Ariel Rubissow-Okamoto
Second Generation Vintner – Mistress of the Vines
Ariel Rubissow Okamoto manages the vineyard estate and enjoys putting some of her long-held beliefs in living lightly on the land into practice through sustainable farming. She has overseen vineyard operations for over ten years. In her other life, she has been a freelance writer covering environmental issues, with a focus on California water, ecosystem restoration and urban design. In the early 1990s, she worked actively to build the community of mountain growers, winemakers and neighbors that is now the Mount Veeder Appellation Council, and served as Council Chairperson for several terms. She is married to a "green" architect; has two precocious daughters; favors milk chocolate, Sauvignon Blanc and the color purple. She dreams of winning a Pulitzer Prize for her future tomes (or a least a mention on Oprah) and enjoys the workout of walking the ranch's steep hillsides, the taste of dirt on the ripe fruit, and the extra wrinkles and freckles of life on the land.