The Wine Makers – Bibiana Gonzalez Rave, Cattleya Wines

Bibiana is an absolute powerhouse in the wine industry, and we’ve been fans since she first appeared on the podcast 6 or 7 years ago. Her journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Raised in Medellin, Colombia, she dreamed of making wine as a teenager in a country with no real wine culture. Determined, she moved to France, graduated with honors from the University of Bordeaux, and went on to work at prestigious estates like Haut-Brion. She gained experience in Cote-Rotie with Michel and Stephane Ogier and Domaine Clusel-Roch, then moved to Alsace, Burgundy, South Africa, and finally, California. In California, she worked for renowned wineries such as Peay, Qupe, Au Bon Climat, Lynmar, and Pahlmeyer before establishing her own labels: Cattleya and Alma de Cattleya. She also co-founded Shared Notes with her husband Jeff Pisoni—yes, that Pisoni. On top of her winemaking success, Bibiana now imports coffee from Colombia to roast in Sonoma County for a dedicated customer base. Oh, and did we mention she’s also a mother of two? Her wines are remarkable, known for their generous acidity, depth, and length. She was recently featured in *Sonoma Magazine*, where she was photographed by James Joiner, with the photos even developed in her favorite wine. If you haven’t tried her wines yet, you’re missing out! [Ep339] winesbybibiana.com cattleyawines.com sharednoteswine.com sonomamag.com