Behind the vine

Kristie Tacey - Tessier Winery - California, USA

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

I was 23 and came to a wine tasting in Sonoma. Being on an estate property and seeing the vines right outside of where we were tasting the wine was a lightbulb moment for me. It was amazing to see and appreciate the full-circle nature of it all. Winemaking is a combination of everything I really love that resonates with me - botany, soil science, weather, chemistry.

My background is in microbiology and I started my career working in a lab in biotech. I was thinking about other things I could do with my degree and I wanted to go in a more adventurous direction that would connect me to passionate people. A job opened up in Oakland at an urban winery - I applied, got the job and everything launched from there.

What story does your wine tell?

On my bottle it says: 'Science is art'. I see winemaking as art mixed with a high degree of organization and being detail-oriented. I approach winemaking as a combination of all the little choices and decision points that happen along the way every year - what have I learnt, when did I pick last year, how did the wine turn out…those are all part of its story.

My style is based on ensuring the terroir, or sense of place, comes through. When I get into the blends (my picnic series) I'm trying to make a flavor profile that is fresh and fun and evokes a happy feeling. The other wines are very dialed in to showcasing a specific grape - Chardonnay, Gamay, Mourtaou - from a specific vineyard, in a specific AVA.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

People tend to see wine at the end of its production - on the shelf or opened at a dinner, but I don't know if people understand how many hands touch the fruit to make a bottle of wine and what hard work it is. So much of wine is hard, physical, emotional work. It's always interesting to think about the behind the scenes.

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

Wine's history is fascinating. I always look to France, but other areas too, that have been growing grapes and making wine for so long. It's fascinating that wine has been a part of our culture for centuries. It's really a piece of enjoyment written into the arc of history.

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

I would say you definitely need to network. It was hard for me to come from the science background because science is so critical, and I was shy in getting into the wine world. I got started by asking a woman who had vineyards if I could buy a small amount of grapes to start my label, and it felt really good to see someone else's excitement when I spoke about my idea for my brand. Now, all of the growers I've added to my list are an extension of my family. They care about the vines, the environment, the people who work with them, and they care about me. It's so nice to have them as a resource. So, I would say network and align with other people who you feel good around that make you feel heard and supported.

Who is a woman in wine you think everyone should know about?

There are so many. In the beginning of my career it was Eileen Crane who ran one of my favorite places in Sonoma - Domaine Carneros, and I also admired Merry Edwards who was another scientist who went into winemaking.

Now, I'm inspired by a good friend of mine, Nicole Wash, of Ser Winery. Her expertise is in viticulture and vines and she's such a strong, smart woman, and a really hard worker.

Where can women find your wine?

You can look at a list of our stockists, or join our wine club directly!