Belle & Bottle Podcast

In this episode, Hillary Sjolund shares her journey, from her introduction to wine at UC Davis to working at both Pine Ridge and Di Stefano Wineries, to starting her own business. She discusses her transition to Sonoma County, the key moments that shaped her approach, and the importance of balancing art and science. She shares her experience of building Aperture Winery alongside founder Jesse Katz, and offers advice for women looking to pursue a career in winemaking. She also shares what’s next at Aperture, and some of the wines she’s loving right now. Enjoy!

In this episode:

01:55 Hillary’s Career in Wine: From California to Washington

04:17 Starting Own Laboratory Business

07:47 Key Moment in Wine Journey

10:55 Balancing Art and Science in Winemaking

28:13 Advice for Women in Winemaking

28:40 Finding Your Passion

33:22 The Importance of Perseverance and Learning from Mistakes

34:19 Opportunities and Challenges in the Wine Industry

39:05Exciting Wines and Vineyards at Aperture Wines

44:57 Distinct Profiles of Wines from Different Regions (and what she’s drinking now)

For too long, wine has been presented as a special product reserved for those who can afford it, or those who can drink it “knowledgeably”. One thing is right - wine is special. But, good wine doesn’t require you to be an expert to drink it. 

Belle & Bottle is committed to changing the conversation about wine, especially for women. To understand a bit more about what we mean when we say “wine from the female perspective”, this Forbes article has some clues. “…because the wine-making industry is traditionally male dominated, the marketing is likely to be dictated from a male perspective.” Which means that you might not choose a great bottle because the label doesn’t speak to you as a woman, as mentioned in that Forbes piece, or the mass market wine industry isn’t talking about the small production, family or women-run wineries. We want to change that. Our mission is to bring you the stories of the people and places behind the unforgettable bottles you haven’t discovered yet. The podcast talks about wine from the female perspective, but it is for everyone to enjoy.

In this podcast, Belle & Bottle founder Laura Huston welcomes winemakers, sommeliers, chefs, industry experts - and, people who love wine — to have a conversation about what they’re drinking, what’s in the bottle, and the wineries that we should all know about! The first episode drops on Thursday, June 6 and will be available everywhere. Listen, subscribe, share, leave us a rating and review. Cheers!