WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

 WE'RE CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF WOMEN IN WINE!
Saturday, March 27, 2021
4:30 PM PT
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​Join Urban Connoisseurs as we highlight three women winemakers: Theodora Lee (1st Black woman winemaker in Northern California), Donna Stoney (1st Black woman winemaker in Oregon), and Shae Frichette (1st Black woman winemaker in Washington).

These three trailblazers are an inspiration to other women and to the generation after next. We'll learn about the journey, accomplishments, and their wine plans for the future.

​PURCHASE OF ANY WINE FROM THESE WINEMAKERS INCLUDES A COMPLIMENTARY TICKET TO EVENT.
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Theodora Lee, Winemaker Theopolis Vineyards CA
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Donna Stoney, Winemaker Stoney Wines OR
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Shae Frichette, Winemaker Frichette Winery WA
Featured Wine:

2019 Theo-Patra’s Cuvée Cerise

Ms. Theodora Lee, a San Francisco law firm senior partner and trial lawyer, is the founder and owner of Theopolis Vineyards. Her passion for wine began upon her arrival to San Francisco from Texas in 1987, primarily due to the influence of her law firm mentors, many of whom owned vineyards. She took several viticulture classes at UC Davis, and in 2001, she purchased sheep land in the Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley, and began developing her vineyard to grow Petite Sirah. In 2003, Ms. Lee planted her vineyard with the intent to sell to winemakers. She adopted her Greek name, from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and established Theopolis Vineyards. In the wine world, Ms. Lee is known as Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards. Wine Critic Robert Parker bestowed upon wine made from grapes harvested from Theopolis Vineyards a stellar rating of 94-96 points. In 2014 she began bottling her own wine. In addition to bottling the Petite Sirah, Theopolis Vineyards also produces a Symphony, Rosé of Petite Sirah, an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, a Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir, and a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. This past season she released her first Cuvée Cerise and Cuvée Blanc.
​​Featured Wine:

​2019 SisterFriends Chardonnay

Donna has spent three decades building a career that places people and their quality of life at the center of everything that she has done. A serial entrepreneur, Donna is the Founder of Stoney Wines as well as the Executive Director at StoneyBrooke Residential Services LLC.  It was not her first history-making endeavor when she opened Stoney Wines in 2019 and became the first black female winemaker-enologist in Oregon. In 1978, she became Oregon's first black female case manager for Multnomah County's Developmental Disability Services agency. Donna is committed to taking down barriers and unifying people wherever she goes and in whatever she does.
Featured Wine:

2018 Red Mountain Malbec

Shae Frichette is Co-owner and Assistant Winemaker at Frichette Winery, a limited production winery and tasting room in the Red Mountain AVA in Washington State, USA.  As a minority business owner in the Washington wine industry and with her background in leadership, Shae has been provided opportunities to speak at various events sharing her story and skill sets. Shae completed Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2, and Introductory Course and Exam to Court of Master Sommeliers. She is the 2015 ATHENA Young Professional Award recipient, a recipient of the 2015 Entrepreneurial Award, 2015 Young Professional Award recipient, inductee as a Rising Star in the Mid-Columbia Ag Hall of Fame and graduate of the Leadership Tri-Cities Class XX. Shae introduced her label at Frichette Winery called Sashay focusing on approachable reds and off dry rosés using Columbia Valley AVA wine grapes. The Sashay wines included Rosé of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (available May 2020).