Born and raised in war-torn Bosnia, Morris says that she still pinches herself every day that she gets to make wine in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Prior to joining Alma Rosa, Samra’s most impactful tutelage included working three harvests with one of Napa’s most respected consulting winemakers, Thomas Rivers Brown. Through this experience she came to appreciate site-specific farming, high-touch viticulture, and thoughtful cellar management. In 2019, Samra was recruited as assistant winemaker at Alma Rosa Winery in Santa Barbara County and was quickly promoted to winemaker in 2020. Since taking the reins as Alma Rosa’s winemaker, she has been recognized by critics for producing wines from the Sta. Rita Hills that offer a striking combination of energy and texture.

Samra holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food sciences from The University of Sarajevo. While her initial focus post-graduation was on fermentation sciences in relation to beer, she knew she wanted to work in wine, and as luck would have it, her American husband took an assignment at the Travis Airforce Base in 2012, just a stone’s throw from the Napa Valley. Her future is now, and the best is yet to come.