Behind every bottle is a person, a story, and a whole lot of passion. In Part 1 of our four-part series, we’re pulling back the curtain and introducing you to the people who bring our wines to life. From long harvest days to lifelong inspirations, our winemakers share what drives them, what surprises them, and what keeps them excited about wine year after year.
MEET WINEMAKER, SARAH ATWOOD
What first sparked your love for wine and when did you realize it could become a career?
Around the time I was heading off for college, I had this huge desire to learn everything I could about wine. I did not grow up around much of a wine culture and never had a specific person introducing me to impactful bottles or tales of the vineyard. It was just a completely new topic to explore which excited me. That motivated me in the early years to completely immerse myself in anything remotely related to wine which brought me to some awesome places and broadened my studies to not only winemaking but many related topics and projects. It has been a great journey so far and I often re-fall in love with wine now working for Au Bon Climat.
Harvest season: adrenaline rush or controlled chaos? (Or a bit of both?)
It depends on the day. There is a lot of experience in the cellar. Collectively, the team seen a lot and are great at getting back on track quickly if things don’t go to plan. There are always curveballs and the adrenaline rush actually keeps you going when you are exhausted and sleep deprived. We have a long harvest, so stamina is key.
What’s something about the wine industry that surprised you once you were on the inside?
Everyone says the wine world is “small.” It really is! You tend to run into the same people again over the years. It is a global community and every connection is valuable.
If you could spend a month drinking your way through one Old World wine region, where would you go and why?
Tough question. I think I would have to go with Portugal. Portuguese wines are still a blind spot for me. They have a huge range of styles and varieties. I don’t think I could ever get bored exploring their wine regions.
Do you have a personal or “secret” wine project outside of your day-to-day winemaking?
Yes! In 2024, I started Domaine Publica wines with my partner Ben. It is a culmination of our experiences in wine, getting to work with some incredible people and vineyards that we have met along the way. We specialize in lesser-known Mediterranean varieties that are incredibly well suited to grow in California’s climate. Really fun to drink and even more fun to pronounce, our first vintage of Falanghina, Assyrtiko, and Refosco will be bottled this spring.
What’s your guilty pleasure food?
Eggplant. With everything. With zero guilt! You can’t beat the flavor. I’ll have eggplant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if it works out. Every tomato dish benefits from eggplant. Caprese salad, next level when you add sliced grilled eggplant. Baba ghanoush > hummus. Achari Baingan (eggplant curry) I could eat every day.
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