North Bay Woman

46 NORTH BAY WOMAN S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 2 1 Valley, near Fairfield. Recognizing the challenges of the fields, she vowed never to become a farmer herself and moved to Arizona to work as an agricultural engineer. After 10 years, Howard felt her Suisun roots calling her back home. When the opportunity arose to purchase a 55-acre property in Suisun Valley, Howard and her hus- band Cliff left stability and "the good life" in Arizona for an even better one. In 2015, Tolenas Winery was born, rooted in family tradition and agricul- tural history. Today, Howard's me- ticulous eye for detail and hands-on approach have helped her develop a distinctive winemaking philoso- phy. Guided by a deep reverence for Mother Nature, she is committed to preserving the integrity of her wines and abstaining from disturbing the vines with chemicals or unnecessary additives. She pairs this with fearless innovation, which earned her a gold medal at the 2019 International Wom- en's Wine Competition for her Eclipse, a white pinot noir. Through her wines, Howard aims to share the story of her family and capture the spirit of the hidden gem that is the Suisun Valley wine region. Cecilia Enriquez, Enriquez Estate Wines After a failed ski trip with no snow turned into a detour through Califor- nia wine country for Cecilia Enriquez and her parents, she immediately fell in love with wine. When her father found out that a property was for sale in Sonoma County and his daughter offered to write up a business plan and quit her corporate job, he didn't think twice. In 2011, Enriquez moved away from her East Coast home to California with her promised business plan and very little knowledge about wine. Eager to learn, she sought mentors who would teach her any- thing about the winemaking and production process. She caught on quickly, active in every aspect from vine to bottling. Soon, Enriquez Estate Wines was born. As a Latina wine- maker, Enriquez continues to pave the way for Latinas in an industry where both women and Mexican Americans are underrepresented. Her distinc- tive out-of-the-box approach to wine- making has won her multiple awards and introduced innovative pours in the Russian River Valley. Enriquez Estate Wines offers both in-person and pri- vate virtual tasting sessions, allowing Enriquez to continue sharing the wine experience with customers and engage with brand fans on both a local and national scale n Top to bottom: Cliff and Lisa Howard and their children (from left) Jake, Amy and Katie in a Suisun Valley orchard owned by her parents, Steve and Linda Tenbrink; Cecilia Enriquez of Enriquez Estate Wines. – Photo of Howard family courtesy of Lisa Howard, photo of Cecilia Enriquez by Victoria Webb Photography

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