Beau Hickman is the President of Figgins Family Wine Estates in Walla Walla.  Prior to moving to Washington over a decade ago, Beau was Liquor Operations Director for various municipalities in Minnesota.  He has over twenty years of experience working within the three-tier distribution and has great passion for the wine industry.  Beau received his Master’s in Management from the College of St. Scholastica, and a BA from the University of Minnesota.

Figgins Family Wine Estates

A collection of brands cultivated by the Figgins Family – dedicated to growing, producing, and marketing wine of world-class quality, sustainability, and pedigree. Figgins Family Wine Estates brands consist of Leonetti Cellar and Figgins in the Walla Walla Valley, and Toil Oregon in Willamette Valley.

Emily Fergestrom is the owner and co-founder of Fortuity Cellars, a Yakima Valley winery known for its dedication to crafting high-quality, limited-production wines that reflect the unique terroir of the AVA. Since 2016, Emily has led the brand strategy, sales and marketing at Fortuity.

With a 20+ year background in public affairs and strategic communications, Emily brings a wealth of experience in building influential relationships, crafting powerful narratives, and driving successful campaigns. Her career has included roles in communications and advocacy, in both the public and private sectors.

Some call it Chance. We call it Fortuity.

Little did Lee and Emily know that a chance meeting on a cold and rainy December afternoon in Seattle would profoundly change the rest of their lives. Fast forward to today — the two are married, living in the Yakima Valley and embarking on the vintners’ life! Located in the Yakima Valley (Wash.) and established in 2017, Lee and Emily Fergestrom work closely with wine grape growers to select fruit that showcase the best of the Yakima Valley. Quality is top priority and the results are bright, fruit-driven wines – perfect for pairing with food!

Dr Wade Wolfe

Thurston Wolfe Winery

Thurston Wolfe is a small family winery owned by Wade Wolfe and Becky Yeaman, specializing in unique red & white table and dessert wines. Grapes are sourced from growers located in the Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley at sites best suited to the varieties produced. These sites and grower relationships were developed through Wade’s extensive contacts and knowledge of the region dating back to the late 1970’s.

Started in 1987, Thurston Wolfe was first located in the historic Old City Hall on North Front Street in Yakima.  Thurston Wolfe moved to Prosser in 1996 to be more centrally located in the industry and its grape sources. A new custom designed winery was completed and occupied in January 2006 in Prosser Vintner’s Village at 588 Cabernet Court off Exit 80 of Interstate 82.

Goose Ridge Vineyards

Goose Ridge Vineyards are located on a ‘saddle’ of land called Goose Gap, in the Columbia Valley, between Red Mountain and the Horse Heaven Hills. Arvid Monson’s initial vision for growing grapes on this land was validated first by Walter Clore, the visionary behind Washington’s wine industry, in 1998. Today, the family Monson owns the largest contiguous estate vineyard in Washington State, with more than 2,200 acres of vineyards producing world-class fruit.

The Monson family continues its pursuit to be good caretakers of the land overall. Taught at an early age that “you don’t farm for this generation, you farm for the next generation,” the third and fourth generations of Monsons believe the same principle applies to the family’s winery.

Marty is Managing Winemaker and Co-Owner of L’Ecole N° 41 with his wife Megan and children, Riley and Rebecca.  Marty assumed the operation of the winery from Megan’s parents, Jean and Baker Ferguson, in 1989, six years after the winery’s founding. Today Marty’s primary focus is a hands-on approach to the winery’s viticulture operation.  Along with his estate vineyards, Ferguson and Seven Hills, Marty personally works with over 30 vineyards located throughout the Columbia Valley.  He collaborates with each grower to optimally manage contracted vineyard blocks to meet the quality requirements established by the winery.  In addition, Marty is a Managing Partner with Gary and Chris Figgins (Leonetti Cellar) and Norm McKibben (Pepper Bridge Winery) in the highly acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard and the SeVein vineyard development, home to L’Ecole’s newest Estate vineyard, Ferguson.  Marty’s ongoing dedication and commitment to our wine industry is evident in his many leadership roles.  He has served nearly 30 years on the Boards of various wine industry associations, including the Washington Wine Commission.  He is currently President and Director of the Washington Wine Institute, and Vice Chair of WineAmerica.  Marty was instrumental in the founding of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, serving as its first President.  He worked with other industry pioneers in the development of the Walla Walla Community College Center for Enology and Viticulture and continues serving in an advisory role.

L’Ecole No 41

L’Ecole N° 41 is a third generation family-owned, artisan winery located in the historic Frenchtown School depicted on our label.  Founded in 1983, we were the third winery established in the Walla Walla Valley.  We have become one of the most prominent and visible Walla Walla Valley wineries with national and international distribution.

Tom is Associate General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Head of Government Affairs for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Since joining Ste. Michelle and the Washington wine industry in 2011, Tom has held various leadership roles in legal, regulatory, and corporate compliance and ethics functions. He has extensive knowledge of alcohol regulatory and sales and marketing law throughout the US and international markets. He uses a deep understanding of the commercial and legal landscape in the beverage alcohol industry to help Ste. Michelle respond to challenges, pursue business opportunities, and mitigate risk. Tom received his JD from Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Established in 1933, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is a leading Pacific Northwest wine company and among the most admired premium wine companies in the United States. As the largest wine company in Washington State, Ste. Michelle is rooted in an unwavering passion for producing the highest quality wines, delighting wine consumers, supporting our communities, and protecting the environment. Ste. Michelle sustainably farms 2,200 acres of estate vineyards in Washington and Oregon. The Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio features leading wineries from Washington including Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Eroica, Col Solare and Spring Valley Vineyard; A to Z, Erath, and Rex Hill from Oregon; and premier California wineries Conn Creek and Patz & Hall. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is also the exclusive import partner Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte from France.

Lisa Lawrence is the owner of Gård Vintners and Lawrence Vineyards together with her husband Josh, and co-owner of Desert Wind Winery with the Merkel family. Her primary focus is on marketing, operations, and strategic management, with a passion for vineyards and estate wines of Washington.

Raised in Olympia, Lisa holds a BA in Communication from Pacific Lutheran University where she was an All-American softball player. She worked in Seattle for several years in tech marketing and public relations before she moved to the family farm with Josh and together began planting vineyard in 2003. The couple was instrumental in establishing the Royal Slope AVA in 2020. Together they raise their family on the farm in Royal City, where Lisa also coaches high school and travel softball.

Gård Vintners/Lawrence Vineyards/Desert Wind Winery

Kristina brings both education and practical skills to her position as co-owner and and head winemaker at Arbor Crest Wine Cellars. A graduate of UC-Davis with a degree in Fermentation Science, Kristina came to Arbor Crest in 1999 after several years as the assistant winemaker at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg, California.

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars

In the early 1980s, Harold and Marcia Mielke began a venture that would transform the inventor’s estate into our region’s premier destination winery. After purchasing a winery in California, they relocated operations to Spokane Valley to take advantage of the budding Washington wine industry, establishing Arbor Crest Wine Cellars as the state’s 29th winery (a number that has since grown to over 980). To serve as the winery’s new headquarters, they acquired the idyllic Riblet Estate, which had been designated as a national historic landmark in 1979. The inventor’s former workshop now accommodates the Winery’s administrative offices. By 1999, the family business was being expanded to the next generation as the Mielke’s daughter, Kristina Mielke van Löben Sels, departed her position as associate winemaker at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards in Sonoma County, California, to take over as head winemaker for Arbor Crest.

Cari is Senior Director of Finance at DeLille Cellars. As a member of DeLille’s leadership team Cari plans, organizes, and manages the company’s finance and compliance functions. She partners with all functions in the company to elevate the Delille brand and drive growth. Before joining Delille, Cari led finance for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ sales and marketing departments and was the head of finance for Westland Distillery where she led the integration of Westland into Remy Cointreau, a leading global spirits company based in France. Cari is passionate about elevating Washington Wine and expanding its reach to new customers and markets.

DeLille Cellars

DeLille Cellars is the third oldest operating winery in Woodinville, WA, founded in 1992.  Known for pioneering Bordeaux-style blends from Washington State, the winery has maintained a tradition of quality and excellence with over 600 individual 90+ ratings from leading publications.  DeLille Cellars focuses on the Red Mountain AVA and sources grapes from Washington’s most acclaimed vineyards.  The winery is recognized by notable wine critics and influencers, including Robert Parker, as one of the top producers in the state.