Ali Mayfield has led winemaking for JAINE, part of the Avallé team in the Columbia Valley AVA of Washington State, since the 2022 vintage, bringing nearly two decades of experience and a deep commitment to small-lot, handcrafted wines. A graduate of Walla Walla Community College’s acclaimed viticulture and enology program, she trained under the late Stan Clarke and went on to refine her skills at Long Shadows Vintners, Corliss Estates, and Tranche Cellars, collaborating with renowned winemakers including Gilles Nicault, Kendall Mix, and consultant Claude Gros.
As consulting winemaker at Foundry Vineyards, Ali’s debut 2011 Chardonnays received scores of 92 and 94 (Editor’s Choice) from Wine Enthusiast—some of the highest ratings earned by a female winemaker for Chardonnay in Washington State at the time. Her 2011 Stainless Chardonnay was also named one of Wine Enthusiast‘s “Top 100 Wines” in 2013.
Ali approaches winemaking with a meticulous, vineyard-first philosophy—hand-selecting fruit and overseeing every detail with care and curiosity. “Constantly striving to be better, pushing your boundaries, taking risks… that’s how you create beautiful wines,” she says. Media Inquiries: Jennifer Scott Jennifer@pressed-pr.com | https://jaine.co/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
What makes JAINE truly unique is our unwavering commitment to crafting dynamic white wines and rosés that express the purest essence of Washington State. Every bottle is a reflection of place and time, sourced from sustainable vineyards and made with minimal intervention to showcase the region’s natural tension.
Once the fruit is harvested, my full attention turns to winemaking. This singular focus, combined with a hands-on, detail-driven approach, allows me to truly understand each wine. Working year after year with the same vineyard sources deepens that relationship. It becomes intuitive. I learn what each wine wants to become, whether that means separating juice fractions or working with the lees to build texture and depth.
At JAINE, every vintage is a new chapter, an opportunity to listen more closely, to push a little further, and to craft wines that evolve with integrity and intention. It’s this blend of curiosity, consistency, and respect for the fruit that defines who we are—and what sets us apart.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
If I had no limitations financial, logistical, or otherwise I’d create a winemaking sanctuary: a place where nature and creativity come together to produce something truly transcendent. I’d purchase a home surrounded by rolling vineyards, nestled in a region where the land speaks through the vines.
But this wouldn’t just be a winery, it would be a living, breathing ecosystem of innovation and tradition. I’d design an immersive, regenerative vineyard using biodynamic and sustainable practices, where each vine is treated with care and intention. The winery would blend cutting-edge technology with old-world craftsmanship, allowing for both precision and soul in every bottle.
I’d wake up each day to walk the rows of vines to taste, to experiment, to learn from the land. I’d invite other passionate winemakers, chefs, artists, and thinkers to collaborate transforming the space into a cultural hub where wine becomes a foundation for deeper connection, creativity, and celebration.
The wines themselves would tell a story of place, of vision, of limitless possibility. I wouldn’t just aim to make great wine; I’d aim to inspire through it. To me, wine is more than a product, it’s a language. And I’d use it to speak to the world.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
The 2023 JAINE Thunderstone Rosé is the wine that best represents my winemaking style.
Throughout the season, I visited the vineyard weekly tasting, observing, and waiting as the flavors evolved. When the moment finally came to harvest, the entire cellar crew shared in the excitement. From day one, everyone who worked with this wine recognized its significance. It was nurtured with care and intention until the moment it went into the bottle.
I often say, let the wine do the talking and this one truly speaks for itself. You can taste the careful thoughtfulness in every step. It’s like a luxury good: polished, precise, quietly confident like a perfectly made latte or the feel of fine, well-crafted fabric. Understated, but deeply memorable. Read this wine review now.
Bonus Question: Why Winemaking?
Becoming a winemaker was a dream come true because it combined so many things I love: creativity, science, and sharing something meaningful with others. I’ve always enjoyed drinking wine, but I quickly discovered that I love the art of crafting it even more. What started as a hobby with a simple winemaking kit in a dark closet, where I jokingly called myself a “closet winemaker” soon turned into a true passion. I would bottle my homemade wines, design custom labels, and give them as gifts to friends, thrilled by the joy they brought.