In celebration of Women’s History Month, Wine ConneXtion will be profiling several women-owned wineries and female winemakers. We now turn to the ladies of Lodi.

Melissa Phillips Stroud, Michael David Winery

Melissa Phillips Stroud is the Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Director of Awesomeness, Lodi philanthropist, eternal optimist, dance enthusiast, sister, wife, mother, wannabe yogi, secret Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. A recovering overachiever, Melissa graduated from Cal Poly with a double degree in Ag Business and Wine & Viticulture before heading to Sonoma State for her Certificate of Wine Business. With 10+ years in the wine industry, she strives for innovation while leading an empowered team. A seeker of life balance, Melissa enjoys sugary cereal… with organic milk of course.

Pick up a bottle of Politically Correct.
Winemaker notes: One sip of this wine – and a glance at the label – and you’ll see why our 2016 Politically Correct makes a statement without saying a word! Winemaker Jeff Farthing took a special interest when cherry picking only the highest quality lots for this Bordeaux style blend. These individual lots were aged nearly 30 months in French oak barrels prior to blending which created a supple, balanced red wine.

Photo: WineSpectator.com at the courtesy of Klinker Brick

Farrah Felten-Jolly, Klinker Brick Winery

Farrah joined the winery in 2009 after graduating from the University of the Pacific with a degree in Business Administration. With a passion for grape growing, organic gardening, cooking and a love for wine, it was only natural that she would join the family business. Farrah, representing the sixth generation of growers, immediately began traveling to sell the family wines under Lynne Barnard, former President of Klinker Brick. In 2015, Farrah took on the role; VP of Sales and Marketing.

Pick up a bottle of Klinker Brick Winery Cabernet Sauvignon and  Klinker Brick 1850 Red Blend.

Pick up a bottle of Klinker Brick Farrah Syrah.
Winemaker notes: A single vineyard wine has a deep, rich garnet color and shows tobacco, mint and cherries on the nose. With dense silky layers of raspberry and chocolate, this full-bodied wine finishes with hints of earth and spice with a long, smooth finish.

Pick up a bottle of Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel.
Winemaker notes: Delta breezes and the associated fog allow us to retain above average acidity for the region, providing notes of bright cherry and raspberry. Barrel fermentation brings additional structure to this thin skin varietal. The extremely low yields of century old vineyards bring forth notes of sweet tobacco and cocoa. The result is a balanced and complex Zinfandel perfect for both Summer barbeques and Fall fire pits.