Winemaking and the Importance of Female Leadership
Wednesday, 5PM PST/ 7PM CT/ 8PM EST on July 31st Via Zoom
Award winning Winemaker Jill Russell from Cambria Estates Winery speaks to us on what it is like to work for a winery that has female leadership across the board. Female Ownership, female winemaking team. Jill is a passionate advocate for the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara County. Cambria is estate grown fruit from vine to bottle, farmed certified sustainable. What is it like to grow world class, site specific, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that is proudly owned by strong women? Lets explore food, wine, family, travel and the role happiness plays in the making of amazing wines.
Jill Russell grew up with a love of food and wine while living in the Bay Area and working as a server at a winery in Livermore Valley. She developed a love for the Central Coast where she attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in their new Wine & Viticulture program. Interested in experiencing winemaking abroad, Jill spent a quarter studying in Adelaide, Australia. After college she had the dream opportunity to make wine in Menetou-Salon, Loire Valley France.
With all of her connections and work during college at Tolosa, Stephen Ross & Phase 2 Cellars, Jill was drawn back to Santa Barbara County and established her reputation there. She was introduced to Paul Lato, who believed she not only had the skills, but the right energy to help make some of the best wines that the Central Coast had to offer. At Paul Lato Wines, she specialized in wines sourced from prestigious vineyards of the Santa Maria and Santa Rita Hills regions, but found herself particularly drawn to the uniquely characteristic vines of Santa Maria Valley.
Years later, the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself, and Jill knew it was her destiny to take on the role of winemaker at Cambria Winery, one of the quintessential wineries of Santa Maria Valley. Jill is thrilled to work alongside former Cambria Winemaker and General Manager Denise Shurtleff. Jill lived in San Luis Obispo for more than ten years, and shares a love of the Central Coast with her husband Torrey. They now live in the quaint winemaking town of Los Alamos.