Women in Wine
maryann Pellegrini
maryann Pellegrini
maryann Pellegrini
Chief Executive Officer -
Trentadue Winery
(Sonoma County, California)
Maryann Pellegrini, CEO at Trentadue Winery, grew up in the California agriculture business.
Her family owned a Central Valley farming operation for generations, and Maryann was expected to help with the farm work. Throughout her childhood and on until she graduated high school, Maryann took on a variety of jobs in her family’s business, from driving tractors to eventually taking on administrative work in the farm office, where she reconciled bank accounts, paid bills, and handled payroll.
Maryann discovered she loved accounting and finance. She headed off to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 2009, where she double majored with BS degrees in Agricultural Business and Agricultural Science. Her first job took her back to Central Valley to work as an accounting assistant at another local farm.
She joined the team at Trentadue in 2010 as accounting manager and was quickly promoted to the position of controller. Maryann’s skill and dedication made her a valuable asset to Trentadue.
Maryann decided to continue her studies, earning her MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University in 2017. In 2021, Maryann became Trentadue’s VP of Finance, and she was promoted to CEO in late 2023. With a family-owned small business, she has wide-ranging responsibilities, which include all accounting and finance functions of winery and vineyard; annual audit, monthly financial reporting, cash flow and budget forecasting, federal and state compliance, tax reporting, AR/AP, payroll, banking, and lease financing. She also assists in the general management of the overall winery.
Asked what she values above all else about Trentadue, Maryann says, “The team. I enjoy the community of co-workers we have Trentadue. We’re like one big family.”
And, for women who are interested in pursuing a career in the wine industry, Maryann has one simple piece of advice… don’t stop learning.
Laura March
maryann Pellegrini
maryann Pellegrini
Tasting Room Manager - Keenan Winery
(Napa Valley, California)
Laura March is a woman of many hats at Keenan Winery. As tasting room manager, her sunny smile makes visitors feel right at home in the warm, family atmosphere. But, when she leaves the tasting room, she steps into her other roles as bookkeeper and direct-to-consumer compliance officer, helping to ensure the smooth operation of the winery’s business.
Laura was born and raised in St. Helena, and as a grape grower’s daughter she already knew quite a bit about grapes and wine. At 19, she got her first job in the industry on the bottling line at Sutter Home. Laura joined Keenan in 1995 when her then-husband was the cellar master. Her first position was helping part-time in the tasting room. She set about learning everything she could, and eventually took on new roles in the winery’s business. But, even after moving into those positions, Laura still loves her work in the tasting room best.
“I really love meeting people from all over. Everyone is so happy to be in the valley, makes my job easy,” she says. “I do love educating folks about some misunderstandings in the industry, such as explaining the difference between a California Chardonnay and a Chablis style. I have established many wonderful relationships over the years with our customers. It’s really great to make a little bit of a personal connection with visitors.”
Those connections are important not only to Laura personally, but she believes they make a difference in promoting Keenan and the wine.
“I think in a position such as mine it’s so important to remember you are in the hospitality business. Always treat folks with respect and be friendly. I feel it’s important not to push purchasing. Be polite and let the wine sell itself,” she says.
If you ever get to Napa, be sure you drop in at Keenan Winery and say hello to Laura!
tokar Glenn
Caitlin Payne
Caitlin Payne
U.S. Business Manager, Preston-Layne
Tokar manages business relationships between distributors and key On- and Off-Premises customers primarily in the Northeast and some Mid-Western states.
Tokar graduated from Tufts University (Medford, MA) in 1991. After a 10-year career in health and fitness, she made the change to the wine industry by joining the US team of Boutinot Ltd. During her eight years there, Tokar gained invaluable import experience and developed and managed distributor relationships with a portfolio focused on French, Italian, and South African wines.
Tokár joined the Preston-Layne & Partners team in July of 2013.
Caitlin Payne
Caitlin Payne
Caitlin Payne
Director of Sales and Marketing,
Trentadue Winery
(California)
If you attend a wine tasting, join the Wine Club, or take part in a winery event at Trentadue Winery, you will likely meet the effervescent Caitlin Payne.
As Direct to Consumer Manager, Caitlin handles those duties as well as the winery’s social media account and any other job that touches the winery’s customers directly.
Caitlin started her career in wine after getting a seasonal summer tasting room job at a winery back in 2012. She went on to become a tasting room associate at Francis Ford Coppola Winery. And, she signed on with Trentadue in June 2018.
Caitlin’s BA in Psychology from Sacramento State University likely helps her in many aspects of her job at Trentadue, most especially in interacting every day with the winery’s many visitors. This is her favorite part of what she does, and she’s definitely a pro.
“I love working with people,” she says. “I love being able to introduce people to new wines and the relationships I’ve built with customers over the years.”
As a successful woman in the wine industry, Caitlin believes other young women have the opportunity to find a career here, too.
“Go for it! And don’t worry if you feel like you don’t know a lot about wine – most of us started out in the industry that way and learned as we went,” she says. “It’s a very supportive industry and a really fun one to be a part of!”
If you run into Caitlin when you visit the winery, you might also get to meet the adorable Gunther. Give him a pet for us!
Dianne Carter
Caitlin Payne
Dianne Carter
President/CEO @ Uncorked, LLC
(New Hampshire)
Dianne Carter, President/CEO of Uncorked, LLC, in New Hampshire, made her decision to join the wine business over an anniversary glass of white wine.
“I came up with the idea of New England Uncorked in early 2012 after my husband and I stumbled upon a sign for winery during an anniversary trip to Mystic, CT.,” she says. “We decided to stop in and have a glass of wine, and it was while enjoying that glass (an estate- grown Gewurztraminer) I made the decision to change my career.”
Not one to procrastinate, Dianne opened her new wine distribution business, New England Uncorked, in 2013. As the company grew and evolved, the “New England” was dropped and the company is now simply, Uncorked.
Dianne, who holds BA degrees in both business and marketing, worked in the technology industry for 25 years. Starting Uncorked was literally Dianne’s first job in the wine business, and she set about to learn as much as she could about wine and the industry.
“I decided to obtain an education in wine,” she says. “I have studied wine for several years through Les Chevaliers du Grand Vin, The Society of Wine Educators, Cornell University, and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. I presently hold Cellar Master status and several regionally focused certificates.”
Ten years ago, Dianne was a novice in the business. Today, her love of wine and her determination have made Uncorked extremely successful, and Dianne’s portfolio now consists of over 550 wines from around the world.
As President and CEO of Uncorked, Dianne oversees all aspects of the company, including portfolio management and development, sales, marketing, finances, event planning and more. But, her favorite parts of what she does are the wine and the people.
“First, there is just no better feeling than meeting new people on a regular basis who appreciate what you are doing in the wine world and are just as excited as I am tasting the wines in my portfolio for the first time,” she says. “Second, there is a story behind almost every wine. I love hearing the story. Third, tasting new wines and, now and then, discovering a new favorite. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.”
For other women, no matter their stage in life, who want to get into wine distribution, Dianne offers these bits of wisdom: “Learn everything you can and never stop learning; find a mentor and ask a lot of questions; know the laws in your state (every state is so different); and know your market. If you are passionate about what you are doing you will succeed. And, in the words of one of my favorite mentors, ‘Taste everything’.”
This year, Dianne was also selected by the founders of Women in Wine Day as one of the women shaping the wine industry. Check out their site -- https://www.womeninwineday.com
Lauren Bright
Marisa Hatfield
Dianne Carter
Fine Wine Sales Consultant, PG Fine Wines
(Florida)
Lauren Bright is a Fine Wine Sales Consultant for our South Florida distributor partners, PG Fine Wines.
Lauren is a native of Fort Myers, Fla. She is one of three siblings, and her parents still live in the Ft. Myers area. A hardworking single mom to two beautiful kids, she dedicates herself to her children and the wine business.
Lauren's passion for wine began 17 years ago when she was offered the opportunity to be a Marketing Brand Ambassador on the SWFL coast with Envision Marketing, a division of Southern Wine and Spirits. At the time she was an Assistant Banquet Manager, embarking upon eight years in the food and beverage industry while attending college. She took the leap of faith, leaning into her passion and that is where her wine story began.
As a young woman fresh to the industry she was bright-eyed and eager to learn many facets of the business, always saying "yes" to any opportunity that came her way with a new direction towards elevating her wine career. Since then, Lauren has grown her career through positions such as Marketing/Sales Rep Brand Ambassador, Wine Retail Sales Consultant, Wine Events business (owner) and Wine Distribution Sales. As her passion and thirst for knowledge grew through the years, she was blessed with specific training from some of the best in the business and welcomed the opportunity to take courses offered through various employers to keep increasing her wine education, including San Francisco Wine Academy training certification for CSW.
Currently, Lauren has the honor of being a part of a growing team with PG Fine Wines of Florida, operating as a Fine Wine Sales Consultant for Lee and Charlotte County. For the past three and a half years she has enjoyed building the business and footprint with PG Fine Wines for the SWFL area, making priceless connections and forming lasting relationships.
Cheers to a good life and good wine!
Marisa Hatfield
Marisa Hatfield
Marisa Hatfield
Former Sales Manager, PG Fine Wines
(Florida)
Marisa started waiting tables to pay for college and caught the attention of a distributor during a staff training. Upon testing her palate, that distributor hired her on the spot, and she started the day she turned 21.
After 12 years in the wine and beverage industry, Marisa has made many fantastic friends and connections and has helped connect suppliers and distributors based on those valuable personal relationships.
She is now a single mom of two tiny humans and very competitive in her field.
When she isn't rocking her job at PG Fine Wines, Marisa enjoys going to the beach, family time, rock climbing, paddling boarding and personal fitness in her off time. Her favorite meal pairing is oysters with champagne.
Molly Fisher
Marisa Hatfield
Marisa Hatfield
Administrator for Miro Cellars
(California)
Molly Fisher is also “Mrs. Miro” at Miro Cellars, which she calls their "little mom & pop winery."
Molly is a graphic designer/illustrator by training, and she still has a small side-gig design business. Her first project for Miro Cellars was to design the wine labels and website. However, she says all of the creativity and vision comes from a close collaboration with her husband and co-owner, Miro Tcholakov.
Molly handles all of the winery's retail and wholesale orders, chats with customers and vendors, manages the bookkeeping, logistics, and any graphic design that needs doing. In addition, she often pours at wine tastings alongside Miro, or by herself when he’s otherwise busy.
While Miro Cellars is a side project for Miro, it is Molly's primary job. She hopes to open their own tasting room in the future, because her favorite part of the job is meeting her customers in person.