NAPA / SONOMA, CALIFORNIA | March 18, 2025 — On Wednesday, March 19, from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. PST, the Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable of the Napa | Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense (WWS) will host a candid conversation with Elaine Chukan Brown, highly-awarded author, speaker, global wine educator, Wine Enthusiast Magazine reviewer for Napa Valley and more. They will share insights about wine writing, reviewing wines, evaluating what wine stories, themes, destinations and tools that appeal to which groups of readers now, tips for more effectively working with the press, various media platforms and increasing impact. Brown will also expand on other hot topics important to winemaking and viticulture professionals and wine lovers including sustainability, mentoring, diversity and inclusion. Lively Q&A is welcomed and encouraged.
This Roundtable is generously hosted by one of the trailblazing crown jewels of California wine, Merry Edwards Winery, by Winemaker and long-time WWS member, Heidi von der Mehden, and President, Nicole Carter. This event will be held onsite at their private Maefield guest house in Forestville, not at the main Sebastopol winery.
ABOUT THE EVENT: The onsite event welcomes both WWS Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable members and their qualified professional guests that have received pre-approvals from the Roundtable Chair. The event will not be recorded to ensure private, open discussion. All current WWS chapter members may also access a private additional Zoom livestream.
At 3:00 p.m. the onsite event begins with a networking reception enjoying hospitality and an assortment of notable Merry Edwards wines with time to meet the speaker personally. At 4:00 p.m., the program and live stream begin.
WWS Napa | Sonoma chapter President, Julie Lumgair, notes, “This is an exceptional opportunity to listen and connect in person with one of the wine world’s most dynamic forward-looking writers who tells it with candor and heart. Plus we’ll get the latest insights we all need as winemakers and grape growers to enhance our own communications in a fast changing media and consumer landscape.”
RSVP DETAILS: Please, no walk ins. The free W&V Roundtable meeting is open to active professional WWS Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable members. Interested guest winemakers and viticulturists that have emailed and received confirmations through the Chair are warmly welcomed to attend one Roundtable for free before joining WWS if space is available. All members may also access a private additional Zoom livestream (no recording).
All attendees need to RSVP before noon., March 19th, to receive private guest house directions and entry instructions with this link. Zoom log in credentials will be sent by 1 pm, Pacific.
All attendees are asked to bring a bottle or two of wine as a thank you to our host and speaker. To RSVP, or for any questions on this event or future WWS events, please contact the Roundtable Chair, Julie.Lumgair@gmail.com.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Elaine Chukan Brown is an award-winning writer, speaker, book author and global wine educator, as well as a consultant on mentorship and diversity programs worldwide. Indigenous (Inupiaq and Unangan-Sugpiaq) from what is now Alaska, Brown specializes in American wine and reviews Napa Valley wine and wines of northeastern Spain for Wine Enthusiast. Previously, they served as the Executive Editor US for JancisRobinson.com and their work has appeared in Decanter and Wine & Spirits Magazine. They contributed to both the fourth and fifth editions of The Oxford Companion to Wine, the eighth and upcoming ninth edition of the World Atlas of Wine, and the compilations On Burgundy and On California from Académie du Vin Library. They co-founded the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum and have advised diversity initiatives in multiple countries. Brown serves as a judge for the Texsom Awards and is a board member of The Wine Writer Symposium.
ABOUT THE WWS WINEMAKING & VITICULTURAL ROUNDTABLE: The W&V Roundtable meets approximately six times a year, taking a harvest break. Members are additionally invited to all general WWS chapter events. Current members of the WWS Napa / Sonoma W&V Roundtable work in the North Bay, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz, Central Coast and beyond, meeting both in person and though hybrid onsite / online formats.
Marisa Taylor, long time WWS member of the Winemaking & Viticulture Planning Committee noted “Our past meeting topics have focused upon the C-suite professional skills and insights women winemakers and viticultural professionals need but aren’t always easy to get in their daily work environment.”
She further explained that, “Held for 35 years at some of Napa and Sonoma’s finest host wineries, and since 2020, expanded to both online and in person formats, our Roundtable programs have been a fantastic opportunity for over 100 member women winemakers and viticulturists to connect directly in a friendly professional forum, with experts that they otherwise wouldn’t get to meet for personal advice and questions. Some of our recent speakers have included top wine publication critics and senior editors, iconic winemakers, leading academics, global sensory consultants, sommeliers, media trainers, professional coaching experts, CFO’s and GM’s in panel discussions and key recruiters.”
ABOUT THE HOSTS: Since 1970, Merry Edwards has been considered a trailblazer whose contributions have helped shape the American wine industry. She has achieved numerous pinnacles of winemaking and viticultural success in the field, cellar and the global stage including induction into the Culinary Institute of America’s Vintners Hall of Fame and being awarded the coveted James Beard Award for Best Wine, Beer or Spirits Professional in the United States. Today her legacy carries on—Winemaker Heidi von der Mehden and Winery President Nicole Carter honor her accomplishments every day, sharing Merry’s fierce determination and uncompromising commitment to quality. This is a workplace where everyone is encouraged to succeed.
Heidi von der Mehden, is a Sonoma County native and trained scientist who spent more than two years in the Peace Corps in Africa. Heidi is both determined and open-minded in her approach. After receiving a degree in chemistry from Santa Clara University in 1997 and teaching high school chemistry in Tanzania, she returned to Sonoma County to work as a lab technician and then enologist for Kenwood Vineyards. After three years as assistant winemaker at Mauritson Winery, Heidi jumped at the opportunity to work with Richard Arrowood as associate winemaker in 2007 before taking over as winemaker in 2010. Five years later, Merry tapped Heidi as her successor, and the two worked side by side until Merry’s retirement in 2020.
Nicole Carter is President of Roederer Collection USA (Merry Edwards Winery in the Russian River Valley; Diamond Creek Vineyards in the Napa Valley; and Roederer Estate, Domaine Anderson and Scharffenberger Cellars in the Anderson Valley). Nicole is responsible for all aspects of the operations at all five properties. She has more than 20 years of marketing, winemaking and viticulture, sales, and export experience, including most recently serving as the Chief Marketing Officer and Director of Winemaking for Hess Family Wine Estates. Nicole spent 18 years with Treasury Wine Estates in several global marketing and public relations roles. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine and holds additional certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers, the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and the Culinary Institute of America Wine School in Napa Valley.
ABOUT WOMEN FOR WINESENSE: WWS is a national not-for-profit organization 501(c)6. The Napa|Sonoma Chapter founded in 1990 is the founding chapter of this national organization which provides outstanding educational and networking opportunities to both wine industry professionals and wine enthusiasts by presenting educational, insightful and stimulating events in a welcoming, fun environment. Women and men 21 years old or more are welcome to join any of the 11 chapters or a national virtual chapter.
The Napa | Sonoma Chapter has multiple Roundtables developed for WWS professional members as an added benefit. Active Roundtables include four areas of involvement, and professional members may join all that apply to their current roles: Finance, Human Resources, Winemaking & Viticulture and Business Owners / GM’s. To join WWS or learn more about any Roundtables, please visit womenforwinesense.org Napa-Sonoma Chapter Page.
