A Different Way to Taste Napa and Sonoma: Women-Led Wineries Worth Visiting
- Jody Holman
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
There are plenty of ways to plan a wine trip through Napa and Sonoma. Most planning stsrts with well-known names or regions. But I am often asked which wineries to visit by women travelling together and wanting to support women in wine. As such, I have put together a list that is a mix of wineries driven by women on some level, with a mix of design-forward places, and important names who have had an influence across these valleys for years.
A Few Especially Beautiful Places
Napa
Eleven Eleven Winery — Ellie Anest & Carol Vassiliadis. Set just off the main road but easy to miss, Eleven Eleven is more about design and atmosphere than vineyard narrative with its sculptures around the property, an interior right out of a design magazine, and a sense that the experience has been carefully curated. It is a quieter, more modern Napa, founded by Ellie Anest, who came to wine after a career in technology, along with Carol Vassiliadis as a founding partner (both from Nebraska).
The wines center on Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals, made in a polished, contemporary style that matches the space.
Eleven Eleven tasting rooms
St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery — Elaine St. Clair & Laina Brown An unexpected stop in downtown Napa—part garden, part winery, part brewery. It feels like an urban oasis, and a reminder that not all wine experiences are the same. Elaine St. Clair works as both winemaker and brewmaster, while Laina Brown runs the business side.
The dual focus shows up in the experience, which moves between wine, beer, and food without feeling segmented.
Tamber Bey Vineyards — Jennifer & Kendra Williams. This is a winery that is as much about setting as it is about wine, with horses, open space, and a different feel from the valley floor. Set on an active equestrian ranch, the winery is run by the Williams family, with Jennifer and Kendra involved in its direction.
The wines focus on Bordeaux and Rhône varietals, but the scale of the property is what affects the feel of the visit.
Sonoma
Sonoma often feels a little more relaxed than Napa, and in some cases, more visually compelling.
Scribe Winery — Mariana Antinori. One of the most naturally beautiful and easy places to spend an afternoon with its gardens, hills, long tables, and no sense of rush. Mariana Antinori is part of the leadership team, bringing a broader, international perspective.
Scribe
The wines—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a range of lesser-seen varietals lean toward freshness and structure, which fits the setting.
Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile — Katie Bundschu. Worth including for the family history alone, but also for the way it rethinks the tasting experience, which is more relaxed and more exploratory. Katie Bundschu comes from one of Sonoma’s oldest wine families and became the first woman winemaker in six generations.
The wines lean Rhône-inspired: Grenache, Chenin Blanc, and blends, and the experience follows that same shift away from structure.
Three Sticks Wines — Prema Behan. The tasting experience here is as much about design and setting as it is about wine. Prema Behan, as co-founder and general manager, has shaped much of the experience in this historic adobe with layered interiors and a gentle sense of luxury.
The wines, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from sites like Durell and Gap’s Crown, are site-driven and precise.
Beltane Ranch — Lauren Benward Krause. I photographed a wedding here years ago, and its sense of place has stayed with me- a Victorian home decordated with agricultural tools to give it a sense of stepping back in time. It is elegant without trying too hard. Lauren Benward Krause returned to help steward the property, keeping it as a working ranch.
The wines are estate-driven Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and are closely tied to what the land produces.
Beltane Ranch
Wines Shaped by Women in Napa Sonoma
Napa
Corison Winery — Cathy Corison. On a stretch of Napa, set back from the road, with open space, simple lines, and very little pulling your attention away from the glass. Cathy Corison has been making wine in Napa since the 1980s, after early work at Chappellet and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.
Her Cabernet Sauvignon is known for structure and longevity, built to age.
Tres Sabores — Julie Johnson A working property where the lines between vineyard, garden, and tasting are still intact. You sit outside, within view of what is growing, and the place feels alive. Julie Johnson came to wine after a career in technology and built Tres Sabores with a focus on organic farming.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc anchor the wines, handled with a sense of balance that reflects the way the land is farmed.
Chimney Rock Winery — Elizabeth Vianna / Laura Orozco The Cape Dutch architecture is striking, a distinct structure within Napa. Elizabeth Vianna and Laura Orozco on the winemaking team.
Cabernet Sauvignon here has a cult following here.
Chimney Rock Photo : Carol M. Highsmith at distance Skip Moore
La Sirena Wines — Heidi Barrett The setting in Calistoga is straightforward, without much ceremony, likely to keep the focus on what is in the glass. Heidi Barrett built her reputation through some of Napa’s most recognized wines, including Screaming Eagle; she is one of the very few winemakers tied to multiple 100-point wines. La Sirena is her own project, where the experience is no longer filtered through someone else’s vision.
The wines move beyond Cabernet to Syrah, Grenache, and Rhône-style blends that are not "Napa typical".
Crocker & Starr — Pam Starr A small, well-kept property just off the Silverado Trail, where everything feels deliberate without being formal. Pam Starr built the winery as both co-owner and winemaker, focusing on small-lot wines with an emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Redmon Wines — Lisa Redmon Easy to pass by if you are not looking for it, this is a small tasting space, with minimal production. Lisa Redmon grew up in St. Helena and produces a limited number of wines, focused largely on Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Chardonnay and Merlot.
Larkmead Vineyards — Kate Solari Baker / Avery Heelan An expansive property with a long history. Kate Solari Baker oversees the estate, while Avery Heelan leads the winemaking.
Cabernet Sauvignon remains central, with attention to vineyard blocks and site variation.
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards — Emma Swain A more structured setting, with an emphasis on clarity and presentation. The winery has long put an emphasis on education alongside tasting. Today it feels more corporate, but not overly sterile.
Emma Swain leads the estate, which focuses on Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux varietals.
Planning Note
These are not places you stumble into anymore. You will need to make reservations for most of them. Plan for two, at most three stops and leave room between them. Start at your farthest point, and work your way back so you can easily stumble to your hotel. (I am happy to help you find some fabulous wine country hotels)
Sample Two Day Itinerary
Day One — Sonoma (minimal driving)Scribe → Beltane Ranch → Abbot’s Passage → Three SticksStay in or near Sonoma Plaza or Glen Ellen so you are not moving far between stops.
Day Two — Napa (St. Helena corridor)Corison → Tres Sabores → Eleven ElevenOptional: add Crocker & Starr or Redmon if you want one more, or head north to La Sirena if Calistoga is part of the plan.
Scribe Picnic Area for Members
Full Reference List: Women in Napa & Sonoma Wine
For those who want the full list, here it is—grouped by role and location. This list of women in wine for Napa and Sonoma is not fixed as roles evolve, projects shift, and many of these women are working across multiple labels and estates at once. I am sure I have missed a few, too, but it is a starting point. If you woudl like help planning, please reach out.
NAPA VALLEY
Women Owners / Founders / Proprietors
Aequitas Wines — Amy Ash — Owner
Battuello Vineyards — Torey Smith Battuello — Owner / oversees wine operations
Brown Estate — Deneen Brown — Co-owner
Ceja Vineyards — Amelia Ceja — Co-owner
Corison Winery — Cathy Corison — Owner / Winemaker
Crocker & Starr — Pam Starr — Co-owner / Winemaker
Duhig Wines — Carissa Duhig — Owner / Winemaker
Elizabeth Spencer Winery — Elizabeth Spencer — Founder / Owner (noted industry influencer)
Fíadh Ruadh — Nova McCune Cadamatre — Owner / Winemaker
Hoopes Vineyard — Lindsay Hoopes — Owner / Winemaker
La Sirena Wines — Heidi Barrett — Owner / Winemaker (one of Napa’s most influential winemakers)
Larkmead Vineyards — Kate Solari Baker — Proprietor
Maria Concetto Winery — Maria Concetto — Owner
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wines — Paula Kornell — Owner / Winemaker
Peju Winery — Lisa Peju — Family leadership / women-led operations
Redmon Wines — Lisa Redmon — Owner / Winemaker
Spottswoode Estate — Beth Novak Milliken — Owner
St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery — Elaine St. Clair — Co-founder / Winemaker / Brewmaster
St. Clair Brown Winery & Brewery — Laina Brown — Co-founder / President
Tamber Bey Vineyards — Jennifer Williams & Kendra Williams — Owners / Operators
Tench Vineyards — Margaret Tench — Owner
Tres Sabores — Julie Johnson — Owner / Winemaker
Viader Vineyards & Winery — Delia Viader — Founder
Female Winemakers / Leadership Roles
Charles Krug / Mondavi Family — Angelina Mondavi — Winemaker / family leadership
Chimney Rock Winery — Elizabeth Vianna — Winemaker / General Manager
Chimney Rock Winery — Laura Orozco — Associate Winemaker
Ghost Block / Oakville Ranch / Elizabeth Rose Wines — Elizabeth Rose — Winemaker
Larkmead Vineyards — Avery Heelan — Winemaker
Markham Vineyards — Kimberlee Nicholls — Winemaker• Paradigm Winery — Heidi Barrett — Winemaker
St. Supéry Estate Vineyards — Emma Swain — CEO / Leadership
Hess Persson Estates — Sabrina Persson — Proprietor
Boutique / Smaller
Azur Wines — Julien & Élan Fayard — Co-owners
Cantadora / Olivia Brion Wines — Olivia Brion — Owner / Winemaker
Chase Cellars — Female leadership involvement noted (hospitality/operations)
Crossroads at Rudd Estate — Samantha Rudd — Ownership / leadership influence
Cunat Family Wines — Female-led family involvement
Eleven Eleven Winery — Ellie Anest — Founding Partner & CEO
Eleven Eleven Winery — Carol Vassiliadis — Founding Partner / Investor
Hayfork Wine Co. — Female involvement noted (small production / emerging)
Materra Wines — Female leadership influence; consulting winemaking history includes women
Progeny Winery — Lisa Draxton — Owner
Rarecat Wines — Shannon Keeler — Founder / Winemaker
Saint Helena Winery — Female involvement noted (ownership / hospitality)• Studio 1299A — Female-led tasting collective / shared space concept
SONOMA
Women Owners / Leadership / Winemaking
Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile — Katie Bundschu — Founder (Bundschu family lineage)
Beltane Ranch — Lauren Benward Krause — Owner / Steward
Blue Farm Wines — Anne Moller-Racke — Founder / Winegrower
Bouchaine Vineyards — Chris Kajani — Winemaker / GMMerry Edwards Winery — Merry Edwards — Founder / Winemaker (pioneer; major influence)
MacRostie Winery & Vineyards — Heidi Bridenhagen — Winemaker
Three Sticks Wines — Prema Behan — Co-founder / General Manager
Ram’s Gate Winery — Taylor Berkley Boydstun — Former Winemaker / GM
Scribe Winery — Mariana Antinori — Leadership
Auteur Wines — Erin Green — Winemaker / GM
Viansa Winery — Vicki, Ann, Samantha — Family leadership (early marketplace concept; now more high-traffic, still one of the best views as you enter Sonoma)
FAQ
Do Napa and Sonoma wineries require reservations? Yes, most now require reservations, especially for smaller or more personal tastings.
Are there women- led wineries in Napa Valley? Yes, Napa and Sonoma have a growing number of women owners, winemakers, and leaders shaping both the wines and the visitor experience.
What are the best wineries for a girls’ trip in Napa and Sonoma? It depends on what you are looking for. Some prioritize setting and design, others focus on winemaking history or smaller, more personal tastings. This guide focuses on the women who have influenced wine in the area.
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About the Author Jody Holman is a boutique travel advisor, luxury travel writer, and photographer specializing in customized journeys through France, Northern California, Hawai‘i, and Europe. She curates immersive group experiences, teaches wine classes, and shares sensory-rich stories through Viewfinder Travel. Her work blends editorial insights with a love of cultural rituals, and off-the-path discovery.
Viewfinder Travel is a boutique travel agency that designs unique, life-enhancing experiences. Whether you are in search of cultural sustenance, a relaxing island unwind, a gourmet escape, a picturesque countryside, or the invigoration of a city, Viewfinder Travel will find your recipe for travel magic. We are reliable, detail-oriented, and have a flair for finding the beautiful, off-the-beaten-path “boutique” experiences—so you can focus on the fun, not the logistics.
Our trips are curated with love, as if they were our own. Let our experience inform your discovery!
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