MEET OUR PEOPLE

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Laura Durham

Oak Ridge Winery / Chief Winemaker

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HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING WINE? 
I’ve been making wine for 12 years. Twenty twenty-four will be my 13th harvest!

WHAT MAKES A “GREAT” WINE?
Great wine is balanced in every way. It tastes like where it came from; its fruit is balanced with the oak; the acidity and alcohol don’t fight with each other; it’s a perfectly round tasting experience.

ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT AS A WINEMAKER?
Get hands-on experience as soon as possible. You'll learn so much more about the nature of wine by making it than you ever will by reading about it in a classroom!

DO YOU HAVE ANY IRRATIONAL FEARS OR SUPERSTITIONS AS THEY RELATE TO YOUR JOB?
I get a new safety vest on the first day of harvest every year. It usually gets dirty right away, but I wear the dirty vest the rest of the year! My vest is always the dirtiest of the group; it reminds me to be hands-on as often as I can. It started as a joke and now it’s become a fun tradition that, I think, brings a little luck to each vintage.

WHAT ITEMS ARE CURRENTLY IN THE CENTER CONSOLE OF YOUR CAR?
Chapstick, sunglasses, a beef stick and an emergency $20.