Laura Barrett joined Clif Family Winery of Napa Valley on November 2014, bringing with her a deep passion for wine and a lifelong love of science. Laura earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Vermont. Her desire to translate science into something more tangible led her to pursue a winemaking career. This journey began with hands-on experience at Stony Ridge Vineyards, a small producer on Waiheke Island, New Zealand.
Solidifying her passion for winemaking, Laura returned to the U.S. and earned a Master’s in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis. She was awarded the La Reve Foundation scholarship for outstanding female Viticulture and Enology students.
Following UC Davis, Laura honed her skills under consulting winemaker Mia Klein at Fisher Vineyards, where she developed a deep appreciation for the intricacies of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Driven by the desire to lead a wine program, Laura took a position at Casey Flat Ranch in Capay Valley for the next seven years.
Laura brings her scientific expertise, meticulous approach, and creative flair to the Clif Family Winery portfolio today. Importantly, she integrates a keen interest in sustainable vineyard and winery practices, ensuring a lasting positive impact while crafting food-friendly wines. Media Inquiries: lbarrett@cliffamily.com | www.cliffamily.com
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
Every bottle of wine we make represents the values of Clif Family founders Kit Crawford and Gary Erickson – a commitment to people, planet, and community. As a certified B Corp, we strive for the highest standards of social and environmental impact. That comes across in everything we do and every wine we craft.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
If I were not constrained, I would sneak away in the fall to work a harvest in Europe. I’d love to go to the Roussillon and immerse myself in the culture while learning how they make wine in this Old World region.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
Our 2021 Proprietary Red Wine from Valle di Sotto Vineyard is the wine that best represents the Clif Family story. In 2018 we sought 40 acres of vineyard to support our diverse winemaking portfolio. We had been purchasing grapes for many of our programs and finding organically farmed blocks was challenging. We struck gold when we found 40 acres of bare dirt in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, an AVA that hangs its hat on varietal diversity. We planted 9 different grape varieties. Our inaugural vintage was 2021 and the Proprietary Red Wine is one I am most proud of. This wine showcases everything I strive for – a dedication to sustainability, working to sustain the planet through organic and regenerative farming practices, and the art and craftsmanship of making a blended wine. Click here to read the wine review.
Bonus Question: Why Winemaking?
I moved to California from Massachusetts, chasing the wine industry. I had studied Chemistry in college and found myself underwhelmed at the thought of working in research. I feared a basement laboratory where I never saw the light of day. I committed myself to using my education but also finding an interesting career where I would interact with people and be outside. The idea of becoming a winemaker fell in my lap when someone said, “You should be an Enologist.” What’s that, I asked. 25 years later I could not be happier with the path that led me to my career in winemaking.