Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/6221
january–february 2010 / the tasting panel / 57 Consulting on the side with Signe at Zoller Winestyling, Amy Jean But- ler is winemaker at Edward Sellers and proprietor of Ranchero Cellars. Graduated from UC Davis in 1997, Amy spent a year in Sonoma and five in Napa before discovering Paso Robles seven years ago. Finding a Davis degree and Napa experience scarcely beneficial in Paso, she started as a fork lift operator and then a harvest assistant. She joined Edward Sellers in 2004 and just com- pleted her sixth vintage. In 2008 she started her own label, Ranchero Cellars, where she will produce 400 cases of Rhône varietal wines. She quips, "Most male winemakers don't consider it a huge accomplishment to get through a bot- tling without crying . . . but I do." www.edwardsellers.com As a high school teacher on the East Coast, Amanda Cramer dreamed about being a wine- maker. After returning to school at UC Davis, Amanda spent time at Far Niente and Chimney Rock and was one of the first three women hired to work at D'Arenberg in Australia; she also worked at Casa Lapostolle in Chile. She spent two years at Paradigm as assistant winemaker under Heidi Barrett, but in Napa she saw her options to be limited: either continue an assistant winemaker or leave the area. In 2004, Amanda moved to Paso and joined Niner Wine Estates, where, as winemaker, she helped design the new state-of-the-art winery. Today, Amanda feels, there's a cachet to being a female winemaker, and she credits Signe Zoller and Heidi Barrett with paving the way. www.ninerwine.com Chrissy Wittman, winemaker at Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards, spent family vacations in Paso Robles when it was a quarter the size it is today. After graduating from Cal Poly, Chrissy took at job with Merid- ian. She joined Wild Horse in 2007, where her goal is to help build Paso's reputation in the wine world. The challenges of making wine and the people involved are what motivate Chrissy. She relishes every opportunity to promote women in the industry. www.wildhorsewinery.com Tiffinee Vierra moved to Paso after graduating from Cal Poly in 2001 to work at Edna Valley Vineyard as a lab technician. After a stint as as- sistant winemaker at Four Vines Winery, Tiffinee joined Pam and Ray Derby's Derby Wine Estates in 2005. As winemaker and GM, Tiffinee is responsible for styling the wine and loves the creative freedom. "Much of my success is based upon the proof that I am the best person for the job—and if I am not, then I find someone who is. Derby has always been a group effort, and as long as I am involved, it will continue to be." www.derbywinees- tates.com Self-taught Lisa Pretty, President and winemaker, Pretty Smith Vine- yards and Winery, is a one-woman force to be reckoned with. Owner, vineyard manager and winemaker, she also runs the tasting room, web- site and winery-direct sales. Bitten by the wine bug after working in high tech and international business, she began working her way down the California coast with the vision of owning a vineyard. When Lisa arrived ten years ago, she was asked CenTRaL CoasT PHOTO: ALLISON LEVINE PHOTO COURTESY OF WILD HORSE WINERY Lisa Pretty. PHOTO: ALLISON LEVINE PHOTO: ALLISON LEVINE Chrissy Wittman. Amanda Cramer. Amy Jean Butler.