Maya Dalla Valle, 31, Oakville, CA

Director, Dalla Valle Vineyards

Continuing the family dynasty

It’s not easy to live up to an iconic vineyard and wine named in your honor, but if anyone can do it, it’s Dalla Valle. A first-generation American of Japanese and Italian descent, she earned her first degree in viticulture and enology from Cornell, and a second in vineyard and winery management from Bordeaux’s Science Agro University. She’s worked at places like Ornellaia e Masseto in Italy, Bodega Rolland in Argentina and chateaus Pétrus, Latour and Canon-La-Gaffelière in Bordeaux. Last year, Dalla Valle returned home to direct winegrowing and winemaking at her family winery, where she’s set to usher in the next wave for a California gold standard.

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