winemaker

Ayala’s revival dovetailed with the hotel’s transformation and given the Champagne’s presence in the hotel’s early years, the sparkling winemaker seemed a likely partner for the project.

A wine critic friend of mine asked for an interview with the winemaker but was told it was “inconvenient.”

What may sound like an adventure story was the real life of a Japanese immigrant who became the largest winemaker in California.

Françoise, the winemaker at Araujo at the time, was hugely instructive.

The wine world tends to glorify the winemaker when really it takes a team of hard-working people to tend vineyards and make wine.

Both women have earned “Winemaker of the Year” accolades from various organizations.