Background

               The Story

                            Kathy Joseph established Fiddlehead Cellars in 1989 to capture the pure essence of two distinguished grape 
                            varietals – Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Her quest was simple. Besides a lesser important desire to satisfy 
                            her own palate, her intent was to incorporate European beauty into these domestically grown varietals by 
                            working with grapes grown in the right place and wines managed with respect in the cellar.  Both varietals are 
                            celebrated for their successful old world pedigree; both have the potential to convey sensory elegance; both 
                            have proven to gratify a broad range of discriminating palates.

                            Today, Kathy is recognized as a pioneer among women winemakers as she passionately and enthusiastically 
                            creates stylistic Sauvignon Blanc and silky, textural Pinot Noir. At Fiddlehead, she annually produces about 
                            5,000 cases of wine, with personal interest in each grape cluster, each barrel of wine and every bottle that 
                            finds its way to your table.

                            The wines are made at FiddleHeadquarters, her Winery in the Lompoc “Wine Ghetto”, and Kathy lives in a 
                            little farm house on the Estate Vineyard, Fiddlestix.  Kathy stays connected to other important grape growing 
                            regions by maintaining a business office in Davis, CA – her administrative and marketing base, and home 
                            during non-farming activities.  She takes great pride in connecting a broad range of contributing forces to create
                            eloquence in her wines. 

               The beginning

                            Eyeing a career in medicine, Kathy was uniquely guided to appreciate this discipline from a more artistic 
                            perspective. Consequently, reality struck and she never truly fit into the rigidity of her pre-med program.  So,
                            in the early ‘80’s, this Chicago native took a leap of faith by moving to California with the hopes of redirecting
                            her degrees in Microbiology and Biochemistry towards research in the wine industry.  

                            Looking back, Kathy attributes her winemaking sensibilities to a mix of many years of industry mentoring.  
                            She is quick to recognize the importance of professional relationships with Zelma Long (Simi Winery), 
                            Walter Schug and Craig Williams (Joseph Phelps), Bob Long and Sandy Belcher (Long Vineyards), Bob 
                            Pecota Robert Pecota Winery) as well as her graduate studies in Enology and Viticulture at the 
                            University of California, Davis. 

                            With an extensive North Coast education under her belt, she boldly designed Fiddlehead Cellars to focus 
                            exclusively on place driven wines, and curiously was attracted to the lesser-appreciated varietals (at that time)
                            of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.  Her lack of funds and sense of adventure led her to explore winemaking
                            in the “then” lesser-known districts of the “now” famous “Willamette Valley”, “Santa Rita Hills” and "Happy
                            Canyon of Santa Barbara”.  Kathy’s vision was to grow her focused brand and simultaneously grow recognition 
                            of these barely recognized viticultural areas which, in her judgment, demonstrated the potential for excellence 
                            for Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.  Even Kathy is amazed that her early ambition helped foster the future of 
                            these now important wine districts.

                            All of Kathy’s wines are driven by the importance of texture, elegance and expression of place at a moment
                            in time.  As “Head Fiddle”, she directs all of the site-specific and sustainable farming at each of her 
                            vineyards and provides the hands-on, hand-crafted care and attention to each barrel of wine (in a sort of
                            “hands-off” way) that fine wine requires.  Her commitment and enthusiasm are unmatched, and her
                            age-worthy wines are memorable to the last drop.  She continues to believe the love of winemaking must
                            be reflected in every sip!

               The Name

                            We believe the best company names need to reflect the sprit of the brand. For Kathy, it was essential that 
                            the name be memorable.  It had to be personal, like her style of winemaking, without being too exotic 
                            (because the wines were not designed to be exotic) and it had to be approachable (like her wines!). So there 
                            was a definite process of elimination.  
 
                            With Santa Barbara County and the Willamette Valley in play, she steered away from geography; with an urge
                            for focus on the wines (and not the people), she steered away from family names; she wanted accessible,
                            so she steered away from foreign names. Further, when Kathy was asked by her graphic artist to describe the
                            brand, she identified respect for tradition with a contemporary twist…the marriage of old world and new world, 
                            respect for the art and the science.  She wanted uncomplicated, and graceful. 
 
                            So as the story goes, 2 years into her unnamed project, Kathy was gardening in her fern bed and recalled
                            the simple, melodic and memorable botanical term that describes the coiled frond of an emerging fern 
                            leaf….a fiddlehead!  And the parallels abound.
 
                            Fiddlehead Cellars strives to emulate its namesake by sharing its grace and elegance, its once a year release 
                            and its admired match with great cuisine.  Great chefs around the world consider the fiddlehead a prized 
                            delicacy which is often offered as a seasonal, specialty, culinary delight.  Both the wine and the vegetable 
                            are prized for their delicate flavors and captivating textures. 
 
                            How perfect!  It’s accessible, memorable, simply striking and embraces the association of food and wine…not
                            to mention that it draws on Kathy’s split personally simultaneously embracing the science and art of winemaking.