, alongside her husband Nick Luis, behind Cote of Paint, a unique winery celebrated for its “old school” approach to the craft. A relative newcomer to the winemaking industry, Luis seamlessly blends her creative vision for the brand with her passion for wine to craft small-batch wines comprising five vintages that were released in 2024: a 2018 pinot noir, a 2020 grenache, a 2021 sangiovese, a 2023 sauvignon blanc and a 2023 rosé.
Jessica Gasca | Story of Soil
Jessica Gasca, the passionate and talented winemaker and co-owner behind Story of Soil, a boutique winery that produces wine from a number of vineyards in the Ballard Canyon AVA. After producing her first vintage in 2012 while working at Sangius, Gasca has carved out a niche in producing small-lot, single-origin pinot noir, syrah, grenache and more. Her winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention and sustainable farming practices, allowing the true essence of the grapes to shine through. Stop by the Los Olivos tasting room to learn more and sip on some mouthwatering vintages.
Kathy Joseph | Fiddlehead Cellars
Kathy Joseph, the pioneering winemaker and founder of Fiddlehead Cellars, has been a trailblazer in Santa Barbara wine country since establishing her winery in 1989. With a degree in enology and viticulture from University of California, Davis, Joseph’s early career included influential relationships with wineries such as Simi Winery and Pecota Winery. At Fiddlehead Cellars, she focuses on producing exceptional pinot noir and sauvignon blanc. Take a day trip to the Lompoc Wine Ghetto for an intimate tasting experience.
Wynne Sergeant | Peake Ranch Winery
Wynne Sergeant, originally hailing from Sonoma County, is the skillful winemaker at Peake Ranch Winery, a prestigious winery nestled in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. After earning a degree in Wine and Viticulture from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Sergeant began to craft exceptional pinot noir and chardonnay wines at Peake Ranch that capture the unique terroir of the region. With a deep passion for viticulture and a keen eye for detail, Wynne Sergeant ensures that each bottle from Peake Ranch is a true expression of Santa Barbara wine country. Savor these wines and soak up the sun at the Buellton vineyard.
Amy Christine | Holus Bolus & The Joy Fantastic
Amy Christine is the dynamic co-winemaker and co-owner behind Holus Bolus and The Joy Fantastic, renowned sister wineries located in the St. Rita Hills AVA. With a Master of Wine distinction, Christine brings extensive knowledge and expertise to her craft, producing wines that are celebrated for their precision and elegance. At Holus Bolus, she focuses on creating syrah and other Rhône varietals, while The Joy Fantastic showcases her skill with pinot noir and chardonnay.
Lane Tanner | Lumen Wines
Lane Tanner, the first independent female winemaker in Santa Barbara County, began her career at Firestone Vineyards in 1981, where she honed her winemaking skills. In 1989, she started her own label, Lane Tanner, focusing on high-quality pinot noir. After over two decades of success, she co-founded Lumen Wines with Will Henry in 2012, continuing her commitment to exceptional cool-climate varietals like pinot noir and chardonnay. Throughout her career, Lane has been a pioneer in the wine industry, paving the way for other women winemakers to refine their craft in Santa Barbara County wine country. Visit Lumen Wines’ Los Alamos tasting room (by appointment only) or get the vine-to-glass experience with an immersive vineyard tour.
Sunny Doench Stricker | Future Perfect Wine
Sunny Doench Stricker, the innovative owner and winemaker at Future Perfect Wine, has been making waves in the wine industry with a forward-thinking approach to viticulture and enology since 2020 with mentoring from winemakers Jessica Gasca (Story of Soil) and Amy Christine (Holus Bolus/The Joy). With a strong emphasis on bright flavors and low alcohol content, Stricker boasts numerous varietals such as sparkling rosé, pinot noir, grenache and mre that have scored points with Wine Enthusiast that dip well into the 90s. Taste Future Perfect Wine for yourself at the downtown Los Olivos tasting room (reservations or walk-ins are welcome).
Karen Steinwachs | Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard
With a background that includes a successful career in the tech industry, Karen Steinwachs made a significant career change to pursue her passion for winemaking. She honed her skills at Foley Winery under the mentorship of respected winemaker Norm Yost and later at Fiddlehead Cellars with Kathy Joseph. Since joining Buttonwood in 2007, Steinwachs has focused on creating elegant and balanced wines, particularly cabernet franc, the vineyard’s flagship wine, and sauvignon blanc. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, the vineyard’s outdoor garden is a beautiful spot to enjoy a tasting flight.
Jill Russell | Cambria Winery
Jill Russell is the talented head winemaker at family-owned Cambria Winery, nestled in the picturesque Santa Maria Valley AVA. With a deep-rooted passion for viticulture and her degree in Wine and Viticulture from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., Russell has crafted a reputation for creating exceptional pinot noir and chardonnay wines that embody the unique terroir of the region. Russell’s dedication to sustainability and innovation is evident in every bottle—in fact, Cambria Winery is Sustainability In Practice (SIP) certified and carries the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) seal on all vintages.
Marine Grolleau | Gleason Family Vineyards
Marine Grolleau is the skilled assistant winemaker at Gleason Family Vineyards, which encompasses the notable brands Refugio Ranch, Roblar Winery and Buttonwood Farm Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. Originally from France, Grolleau began her winemaking journey while working at a wine shop in the South of France and completed her first harvest in 2018 in Bandol, France. Between the company’s two different properties, Gleason Family Vineyards is able to grow both Rhône varietals at one and Bordeaux varietals at the other, offering a diverse selection of wines such as syrahs, grenaches, viogniers, cabernet sauvignons, cabernet francs and merlots.
Sonja Magdevski | Casa Dumetz, Clementine Carter and The Feminist Party
Sonja Magdevski, an influential winemaker in Santa Barbara County, is celebrated for her innovative work with Casa Dumetz, Clementine Carter and The Feminist Party. With a background in journalism and political science, Magdevski transitioned into winemaking driven by her passion for viticulture and storytelling. At Casa Dumetz, she focuses on producing an elegant chardonnay, the only chardonnay grape planted on the LaBarge Estate in Lompoc, where she sources her fruit for this label. Clementine Carter allows Magdevski to explore Rhône varietals like grenache and mourvèdre. The Feminist Party, her collaborative label, emphasizes the empowerment of women and the importance of sustainability in winemaking and produces just one special varietal: a grenache-syrah-mourvèdre blend. Visit her Los Alamos tasting room for a sip from any one of these labels.
Sip on the wines made by some of these remarkable winemakers at this year’s 40th annual Santa Barbara Vintner’s Festival, slated for Oct. 19 at Vega Vineyard and Farm. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to try over 50 wineries and taste the cuisine from local restaurants and renowned chefs. Discover unique ways to enjoy wine in Santa Barbara, from specialty tours and barrel tastings to wine and food pairings, painting with wine and wine tasting at sea.
