Behind the vine

Natalie Albertson - Wildflower Winery - Ventura, California, USA

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

It happened slowly, yet all at once. My love of wine built up over the years. I remember visiting my aunt and uncle who were living in Paris after I graduated high school, and that was my first taste of wine. The love of wine cemented itself when I was in Milan with one of my girlfriends and we took the WSET Level 1 course and exam. That evening we went to a Champagne bar and I brought up the idea of wanting to own a boutique winery. She was one of those friends who believed in my vision and hearing her say that I should do it made me feel like I could do it.

My family and I moved back to California in January of 2020 and while studying for the WSET Level 2, I realized that my personality and my love for making things from scratch were so relevant to winemaking. I had made sourdough, kefir, kombucha, and other fermentation products, but I'd never made wine. So, I decided my love of making something from nothing was going to go into winemaking. I'm not an artist, but this is the art that I've created.

What story does your wine tell?

My daughter's name is Poppy, named after all the poppy flowers that would arrive in Europe every spring, and we called my Cherokee grandfather Poppy, too. Wildflower Winery is a reminder to my kids of who they are, and a way to honor my background.

I make fruit-forward wines that are typically lighter, easy-drinking, and not overly pretentious. I'm gravitating towards light wines myself - I'm not grabbing heavy Cabs or Barolos. I think there's a time and place for every wine, but my go-to's are what I'm focused on making. I don't want people to sit with my wine and think 'what should I be analyzing', I just want to give people wines to enjoy with family and friends.

I also want my wines to educate people about wines that don't make you feel like shit after drinking them. I educate people on histamines and tannins in wine. I work with sustainable, organic, and biodynamic growers who consider the whole ecosystem of a vineyard. I'm looking to work with people who take an intentional approach to grape-growing.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

A misconception about wine is that you have to analyze it, drink it a certain way, or drink a certain 'type' of wine. I just want people to drink what they love. If you like wine, drink it. If you put an ice cube in your wine and that's the way you prefer it, then screw people who judge you. Life is short.

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

What I love about grapes is that they can become so many different things. They can be turned into raisins, there are table grapes, etc. I do a Grenache four different ways from the same grape from the same vineyard. Saying that any varietal is one thing is short-sighted. I'm hoping people can open their eyes to all the beautiful things grapes can be.

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

I would say find a mentor or surround yourself with people that you can go to for questions about business, fermentations, anything! Go in with an open mind and a humble attitude.

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

The first female winemaker I met was Arianna Occhipinti. She started out when she was 18 and followed in her uncle's footsteps. She is in everything - the gardens, the vines, the red soil, the whole shebang. When I visited her she was so kind and really treated us like family.

There are so many women who are working so hard, working multiple jobs between larger wineries and their own labels, and I love being surrounded by so many strong women who are working to change the narrative in wine like Martha Stoumen, Kristie Tacey, Gretchen Volker, Brit Zotovich, Jessica Gasca, Terah Bajjalieh, Anna Clifford.

Where can women find your wine?

You can buy wine on my website, and check out a list of retailers local to you!