Behind the vine

Allison McMahon - Arabilis - Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

When do you think you fell in love with wine, enough to make a career of it?

My interest first peaked in the summer after graduating college. I was living with a friend’s family in California and working, trying to figure out what I wanted to do as a career. We would go wine tasting on the weekends. The experience I had at those tastings - the hospitality, being surrounded by beauty – it was the first time it occurred to me that I could potentially make a career in the wine industry by applying my undergraduate science background to the study of wine. 4 years later, I completed my PhD at Washington State (WSU) in Food Science and specifically the sensory evaluation of wine. I had investigated the impact of tannin and alcohol content on the sensory profile and the resulting consumer acceptance of that wine. That research gave me an appreciation for some of the many processing decisions that winemakers make, and what happens as an outcome. It was my first foray into creating a product that brings people together and, for me, it was the perfect combination of art with science. I also met Kenny, Arabilis co-founder, and my husband during my time studying wine at WSU. It quickly became a shared interest, and we made the leap together.

What story does your wine tell?

Arabilis means ‘arable’ or ‘farmable land’. It reflects our aspirations to be grower-producers and follow that model.

Until we can make our dream of owning and farming the land ourselves a reality, we’re being intentional with the farmers we partner with and the wines we are producing. We have a mantra “greatness comes from small beginnings”. Right now, we are at the start of our journey, but we’re striving to be on the same stage with premium wineries. Though our brand is young, I hope that the wines tell the story of the journey we’ve been on and where we are trying to go. I hope that it reflects the dreams we had for years and finally acted on, the care and precision that we take in creating our wines, and our deep pleasure in sharing them with others.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

I’ve come to learn that people have a lot of opinions about Chardonnay! Lots of people expect that Chardonnay will be very buttery, and for some, this means they aren’t interested in drinking Chardonnay at all. I’d like people to know that Chardonnay is one of the more malleable grapes. It lends itself to a number of different winemaking styles. It can be buttery, for sure. It can also have citrus, tropical, green apple, or other flavor profiles. We love Chardonnay and it is one of the varietals we work with the most. Our style tends to be more of the bright acidity, citrus, floral, stone fruit, and salinity.

What great things about wine do you think people should remember?

I feel like it has to be all the hands that go into making wine -- the 'it takes a village' mentality. So many different people from different industries at different places in their lives all get excited about this one product and aim to get it right. Wine not only brings people together while they're sharing it, it brings people together in terms of producing it.

What is a piece of advice you would give to a woman interested in breaking into the wine world?

You don’t have to own the business or be the head winemaker to break into the industry. There are so many opportunities to get involved and you can be a leader in your own passion and field. Think about what types of things get you most excited and what you excel at, then run with that. Besides women winemakers, I know women who are leaders in the wine industry who are badass yeast and nutrient salespersons, head marketers, social media influencers, wine educators, writers, and many wear more than one hat. You get to show up in what you enjoy and tailor it to yourself.

Who is a woman that inspired you?

In the wine industry, there are a couple. One is my husband Kenny’s former boss, Erica Orr, who carries herself with class and a savvy business-sense. I was inspired by how she commands attention with her knowledge and expertise. She is so humble and truly a jack of all trades.

I also want to call out some of our new Oregon wine friends, Lois Cho (Cho wines) and Jeanne Feldkamp (Corollary). Both are focused and have a vision. I’m constantly amazed by what they accomplish and the impact they are having on the wine community.

Lastly, one grower-producer in Champagne I’ve recently become acquainted with is Hélène Charbaut of Guy Charbaut. We were connected to her through a friend prior to our trip to France earlier this year. She is at such an exciting point, just starting her own brand underneath her family’s roof and will likely be releasing her first bottles in 2024. She has great passion and philosophy for Champagne winegrowing, in a region dominated by men. I look forward to following her journey.

Where can women find your wine?

Primarily on our website or at our events. You can always email or DM us to set up a private tasting!