As today is International Women's Day (8 March), we introduce ambitious winemaker Terah Bajjalieh.
Text: Marjolein Schuman | Image: Terah
Palestinian immigrant parents, born in California. As a sommelier, she worked in a Michelin-starred restaurant, studied oenology and viticulture in Spain and France, was flying winemaker on several continents and is now going to conquer the world with her own wine. We met her in 2025 at the regenerative vineyard of Paicines Ranch, where she sources her grapes.
‘I work with verdejo, syrah, grenache and, starting this year, assyrtiko,’ she says. Terah embraces indigenous ecology. ‘Then the landscape, soil biology and local climate guide the cultivation, rather than forcing it into a standardised model.’ You can taste that in her wines: honest with plenty of minerality.
Winner
Our winner is the 2022 Old Vine Grenache Santa Clara Valley with lots of fruit aromas (strawberries, berries, cherries), lavender, hibiscus, earthy notes and gossamer acidity. The New York Times recently praised Terah as an emerging wine talent. Now she hopes to come to Europe soon. She is looking for a suitable importer, so if you are interested in Terah Wine Co.'s fantastic wines, let her know.
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