Behind every great Napa Valley wine is a winemaker who understands the land, the vineyard, and the craft required to bring each bottle to life. At Clif Family Winery, that person is Laura Barrett. Her passion for vineyard-driven wines and sustainable farming helps shape every vintage produced at the estate.
Since joining Clif Family Winery, Laura has played an important role in guiding the winery’s estate-grown wines from vineyard to bottle. Her work focuses on expressing the unique character of Napa Valley while creating balanced wines that pair beautifully with food.
Meet Laura
Laura Barrett is the Winemaker at Clif Family Winery. She brings years of experience in both viticulture and enology to the winery’s Napa Valley vineyards.
Her path into winemaking began with an early interest in science and agriculture. After completing graduate studies in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, Laura gained hands-on experience by working harvests and learning from respected winemakers around the world.
One of the most meaningful moments early in her career came during a harvest in New Zealand. There she experienced the pace, teamwork, and energy that define harvest season. That experience confirmed her passion for winemaking and eventually led her to Napa Valley and to Clif Family Winery.
Today, Laura works closely with both the vineyard and cellar teams to craft wines that reflect the character of the estate vineyards and the broader Napa Valley region.
Her Role at Clif Family Winery
As winemaker, Laura oversees every stage of the winemaking process. Her responsibilities include vineyard oversight, fermentation management, blending decisions, and bottling.
Clif Family farms several estate vineyards across Napa Valley. Each site contributes unique characteristics to the winery’s portfolio:
Croquet Vineyard – Known for expressive fruit and vibrant aromatics
Cold Springs Vineyard – Produces wines with structure, depth, and complexity
Home Vineyard – Located near the winery and central to Clif Family’s farming philosophy
Throughout the growing season, Laura works closely with the vineyard team to monitor vine health, track fruit development, and determine the ideal harvest window.
Once the grapes arrive at the winery, she manages fermentation, oversees barrel aging, and leads blending decisions. Her goal is to ensure that each wine reflects the personality of its vineyard site.
A Winemaking Philosophy Rooted in the Vineyard
Laura joined Clif Family shortly after the 2014 harvest. Her first months were spent learning the rhythms of the cellar and vineyards while preparing for future vintages.
During that time she worked on:
Bottling the 2014 white wines
Blending and bottling the 2013 red wines
Monitoring the aging of the 2014 reds
Preparing vineyard plans and fruit sourcing for the 2015 vintage
This early period allowed her to fully understand the winery’s style and philosophy before leading her first vintage.
When the 2015 harvest arrived, Laura was ready to guide the next chapter of Clif Family wines.
From First Harvest to First Vintage
Laura’s approach to winemaking begins in the vineyard.
She believes great wine starts with carefully farmed grapes that reflect the land where they are grown. At Clif Family, that philosophy aligns with the winery’s commitment to sustainable farming and responsible vineyard practices.
Her approach focuses on:
Vineyard-driven wines that showcase Napa Valley terroir
Balance and structure rather than heavy extraction
Thoughtful farming that respects the land
Minimal intervention in the cellar
The result is a portfolio of elegant wines that are designed to complement food and celebrate the culinary spirit of Clif Family.
A Year in the Life of a Napa Valley Winemaker
Winemaking at Clif Family follows the natural rhythm of the vineyard. Each season brings its own responsibilities.
Winter - Vines are pruned while wines from the previous harvest continue aging in barrel.
Spring - Bud break signals the beginning of a new growing season. Vineyard teams monitor vine growth and prepare for fruit development.
Summer - The vineyard canopy expands and grapes begin to ripen. Laura and the vineyard team track fruit maturity as harvest approaches.
Harvest - Harvest is the most exciting and demanding time of year. Grapes are picked at optimal ripeness, fermentation begins, and the winery comes alive with activity.
Fall - After harvest, the wines settle into barrel where they age and develop complexity before bottling.
Quick Questions with Laura Barrett
Favorite varietal to work with
Cabernet Franc for its elegance and versatility with food.
Most challenging part of winemaking
Determining the perfect harvest timing and deciding exactly when grapes are ready to pick.
A wine that influenced her career
The wines she discovered during her first harvest in New Zealand.
Favorite part of harvest season
The collaborative energy that brings the entire winery team together.
Looking Ahead
With every new vintage, Laura Barrett continues to guide Clif Family wines with a focus on vineyard expression, balance, and sustainability.
Through the winery’s blog, readers can follow harvest updates, winemaking insights, and stories from the vineyard and cellar.
Every bottle begins in the vineyard. Laura Barrett helps shape that journey from the first grape to the finished wine.
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