Hope Family Wines highlights women in wine industry during harvest

By Staff Report · Sat Aug 22 2026

PASO ROBLES — Hope Family Wines is celebrating the women working across the vineyard, winery and wine business as the 2026 harvest season gets underway and the International Year of the Woman Farmer continues.

Women make up approximately 70% of Hope Family Wines’ employees, with women serving in leadership roles across vineyard operations, winemaking, hospitality, sales, marketing, finance and direct-to-consumer operations.

“Farming has always been about people as much as the land, and we’re fortunate to have so many talented women helping lead the way at Hope Family Wines,” said Owner-Winemaker Austin Hope. “The harvest season is when the pressure is at its highest, and when our people show what they’re made of. It’s a time when the spirit behind the International Year of the Woman Farmer really comes into focus.”

Director of Vineyards and Community Relations Stasi Seay and Assistant Winemaker Samantha Taylor are helping lead the winery’s production efforts during this year’s harvest. Taylor has been with Hope Family Wines for 16 years, while Seay has spent seven years with the winery.

“Every year is a ‘year of the woman farmer’ at Hope Family Wines,” said Executive Vice President Gretchen Roddick, who has been with Hope Family Wines for 29 years, and who was recently elected as 2026-2027 Board Chair at Wine Institute. “It’s something that has taken shape naturally over the past 30 years as we’ve brought on individuals whose talent, merit and experience match our vision for success.”

The winery’s family history also includes several women involved in its operations. Austin Hope’s parents, Chuck and Marlyn Hope, began farming wine grapes in Paso Robles in 1978. Celeste Hope contributes to marketing, graphic design, interior design and project management, while daughters Ainsley and Avery have worked in production and hospitality.

Hope Family Wines will also participate in the Cherry Bombe Farmers & Makers event Sept. 25-27 in Paso Robles, including hosting the opening Welcome Party in partnership with CA GROWN at the Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar.

The International Year of the Woman Farmer is a global initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to highlight the contributions of women throughout agricultural and food systems.

Feature Image courtesy of Hope Family Wine