Jennifer Williams
Winemaker
In a rural town north of San Diego, Jennifer grew up grazing on her family’s many fruit trees. She cultivated that awareness of flavor and her interest in agriculture through her studies in fruit science at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. After receiving her undergraduate degree, a vineyard internship in the Napa Valley sparked her interest in the wine industry. Jennifer’s winegrowing experience includes positions in Paso Robles and the Napa Valley, as well as an internship in Spain’s Rioja Alavesa region.
Drawn to Spottswoode’s philosophy of organic farming and business sustainability, Jennifer joined the team as an intern for the 2002 harvest and was hired as Assistant Winemaker in 2003. She took on vineyard management responsibilities the following year and, in this role, brought Spottswoode’s farming in-house. With a deep understanding of the estate vineyard, she took over as Spottswoode’s Winemaker in 2006.
The San Francisco Chronicle noted Jennifer as a “Winemaker to Watch” in 2007.
When not traipsing through the vineyard or tasting in the cellar, Jennifer and her husband, Mark, stay very busy, enjoying every possible minute with their daughter, Kiran.
Click here for Women & Wine interview with Jennifer Williams
10 minute audio; click arrow to pause or stop
“We enjoy our role as stewards of this special property and from time to time, when we step back, we receive a deep sense of satisfaction to find the garden and vineyards, the nearby creek, and the resident owls and songbirds all flourishing under our watch.”
