Rachel Rose graduated with her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Fresh out of college and working in the Biotech field, she never imagined herself elbow-deep in roiling ferments within just a few years; however, wine finds a way. Feeling restless in the lab setting, she debated what and where to study before ultimately taking off for Australia to delve into Viticulture for a year. One year became three, by the end of which she had her M.S. in Oenology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Viticulture.

Rachel is an adaptive and experimental winemaker who bridges the gap between natural and traditional winemaking. Her primary winemaking philosophy focuses on minimal use of SO2, judicious use of new French oak, and continual experimentation. She knows how to bridge the artistic creativity that’s the lifeblood of the wine industry with a modern understanding of biochemistry necessary for understanding the building blocks of her wines; this allows her to envision what she wants her wines to be while allowing her the tools to achieve those goals. Her appreciation for many different winemaking philosophies combined with her refusal to be dogmatic makes her one of the most exciting winemakers on the West Coast, reminding us that wine can be fun, serious, educated, and pretty wild!

Rachel is a featured winemaker for the Honoring 40 years in the Willamette Valley Dinner on Saturday, March 2, at 7:00pm.