Women in Wine: Meet the Sonoma-Cutrer Winemakers

Today we bring you an opportunity to Meet the Sonoma-Cutrer Winemakers, our contribution to the Wine Pairing Weekend event focused on “Women in Wine”. Disclosure: some of the wines referenced in this article were provided as complimentary samples by the winery.

photo of Cara Morrison and Zidanelia Arcidiacono in the vineyard. — *Cara Morrison and Zidanelia Arcidiacono, winemakers at Sonoma-Cutrer. Courtesy photo.*

Sonoma-Cutrer has long been a go-to wine brand for me. Their Chardonnay can be found on many restaurant wine lists, and I’ve also had a chance to feature their Pinot Noirs as an excellent pairing for a variety of dishes. Their 2021 Sonoma-Cutrer Les Plus Haut Pinot Noir was especially good with our Steak with Shiitake Mushrooms recipe.

steak topped with shiitake mushrooms, served with Pinot Noir.

In the summer of 2024, I had a chance to interview Zidanelia Arcidiacono for the Cook Local Eat Local Podcast (episode 37). She is Sonoma-Cutrer’s Senior Winemaker. I really enjoyed hearing about how her passion for winemaking developed and chatting about some delicious food pairing ideas. We were talking about pairings for fresh local summer produce, and I paired their rosé with Roasted Hakurei Turnips in conjunction with that conversation.

hakurei turnips served with a bottle of rosé wine.

When Cam shared the “Women in Wine” theme for this month’s Wine Pairing Weekend event, I recalled that Cara Morrison is Sonoma-Cutrer’s Director of Winemaking. With two women leading winemaking in a region where only 14% of winemakers are female, according to one study, I figured this would be a great winery to feature!

I’ll start with a little quick background on Sonoma-Cutrer, then we will hear from the winemakers in their own words.

About Sonoma-Cutrer

sonoma-cutrer winery shown from the outside. — *The Sonoma-Cutrer winery. Courtesy photo.*

Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, is known for its seamless blend of Burgundian winemaking traditions and Californian innovation. Since its founding in 1973, the winery has earned a reputation for excellence by combining Old World techniques with New World creativity. Sonoma-Cutrer has been designated as a Certified California Sustainable Winery.

While Sonoma-Cutrer’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are widely available at restaurants and wine shops across the country, select wines can only be purchased by visiting the winery or ordering from their website. Becoming a member of “Club Cutrer” offers exclusive access to limited-release wines, along with other special perks.

Interview with the Winemakers

My Wine Pairing Weekend articles usually focus on the pairings. And I did one with this post in mind, and have another planned. But after having a great conversation with Zidanelia for our podcast, I decided it would be best to focus the Women in Wine article on hearing directly from both of the winemakers.

Below please find my interview with Cara Morrison and Arcidiacono Zidanelia. Their responses are presented in their entirety.

What motivated you to get into winemaking?

Cara Morrison: As a native of San Jose, I chose to attend the University of California at Davis, initially declaring as a pre-med major. But, by chance, I attended an intro to winemaking class and knew immediately that I had found my people. On the spot, I followed that professor back to her office, changed my major and have never looked back. I joined the Sonoma-Cutrer team in 2005 and immersed myself in crafting Chardonnay in their classic, Burgundian style. In 2023, I became Director of Winemaking and the first woman to hold the position in Sonoma-Cutrer’s 40-plus-year history.

In 2023, I became Director of Winemaking and the first woman to hold the position in Sonoma-Cutrer’s 40-plus-year history.

Cara Morrison

Director of Winemaking, Sonoma-Cutrer

In our podcast interview, Zidanelia talks about how growing up in Argentina’s wine country motivated her to pursue winemaking.

Tell us about a woman you look up to and/or consider to be a mentor.

Cara Morrison: Although I have never met her, Zelma Long is a living legend who I read and heard about my whole career. She was the first woman in the UC Davis winemaking program, longtime winemaker at Robert Mondavi in the 70s and Simi winery in the 80s and 90s. She is a highly respected winemaker and dedicated to a scientific approach to winemaking, all that I professionally aspire to be. She accomplished so much when there were few women in winemaking or winery leadership roles. A few years ago, Women for WineSense featured her as a speaker to talk about her life’s journey, and it was so wonderful to hear about her story directly from her.

Zidanelia Arcidiacono: I’ll always be so grateful for the amazing help Adriana de la Mota gave me when I was starting out in the wine world. She really paved the way for me, and now I hope I can be that support for other women just beginning their journeys. I also have so much admiration for Susana Balbo, who’s such a trailblazer in the Argentine wine industry. She’s truly an inspiration!

Can you talk about challenges of being a woman winemaker in aWith the vast majority of winemakers in California being men, I would anticipate some challenges for women in this profession. Thoughts on that premise? and/or sources of support you find as a woman winemaker?

Cara Morrison: I was fortunate to work my first harvest with an experienced female in the cellar who helped encourage me on. Then, I had a series of male and female allies in my career who helped me get where I am today. When I was an assistant winemaker, when the male winemaker would say, ‘This is my assistant,’ most people would assume I was the administrative assistant. When I asked that he add winemaker to the assistant and explained why, he apologized and said it never occurred to him. When I travel on the road promoting Sonoma-Cutrer wines, buyers and customers often have a hard time understanding I am a winemaker, even if I am introduced as such. They stick to their assumptions and ask what I do in hospitality, I politely correct them.

Zidanelia Arcidiacono:Starting out in the winery world wasn’t easy for me. When I was studying in Argentina, landing my first opportunity in the industry was a real struggle. Luckily, a female winemaker named Adriana de la Mota took a chance on me. She trusted me enough to recommend me to a winery, and that’s when my career really took off.

I always find it pretty funny—and sometimes even a little surreal—when people react to me being introduced as the winemaker. Most of the time, they’re shocked, and I get comments like, “I can’t believe you’re the winemaker!” I guess I don’t exactly match the typical image people have in mind. But there are also times when I get a lot of praise and encouragement, which feels amazing.

Please tell us about a favorite food pairing with a Sonoma-Cutrer wine.

Cara Morrison: At least once a week, I need a quick and healthy dinner. I stop by my local market for fresh crabcakes, which I bake in the oven at home, and then place on a fresh green salad with a simple vinaigrette. It screams to be paired with Sonoma-Cutrer’s Russian River Ranches Chardonnay every time. I sometimes have some manchego cheese on toasted baguettes to elevate the meal.

Zidanelia Arcidiacono: I really enjoy sipping on the Winemaker’s Release Grand Brut Rosé with Oysters with Mignonette sauce or simple yet delicious crab tacos! This 2019 sparkling wine is a cuveé of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fruit and perfectly encapsulates Sonoma-Cutrer’s signature acidity.

What is something that people should know about your approach to winemaking?

Zidanelia Arcidiacono: Sonoma-Cutrer is a testament to the people, practices, and land all working in unison to uphold the time-honored tradition of winemaking. We marry together Burgundian traditions with Californian ingenuity and a deep appreciation for Sonoma Valley’s remarkable terroir. Beyond our craft, we strive to carry these values into our personal relationships and communities. We believe the good life, like good wine, is not primarily of any one element but is a perfectly unique balance of all elements.

Cara Morrison: Consistency! My role is to ensure that each bottle of Sonoma-Cutrer maintains a consistent style with the previous vintage, so our customers can be confident they’ll enjoy their next glass just as much (or more) as the last.

About Sonoma-Cutrer

Interview with the Winemakers

Cara Morrison

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