Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Changing the Way You Think About Wine
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Changing the Way You Think About Wine
Send us Fan Mail
S2 E3 - Cassandra Beldowicz - Winemaker & Owner of Corcilla Cellars
What if you don’t need to know anything about wine… to actually enjoy it?
In this episode of The Realtor Who Wines, Rashelle Newmyer sits down with winemaker and founder of Corcilla Cellars, Cassandra Beldowicz, to talk about breaking into the wine industry, redefining the tasting room experience, and making wine feel approachable for everyone.
“At the end of the day, all you really need to know is—did I like it or did I not like it?”Cassandra’s journey didn’t start in a vineyard; it started in healthcare. After working as a labor and delivery nurse, a broken arm led to an unexpected pause… and a new obsession.
“I was studying four hours a day… drawing maps of Bordeaux… I was completely obsessed.”That obsession turned into harvest work in Napa Valley, years of hands-on experience, and eventually launching her own label in Oregon, where she now creates unique, small-batch wines designed to expand people’s palates beyond the expected.
“It’s been my goal to change people’s minds about Riesling… and I feel like I’m getting there.”In This Episode, We Talk About:
- How Cassandra went from nurse to winemaker (and why she never went back)
- Why does she intentionally not make Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley
- The reality of working a harvest (70–80 hour weeks and still loving it)
- Being a woman in a male-dominated industry
- How to walk into a tasting room with confidence, even if you know nothing about wine
Wine, Community & Breaking the Rules
Cassandra is also redefining what a tasting room can feel like, less intimidating, more like your living room.
“My goal was to make it feel like you’re in your living room… not pretentious, just comfortable.”From hosting community events like drag bingo to creating a space where kids, friends, and newcomers all feel welcome, she’s building more than a wine brand—she’s building connection.
“We’ve had people come in who didn’t know each other… and now they meet here all the time. That’s what I’m most proud of.”The “Badass Women” Wine Series
One of the most unique parts of Cassandra’s brand? Her rotating wine blends are named after influential women like Betty White and Katherine Johnson, with a portion of proceeds supporting women in STEM.
It’s wine with a story, a purpose, and a little bit of edge.
Why You Should Listen
Whether you’re:
- A wine lover (or someone who feels intimidated by wine)
- A business owner building something from scratch
- Or someone who loves hearing how people turn passion into purpose
This episode will leave you inspired and maybe a little more confident ordering your next glass.
So grab a glass of wine, settle in, and join us for a conversation about wine, entrepreneurship, and building something meaningful one bold decision at a time.
Cheers!
Thank you for listening! Connect and collaborate with Realtor Rashelle on any of her social media platform pages > https://linktr.ee/RealtorRashelle
View all episodes
By Rashelle Newmyer - Realtor RashelleSend us Fan Mail
S2 E3 - Cassandra Beldowicz - Winemaker & Owner of Corcilla Cellars
What if you don’t need to know anything about wine… to actually enjoy it?
In this episode of The Realtor Who Wines, Rashelle Newmyer sits down with winemaker and founder of Corcilla Cellars, Cassandra Beldowicz, to talk about breaking into the wine industry, redefining the tasting room experience, and making wine feel approachable for everyone.
“At the end of the day, all you really need to know is—did I like it or did I not like it?”Cassandra’s journey didn’t start in a vineyard; it started in healthcare. After working as a labor and delivery nurse, a broken arm led to an unexpected pause… and a new obsession.
“I was studying four hours a day… drawing maps of Bordeaux… I was completely obsessed.”That obsession turned into harvest work in Napa Valley, years of hands-on experience, and eventually launching her own label in Oregon, where she now creates unique, small-batch wines designed to expand people’s palates beyond the expected.
“It’s been my goal to change people’s minds about Riesling… and I feel like I’m getting there.”In This Episode, We Talk About:
- How Cassandra went from nurse to winemaker (and why she never went back)
- Why does she intentionally not make Pinot Noir in the Willamette Valley
- The reality of working a harvest (70–80 hour weeks and still loving it)
- Being a woman in a male-dominated industry
- How to walk into a tasting room with confidence, even if you know nothing about wine
Wine, Community & Breaking the Rules
Cassandra is also redefining what a tasting room can feel like, less intimidating, more like your living room.
“My goal was to make it feel like you’re in your living room… not pretentious, just comfortable.”From hosting community events like drag bingo to creating a space where kids, friends, and newcomers all feel welcome, she’s building more than a wine brand—she’s building connection.
“We’ve had people come in who didn’t know each other… and now they meet here all the time. That’s what I’m most proud of.”The “Badass Women” Wine Series
One of the most unique parts of Cassandra’s brand? Her rotating wine blends are named after influential women like Betty White and Katherine Johnson, with a portion of proceeds supporting women in STEM.
It’s wine with a story, a purpose, and a little bit of edge.
Why You Should Listen
Whether you’re:
- A wine lover (or someone who feels intimidated by wine)
- A business owner building something from scratch
- Or someone who loves hearing how people turn passion into purpose
This episode will leave you inspired and maybe a little more confident ordering your next glass.
So grab a glass of wine, settle in, and join us for a conversation about wine, entrepreneurship, and building something meaningful one bold decision at a time.
Cheers!
Thank you for listening! Connect and collaborate with Realtor Rashelle on any of her social media platform pages > https://linktr.ee/RealtorRashelle