Testimonials
Tom Rochioli
Winemaker/Owner
J. Rochioli Vineyards
and Winery
“I have had the pleasure to work with Theresa since 2012 and I can honestly say that it has been a great experience. Over the years, we worked closely together to get the grapes harvested to her tight standards while always having enough flexibility to make the hectic harvest as smooth as possible. Theresa possesses a deep understanding of viticulture and the wine making process and knows how to handle the ever changing conditions of grape growing.
She consistently produces high-quality wines in many varieties. Working with our fruit, she has produced some of the best examples of Russian River Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines that have been produced from our vineyard. Theresa has a strong track record of success and her wines are always receive top scores from every major publication. Not only from our vineyard, but all vineyards she works with. That alone is a testament to the quality of her knowledge.
Theresa is a highly skilled and dedicated winemaker/viticulturist and would be a valuable asset to any winery or vineyard operation. Her experience with not only the Russian River Valley but other cool climate grapes is vast. I cannot imagine a better person to consult on a vineyard and/or wine program.”
Kent Ritchie
Owner/Grower
Ritchie Vineyard
“I have worked with Theresa for 12 years during her time as winemaker at Gary Farrell Winery and it has been a real pleasure. A lot of people think I’m a good farmer, but working with great winemakers like Theresa makes me really look good. She’s been working with Chardonnay grapes from my vineyard for over a decade. The wines that she’s produced have been consistently outstanding and have received excellent scores. I’m delighted to have had the chance to work with her as a grower partner and I would like to continue our working relationship, but I wish her the best in her new career direction. Theresa is not only a great winemaker, she’s also very hands-on in the vineyard as well; she’s out here all the time overseeing the grapes as they mature throughout the growing season. She respectfully asks for a little bit of fine-tuning periodically, which I’m always happy to do. Her hard work and commitment show in the bottle because the wines she produces always turn out excellent. They’re mouthwatering, with lots of flavor, and always get great scores. I’m very happy for her about this new adventure that she’s taking in her career. I will miss her very much and I’ve really enjoyed the time that we’ve worked together.”
Diana Karren
Owner/Grower
Terra de Promissio
“Having worked with Theresa Heredia since 2017, I can attest to her deep knowledge of viticulture and extensive winemaking experience. Her ability to unlock the full potential of a vineyard is truly remarkable, as evidenced by her work with our vineyard, Terra de Promissio. By collaborating closely with us, the grape growers, Theresa has helped cultivate some of the most elegant and balanced Terra de Promissio wines ever produced in Sonoma County. Gary Farrell has received exceptional scores, and the wines have been sold out every vintage.
Theresa is confident in her decisions and unwavering in her vision of producing world-class Pinot Noir. She is trustworthy and straightforward in her expectations, which make our partnership seamless. As a true winemaking veteran, she knows what she wants and ensures we consistently achieve excellence. She is articulate, fun, and engaging. Working alongside someone so dedicated and proficient has been a privilege of a lifetime.”
John and Pam Bacigalupi
Owners/Growers
Bacigalupi Vineyards
“John and I have worked with Theresa for at least two decades. We have had a long and rewarding relationship. She is considerate of us as growers, and tries very hard to accommodate our delivery schedule of grapes from the field to the winery during the craziness of harvest. Her attention to detail as a winemaker and extensive experience make Theresa a person to be trusted with the decision-making process that comes along with starting a wine brand or enhancing an existing one.”
Kirk Lokka
General Manager
Emeritus Vineyards
“I have worked with Theresa Heredia for over 12 years. I have found her to be a very organized Winemaker who is very good at predicting in advance when grapes will be ready for harvest. She is also very good at communicating her desired schedule for harvest.
I have found that she has an ability to accentuate the finest qualities of the grapes from each vineyard she works with. She will also respectfully express any changes in growing practices without forcing them upon the grower.
I think her wines are very focused and are of the finest quality, consistently. I enjoy her wines often. She is very easy to work with, and enjoyable to talk with.”
Evan Goldstein
Master Sommelier
“As a winemaker and so much more, Theresa Heredia is simply one of the best. I have had the privilege and pleasure of working with her for well over a decade and in various capacities. Her myriad award-winning wines speak loudly (and deliciously) for themselves but it’s easy to overlook her strong range of soft skills: Theresa is a brilliant panelist (always adding value to the greater dialogue), a formidable educator (taking complex thinking and simplifying it for us all), and an engaging ambassador (be it on behalf of a brand or trade association). Taking her full quiver of skills and making them available to those who would like to work with her is a gift to all..”
Virginie Boone
Sonoma County-based wine and spirits writer and critic
“I’ve known Theresa Heredia since she was named winemaker at Joseph Phelps’ Freestone Vineyards in 2008. Initially hired as a research chemist seven years earlier, she is gifted with a true science mind and is a meticulous winemaker who spent considerable time in France’s winemaking regions learning, observing and tasting before putting down roots in Sonoma County, first at Freestone, then, over the last decade or so, at Gary Farrell.
Theresa has been both a trusted resource for me in my reporting about Sonoma County wines but is also one of the most consistently outstanding makers of high-scoring wines, turning out exceptional Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and other varietal wines from a diverse set of vineyards vintage after vintage. As a longtime critic I always looked forward to tasting her wines (her 2015 Russian River Selection Chardonnay was named Wine Enthusiast’s Number One wine in 2017).
I also find her a joy to be around, an avid intellect who is curious about many things within and outside of wine, an excellent communicator, and a devoted champion of different voices and perspectives in the world of wine. It’s not every day you find these qualities in one person – keen intellect, hard work ethic, curiosity and open-mindedness with an ability to mentor even from afar. California is lucky to have her in our ranks. I can’t wait to see all the great things she’ll do as she moves forward into consulting and cannot recommend her highly enough both personally and professionally.”
Melissa Stackhouse
Winemaker
Dutton Goldfield Winery
“I have always admired winemakers that are knowledgeable, decisive, and confident. Theresa possesses all three of these characteristics, and then some. Having worked the past few years alongside Theresa in a custom crush setting, I am intrigued by her expertise in directing and communicating her vision while at the same time remaining flexible and extremely personable. Seemingly calm in the midst of harvest, Theresa’s tenure and been-there-done-that attitude steadies the nerves while the thoughtful act of delivering burritos and beer to the harvest cellar crew shows her commitment to creating community around making wine.
The passion & love that Theresa brings to her craft not only produces spectacular wines but motivates us all to work together as a team for her. I admire Theresa’s ability to provide leadership, explain the why behind doing something a certain way, and attentive focus on the details. Making wine w Theresa has been such a rewarding experience for me and I am excited to see what she does next!”
Nancy Bailey
General Manager
Hamel Family Wines
“Theresa's thoughtful, improvement-focused approach to winemaking at Gary Farrell Winery led to year-on-year increases in the quality of our wines, the textural richness and sensorial nuances of each bottling, and the site-specificity of our single vineyard offerings, resulting in widespread acclaim from consumers, trade and media.
She developed close relationships with our 30+ grower partners, working collaboratively to maximize quality and capture the essence of each site.
Theresa is an exceptional leader. She brings great depth and breadth of knowledge and experience, but tends to lead from the middle, encouraging her colleagues to grow in their skills and abilities.
She has great consideration for the non-winemaking aspects of her role – financial implications, sourcing, inventory, and COGS management, budgeting, and refining the portfolio. She always makes sure that all stakeholders are in the loop, makes thoughtful suggestions from the production perspective, and is generally understanding of the other business priorities that come to bear on the decision-making process.
Theresa's dedication and enthusiasm towards her craft is infectious, inspiring her colleagues. She is also an exceptional communicator, making her an exceedingly effective brand ambassador with members, consumers, trade and media.
I cannot recommend Theresa Heredia highly enough.”
Craig Williams
X Novo LLC
“I worked closely alongside Theresa during my tenure as Director of Winegrowing for both Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Freestone Vineyards. In addition to the qualitative and rigorous focus applied to the craft of winegrowing, Ms. Heredia is a warm, engaging individual who teaches others by example, is inclusive, and exhibits a curiosity and motivation to improve quality. While at Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Theresa’s competence, work ethic and leadership found herself promoted to assist with a new project: Freestone Vineyards. Working on winery design, budgeting, and staffing, she further solidified her reputation as a visionary winemaker beginning in 2005.
Through her collaborative spirit and creative foresight, she elevated the winery’s portfolio to new heights, earning praise from both critics and consumers alike. Her innovative winemaking techniques, combined with her profound respect for the land and environment, resulted in wines of exceptional complexity, balance and length. Theresa continued to push the boundaries of winemaking, eco-friendly practices and business acumen at Garry Farrell, further establishing herself as a leader in the industry. Her ability to seamlessly blend tradition with innovation resulted in wines that were not only expressive of their unique site but also reflective of her distinctive style and quality. Under her guidance, Gary Farrell Vineyards and Winery garnered accolades and recognition, cementing its reputation as one of the premier producers of cool-climate wines in the country.”
