Cathy Corison
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Winemaking |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Cathy Corison |
| Headquarters | St. Helena, California , United States |
| Products | Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Rosé |
| Website | www |
Cathy Corison is a distinguished American winemaker, business owner, and consultant with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2011, she received the prestigious title of Winemaker of the Year from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Personal life and education
Raised in Riverside, California, Corison pursued her undergraduate studies in biology at Pomona College. Since there was no women's diving team, she competed with the men's team. Her passion for winemaking was ignited in 1972 after taking an elective course on wine appreciation. Following her graduation in 1975, she relocated to Napa Valley, California, where she completed a Master's degree in Enology at the University of California, Davis.
Career
When Corison arrived in Napa, she balanced working in the tasting room at Sterling Vineyards and a local wine shop while finishing her graduate studies. Despite facing gender-based barriers and skepticism about her entry into Napa’s winemaking industry, she remained determined. After being initially rejected for a role at Freemark Abbey—due in part to her height and prevailing sexist attitudes—she refused a lab position and instead secured an internship there in 1978, eventually advancing to assistant winemaker.
She subsequently took on the role of winemaker at Yverdon before joining Chappellet Winery in 1980 as head winemaker, a position she held for nearly ten years. During her time at Chappellet, Corison refined her skills in producing Cabernet Sauvignon wines with moderate alcohol content, employing a largely hands-off method that emphasizes careful handling throughout the winemaking process.
Corison Winery
Established by Corison in 1987, Corison Winery is situated in St. Helena, California within a barn crafted by her husband, William Martin. The winery’s annual production is around 3,000 cases, focusing primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, along with small quantities of Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Rosé. Signature offerings include Kronos Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sunbasket Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The Kronos and Sunbasket labels are estate wines made from grapes certified organic by CCOF and predominantly dry farmed. The Kronos fruit comes from one of Napa Valley’s oldest vineyards planted in 1971, while the Napa Valley Cabernet sources grapes from benchland located between Rutherford and St. Helena. Additionally, the Corazón Gewürztraminer is harvested from the Moon Mountain AVA.
Awards and acknowledgements
- 2011 – Winemaker of the Year awarded by San Francisco Chronicle