Wonder Women: 10 female California winemakers to watch
14th March, 2016
by
Lucy Shaw
Jenny Wagner
The youngest winemaker in our round up, at just 27, Jenny Wagner is already custodian of the Emmolo wine brand, which includes a mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc and a rich, well balanced Merlot. She comes from strong winemaking stock – in 1972 her grandfather, Charlie Wagner, founded Caymus Vineyards, which is now looked after by her father Chuck, while her brothers Charlie and Joey are both vintners. She released her first two wines in 2014: 2012 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc and 2011 Emmolo Merlot.
Growing up among the vines, Wagner wanted to become a winemaker from an early age, and treated her family estate like a playground.
Studying business administration and Spanish at the University of San Diego, Jenny started out working for Caymus after graduating in 2010.
Whilst there she learnt the tricks of the trade from her father. “My dad pushes the envelope when it comes to winemaking and has carved out the character of Caymus Cabernet by going beyond the norm and developing his own techniques in the vineyard. He encourages me to experiment,” she says.
In 2011 Wagner was put in charge of the Emmolo brand created in 1994 by her mother and named after her great grandfather, Salvatore Emmolo, who founded a rootstock nursery in Rutherford, where she sources her Sauvignon from. Her Merlot, meanwhile, hails from Oak Knoll. Looking ahead, she hopes to launch her own wine brand with her husband, Eddie.
