Behind the vine

Hayley Hossfeld - Hossfeld Vineyards - Napa, California, USA

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

My parents started our vineyard in 1981, when Napa was still quite a sleepy town. They found this really unique plot that was all volcanic rock where they hand-dynamited every hole for the vines, and even though it wasn’t their main business, it became my dad's hobby - he would do the vineyards on weekends, spray it before work, and they sold the grapes to local producers.

My dad passed away in 2009 and my mom, my sisters and I discussed what to do with the site. We all agreed to keep it and my sister took over the business. I was born and raised in Napa, and I had just graduated college, so I wasn't interested in coming back home quite yet. I had always loved Spanish, so I decided to move to La Rioja and teach English. That’s when I really learned about the wine industry. Rioja has multi-generational wineries with so much personality. There are families talking to you about their wines, dusty bottles ageing in cellars, dogs running around. It was so different to most Napa wineries which were austere and posh, and it really inspired me.

While in La Rioja, I did a masters in innovative oenology, and my class was full of other people who had family properties or people who wanted to start their own wine brand. It was a fantastic course that really focused on sensorial elements of wine and how to analyse what you’re tasting and smelling. I did an internship in St. Emilion where I really learned a lot. It was a lot of hard work, but I got to know Bordeaux varietals which are what we have in our vineyard. After the Atlas Fire, in 2017, I came back to Napa and started working at the vineyard. I started a wine brand with my sister and brother-in-law, and our first vintage was 2016. Our first release was in Spring 2020.

What story does your wine tell?

Our wine tells a story about the land and the family that is its caretaker. We are passionate about our parcel, and our place in the Napa Valley. We really believe that all the hard work happens in the vineyard first, and then we do low-intervention winemaking to honor and represent the land in the best way.

Our vineyard is mostly natural chaparral, with some hedgerow garden and orchards. It’s steep, dusty, rocky, and the vines struggle so the wines are concentrated, with natural low yields - fruity with some minerality. Nothing we do up here is easy, but I wouldn't want to farm anywhere else.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

Wine is made to be enjoyed and not analysed. I think people get caught up in how much they think they need to know. Truthfully, your average drinker doesn’t need to know the full fermentation process or understand all the jargon. In Spain, you see these neighborhood wine bars that are full of old men drinking red wine in cups and having snacks and catching up with neighbors. I wish more of those casual wine interactions existed.

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

I think wine is a great catalyst for connecting with friends and being in the moment - focusing on what's in front of you. People are always distracted and 10 thoughts away, but with wine it's about grounding yourself in the moment. You're tasting the wine and engrossed in the story of what's in your glass.

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

I think they should stay curious: if you don't know the answer to something, ask the question. Google things, keep reading books, keep your thirst for knowledge high and do your own personal work, but never be afraid to ask.

The wine industry can sometimes make you feel like you need to earn your stripes before you can ask questions, but that’s an old-school way of thinking that doesn’t serve anyone. Asking a question isn’t about belittling someone or challenging their knowledge. I was always willing to show I didn't know by asking, and if you find a job with someone who belittles you for asking question, find a new job. If you keep working hard, staying curious and being positive - you will find the right fit.

Where can women find your wine?

We’re only available in the US and ship to most states. You can sign up to our mailing list on our website. We do a release 2x a year so keep any eye out for our wines!