What was the turning point that made working with wine the right choice for you?

Winemaking was always my destiny. I grew up on the family vineyards climbing oak trees and collecting arrowheads. I was a terrible tomboy; I loved sunshine and dirty boots. I got my first real job in wine at 18 at Robert Mondavi winery and never looked back.

Worst Job in the winery?

Cleaning the degrading grape skins out of drains. I can never bring myself to ask someone else to do it and usually end up on hands and knees myself.

Most untrusted grape variety? Why?

Cabernet Franc. Such a narrow picking window: bell peppers one day, prunes the next!

Wine you wish you had more of in your cellar?

I really can't complain on that front. My father-in-law and husband do such a good job of filling the cellar. But I guess there is always room for more. How about some Dom Perignon? We visited last year wanting to find faults with the mega-giant, but no, the wines were simply stunning.

Wine you've always wanted to try but still haven't?

Again, quite spoiled. How about Gaudichots 1929 DRC.

If you could make an experimental wine, what grape would you use and what stye of wine would it be?

Hmm... let's face it; I'm not tearing out any Pinot in the Côte de Nuits any time soon... I'm looking forward to trying some Malbec in Napa, but that's hardly more obscure.

If you weren't a winemaker what would you be?

Getting dirty somewhere... landscape architect?

Wine region you'd most like to visit?

Tuscany- wine, food and countryside!

What was the last wine you had a bottle of?

Frédérique Mugnier Les Fuées 2002. I'm 5 months pregnant at the moment, and thinking of that bottle longingly. 

Worst mistake you've made at work?

Underestimating an eminent rain storm before 09 harvest in California. I should have sold my soul and gotten the fruit in somehow. I've never seen that kind of jungle rot.

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