For our fourth “Women in Wine” we are giddy with excitement in welcoming Katie Bundschu (yes, that Bundschu of Sonoma-famous “Gun Bun”!). Winemaking is quite literally in her blood, and as such, she decided to start a new brand in the family business and start a new tradition by being the first female winemaker in her six-generation California wine family with her very own Abbot’s Passage. We are thrilled to hear from this true Wine Country local her perspective on what’s most important to her in our wine world here (hint: it’s not a what), and what she’s got planned for the future.

Why wine, what got you started in the wine industry?

Luck! I was born into a multigenerational wine making family ( I currently represent the 6th generation who has been making wine in the same location for over 160+years). However, during both middle and high school I really wasn't sure whether wine is what I wanted to do. I had other ambitions and dreams like writing for Sports Illustrated or running an NFL team. It took me leaving, to pursue my own ambitions, in order to recognize just how special the wine industry is.

What are some highlights and challenges to this journey?

Oh gosh! What is my word allotment for answering this questions? Obviously there are the challenges that you can't anticipate (mother nature, climate change, fires, the economy, a once-in-a-century pandemic). Fortunately, while those are all challenges, a highlight is that whether I like it or not, I have learned to have the grit, resolve, resiliency whatever you want to call it that I inherited from being part of a six-generation winemaking family who at one point or another experienced everything that I just listed and managed to survive! Besides the un-expected challenges, I've had to overcome my tendency to be shy when it comes to laying out my big ideas or sharing them with other people. Brené Brown says, "Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change," and it's certainly personally been a challenge, yet so rewarding to finally become more comfortable with that concept.

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What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?

My brother Jeff, my dad Jim and probably authors Jim Collins and I will throw out Brené Brown again. Through one lesson or another from each of the listed individuals I've learned that people are truly your greatest asset when it comes to business and being successful.

What is the best piece of advice you've received?

It's ok to not know everything, but surround yourself with good people who compliment your weaknesses and can make up for what you might not know.

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What is a daily ritual you live by?

Letting my dog out at 6:31 am to relieve himself, followed by feeding him breakfast. The day can't officially start until that happens!

What do you do for encouragement or to be motivated?

Travel and listen to podcasts to name a few.

How do you personally define business success? Is it money? Freedom? Influence? Creative expression and innovation? Something else?

All of the above, but I also think about legacy and being able to leave something for future generations.

What is a typical day like for you?

Currently I am the CMO of the Bundschu Company--my family's business. So I oversee a marketing team of six where we produce all the marketing, communication and brand plans across multiple different channels of business. It's been a lot of fun, a lot of work, but I'm lucky to have a really great team of people. I also recently got married in August of 2020 to a fellow winemaker who both has his own label and makes wine for another winery in Napa. We currently live in Napa, but hope to move back to Sonoma soon. So I'm adjusting to married life and I always know there will be a good bottle of wine on the dinner table to end every day!

What are you most excited about at work right now? What keeps you up at night?

Finally getting to truly launch a business and share it with people! Abbot's Passage is a relatively young brand and we found a permanent home last February! I had all these grand plans and ideas and then of course we all know the world changed in March of 2020! I'm excited to finally start sharing the space and welcoming visitors! What keeps me up at night....thinking about how I can better encourage, motivate and develop and young team with a relatively new brand.

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What do you suggest is the best way to experience your wine locally or from afar? What are your offerings?

Booking a Field Table and experiencing the wines, atmosphere, food and vibe all while sitting amongst 85 year-old organically and dry-farmed Zinfandel vines. It's pretty magical even for someone who has grown up amongst the vines her entire life!

What are some of the environmental impacts of winemaking in the Valley?

Drought, Smoke, Fires, Climate Change, Regulations

What is it like being a smaller winery in an industry saturated with winemakers?

There are both pros and cons. Cons are include competition and standing out amongst the crowd, pros are being small and nimble and able to quickly adjust to consumers.

What is next for your company?

Enjoy being open for visitors! I also have a few programming ideas I want to begin incorporating, not to mention building out the MERCANTILE portion of Abbot's Passage Winery & Mercantile. I have lots of ideas there.

What a beautiful story of heritage, legacy, and an appreciation of people and the terroir we share. Thank you Katie!

Be sure to follow along on Instagram: Abbot's Passage and Gundlach Bundschu!