Jessica Koga is a winemaker specializing in small lot winemaking from the North Coast of California. She is experienced with crafting sparkling wine as well as luxury Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon with a focus on site-specific wines. After graduating from UC Davis, she interned at Schramsberg Vineyards and ended up staying for nearly three years before traveling to gain experience in New Zealand and New York. Upon returning to California, she worked for Gundlach Bundschu in Sonoma and at Vineyard 29 in St. Helena before returning to Schramsberg to run their sister winery, Davies Vineyards.

Follow her on Instagram at @winechik.

Hailing from Wyckoff, New Jersey, Evyn Cameron is the Winemaker of Crocker & Starr Wines in St. Helena. She has had experience in viticulture and winemaking in both Napa and New Zealand as well as traveling through different winemaking regions in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere. Starting her career in hospitality, working for Thomas Keller’s Per Se restaurant in Manhattan, inevitably led her to fulfill her dream of working in Napa to become a winemaker. Evyn has been fortunate to have multiple female mentors throughout her career which has made her realize the importance of support and continuing to make sure other women have the tools and guidance to be successful.

Photo credit: Emma K. Morris

Heidi von der Mehden grew up in Sonoma County’s Wine Country. She earned a degree in chemistry from Santa Clara University in 1997 and taught high school chemistry in Tanzania, Africa, while in the Peace Corps. She returned to Sonoma County in 2000 and joined the wine industry, working her way up the ranks at Kenwood Vineyards, Mauritson Winery and Arrowood Winery, where she was named Winemaker when Richard Arrowood stepped down. Merry Edwards hired Heidi as her Associate Winemaker in 2015. Heidi was named winemaker and Merry Edwards’ successor in 2018, becoming the only person other than Merry to hold that position at the winery.

Maura Johnson grew up in Southern California but wanted something new for college, so went to UC Davis to study Mathematics. After hearing about the Viticulture and Enology department, she quickly switched focus and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Viticulture and Enology and a minor in Managerial Economics. Since 2018, Maura has been the Associate Winemaker at Dana Estates in Napa Valley specializing in small lot Cabernet Sauvignon production and working closely with the VASO brand. She has close to 20 harvests in experience, doing harvests in New Zealand, Australia, and Germany working in all aspects of vineyards and production.

In 2015, Maura and her winemaking husband started their own brand, March Wines, specializing in Riesling and St. Laurent. Maura also is an active potter, beekeeper, and mother and loves to help newcomers into the wine industry

Anne Fogerty is the Associate Winemaker for Caterwaul Wines in Napa, California. She also has her own virtual label, Belharra Wines, with her wife. A native of Minnesota, she has grown her skills without a traditional winemaking degree and looks to create connections and support for persons across the industry. With 12 harvests in California, two in New Zealand, and multiple winemaking contacts across the globe, she continues to strive for education across all facets of winemaking and brand management.