Founded in 1989 by winemaker and “Head Fiddle” Kathy Joseph, Fiddlehead Cellars stands out as one of the foremost California pioneering producers dedicated to making thoughtful, textured and age-worthy wines tied to great vineyard sites. Running the winery as a one-woman-show for 30-plus years, Kathy is a pioneer in the wine industry, and one of Santa Barbara County’s first leading female winemakers to own both her own winery and vineyard, while maintaining a hands-on role in the farming, winemaking, sales and all other aspects of the business. The creation of Fiddlehead Cellars is the embodiment of her vision: a winery which values authenticity, integrity and passion for great wines above all else. Focusing exclusively on place-driven Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Noir varieties, Kathy helped to define regions such as Santa Barbara County and Willamette Valley while bringing recognition to domestically produced wines that combine Old World pedigree with New World vision. She has pioneered Sauvignon Blanc from the Happy Canyon region of eastern Santa Ynez Valley and Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills and the Willamette Valley’s Chehalem Mountains well before any were AVAs, while also being one of the first to introduce, grow and bottle Grüner Veltliner from Santa Barbara County. As owner, architect and farmer of the iconic Fiddlestix vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, she has helped the region gain recognition for cool climate successes.