California FarmHERs Stasi Seay and Samantha Taylor are two talented vintners behind Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, California. As the company’s director of vineyards and assistant winemaker, they oversee parallel processes within Hope’s day-to-day operations. Together, they contribute unrivaled passion to their respective parts of winemaking, transforming prized California grapes from vine to award-winning fine wine.
Hope Family Wines
California is the world’s fourth largest wine producer, crushing 3.73 million tons of grapes in 2023. The state, which produces roughly 86% of the United States’ wine, is home to nearly 5,000 wineries. One of the most exceptional of that group is Hope Family Wines, crowned American Winery of the Year in 2022. That’s where we meet our next two FarmHERs: Stasi Seay and Samanatha Taylor.
The family-owned business, founded by Paul & Chuck Hope, has a legacy spanning over 40 years. Thanks to Hope Family Wines’ dedication and commitment to quality over the resounding decades, the entire region of Paso Robles is now a major player in California’s wine industry. Most recently due to the oversight of Hope’s current leader and namesake of their award-winning blend, Austin Hope.
The winemaking process is a team effort, and it was an honor for us to meet the minds behind the wines: FarmHERs Stasi Seay and Samantha Taylor, the Director of Vineyards and Assistant Winemaker at Hope Family Wines. Together Stasi and Samantha oversee two parallel processes within Hope Family Wine’s day-to-day operations, contributing an equal passion to their part of winemaking.
Stasi Seay’s Soul for Soil
Meet Stasi Seay, the Director of Vineyards at Hope Family Wines. Her role involves overseeing farming, purchasing fruit, and ensuring quality. She works with growers year-round in the beautiful Paso Robles wine region, from planting to harvest. Stasi’s dedication and passion for her work truly shine through.
Her role involves overseeing farming, purchasing fruit, and ensuring quality. The vineyard life cycle is around 20-25 years, with production starting in three years and reaching full production in four years. The 180-day growing season requires constant monitoring for maturity before harvest. The harvesting process begins early in the morning to keep the fruit cold, then it’s crushed and fermented on the same day.
Stasi finds emotional fulfillment in working in the Paso Robles wine region, considering it her home and a privilege to have a backstage pass to the area.
For Samantha Taylor, Fine Wine Starts with Family
Our next FarmHER, Samantha Taylor, is an assistant winemaker for Hope Family Wines – a role she only assumed after years of hard work and dedication to learning her craft. Samantha earned the job, something she credits to “Hope Family values.”
Samantha’s role begins with processing harvested grapes grown by Seay’s team, fermenting each harvest, and tasting each product to select only the very best for inclusion in each of their blends.
While Hope Family Wines is now known for distributing its wines worldwide, the company continues to prioritize the familial foundation of its enterprise, instilling those values and pride in each person on its payroll. In addition to being a “great place to work,” Samantha is proud of her part in producing Hope’s award-winning work, the Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon, and contributing the best batches of wines to enhance their other blends.
