Winebow Women Leaders

KIMBERLEE NICHOLLS Markham Vineyards Napa Valley, CA

TAYLOR ABUDI Markham Vineyards Napa Valley, CA

DELIA VARGAS VIEYRA Mezcal Don Mateo Michoacan

PRIYANKA DHAR FRENCH Napa Wine Company Napa Valley, CA

For six generations, the Vieyra family has been making wild agave mezcal using traditional methods at their remote viñata (distillery) in Michoacan. The preeminent producer in the area, they are credited for successfully lobbying to have Michoacan added into the Mezcal Denomination of Origin in 2012. Family matriarch Delia Vargas Vieyra supervises the creation of Don Mateo’s complex Mezcal de Pechuga. This unique mezcal is distilled three times (mezcal is typically distilled twice), the third with local fruits, meats and botanicals.

Kim is a high-energy chemist with a storied history in Napa and a deep love for Merlot. As one of the Napa Valley’s first female winemakers, she is highly respected with three decades of experience. A vital part of Markham’s legacy, Kim has contributed to countless accolades and the winery’s enduring reputation. She finds inspiration in food and wine pairings; an accomplished cook and baker, Kim loves hosting dinner parties that showcase the relationship between lovingly prepared meals and artfully made wines.

As the Viticulturist for Markham, Taylor is focused on water conservation and building soil health through techniques like composting and the use of cover crops. She discovered her passion for science at an early age, and pursued a degree in viticulture & enology at UC Davis – which combined her love of science and the outdoors. After graduating, Taylor worked the vineyards of New Zealand, France, Australia and Oregon, where she learned that it always comes back to ensuring the land is well cared for.

Priyanka is the new winemaker for Ghost Block. Most recently she was the winemaker at Signorelle Estate and previously on the winemaking team at Dalla Valle. In 2023, she was named in Wine Enthusiast’s “40 under 40”. She is a revered winemaker in the Valley, creating ultra-luxurey wines and an inspiritng role model in the community.

AGUSTINA HOBBS Paul Hobbs Napa Valley, CA

MORGAEN HOXSEY PICKETT Napa Wine Company Napa Valley, CA

ANNA REMOND Otu Estate Marlborough, New Zealand

MONICA LEYVA Pajarote Mexico

Agustina Hobbs plays an integral role in her family’s winery, representing a new generation committed to excellence and thoughtful growth. Working across vineyard, cellar, and brand stewardship, she helps translate the family’s vision into wines of clarity and place. Through her hands‑on involvement and global perspective, Agustina ensures the winery’s legacy continues to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in quality and authenticity.

Morgaen Lee is a fifth-generation steward of her family’s Napa Valley wine legacy and currently is President of Ghost Block Estate Wines. Growing up in Yountville, she was raised among her family’s vineyards, which have been farmed for 124 years, shaping her respect for the land, the people behind it and the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard.

Originally from rural Canterbury, Anna is a passionate winemaker. A winemaker for 15 years for one of New Zealand’s largest wineries, Anna headed up the white wine making program, and worked vintages in the French regions of Sancerre and Burgundy. As a mentor for the Women in Wine Programme, Anna also supports women to develop their Winemaking careers and reach their full potential in Marlborough, and continues to forge a leadership path for women in winemaking overall.

Mónica Leyva founded Pajarote in 2001 with her brother Rubén. Their hand-crafted Ponche-inspired liqueurs are made from authentic Mexican ingredients and traditions passed down by her grandmother with the philosophy that gastronomic culture is often rooted in family tradition. These beautiful liqueurs are 100% natural with no additives and thus showcase sediments because of their rejection of stabilizers, colorants, and artificial essences.

Women Leaders in Wine & Spirits

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