Catie McIntyre Walker

Current

• Owner/CEO at The Walla Walla Grape Vine, LLC - Walla Walla Wine Woman Wines
• Independent at Freelance Writer
• Assistant at Minnick-Hayner Law Firm

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Past

• Sales Associate at Forgeron Cellars
• Sales Associate at L'Ecole No 41 Winery

Education

• Walla Walla College Institute for Enology and Viticulture
• Washington State University

Recommended

1 person has recommended Catie

Connections

104 connections

Industry

Wine and Spirits

Websites

• My Company
• My Blog

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Summary

From 1988 - 1997, I owned an event planning business that developed and managed large gift shows featuring cottage industry businesses that designed hand crafted gift items and specialty gourmet packaged foods. These shows were held in large hotel ballrooms and coliseums. The business also included developing mini-conventions for crafters and artisans with specialty workshops.

Over the past 35 years, as the number of wineries and vineyards in Washington grew from near zero to more than 500, my interest in vitis vinifera got piqued. I went to wine festivals and toured wineries across the state, mostly sipping Merlots and Rieslings. In the 1980s I visited Napa Valley and developed a taste for Cabernet Sauvignon. In the ‘90s I visited the Hunter Valley region in Australia and became very fond of Shiraz/Syrah. Later, I made more trips to the Bay Area in California and learned to love the ripe, spicy Zinfandels.

I have participated in many aspects of winemaking, from grafting Merlot clones on rootstock, planting a row of Merlot in a vineyard, working the autumnal crush, and onto the finished product bottled by hand, as well as working the automated bottling line. I toured vineyards in Washington State to understand the terroir that is only unique to those various appellations. I had the great opportunity to study under Dr. Ann Noble, Professor and Sensory Scientist, Emeritus at UC Davis, and creator of the Wine Aroma Wheel. I have a certification in Viticulture Science, but wine retail is in my heart.

I have taken courses in web design and retail, especially e-commerce with an emphasis in wine.

It was important to me to participate in every aspect of wine - - from the vine takes to the liquid in the glass. I have over 8 years of working retail and promotions at various wineries. Educating potential customers about wine is important to me and this cannot be done well unless I can bring my knowledge and experiences with me.

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Specialties:

Strong retail sales background, trade show development and management, blind tasting of wines, sensory evaluation, writing wine notes, web design and development,

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Experience

• Owner/CEO

  The Walla Walla Grape Vine, LLC - Walla Walla Wine Woman Wines

  (Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Wine and Spirits industry)

  August 2007 — Present (2 years 4 months)

  Featuring the Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman label. Walla Walla wines, gourmet goodies and gifts.
  
  The Walla Walla Valley is filled with world class wines. Where to even begin? What’s important to me is that I select wines for you that offer an ideal combination of quality and value, that hold a rich story and bring a memorable personality, all for a fair dollar.

• Independent

  Freelance Writer

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  August 2007 — Present (2 years 4 months)

  WW Union-Bulletin "Lifestyles" Magazine
  WW Union-Bulletin wineanddinewallawalla.com
  Tourism Walla Walla
  Northwest Palate Magazine
  Palate Press Online Magazine
  Domain547 (Los Angeles, CA wine store) - blog contributor/feature
  Member of the Appellation America Wine Press and creator of Primitivo Varietal Character

• Assistant

  Minnick-Hayner Law Firm

  (Law Practice industry)

  2000 — Present (9 years )

• Sales Associate

  Forgeron Cellars

  (Wine and Spirits industry)

  2003 — 2007 (4 years )

• Sales Associate

  L'Ecole No 41 Winery

  (Wine and Spirits industry)

  1999 — 2002 (3 years )

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Education

• Walla Walla College Institute for Enology and Viticulture

  Viticulture , Enology and Viticulture , 2001 — 2005

• Washington State University

  Agriculture

  Activities and Societies:

  Alpha Phi Beta Rho Alumnae

Additional Information

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Websites:

• My Company
• My Blog

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Interests:

Wine collecting, writing, cooking, walking, collecting antiques

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Groups:

Open Wine Consortium, Alpha Phi - Beta Rho, Associate Junior Club of Walla Walla, Past Board Member and Finance Committee Chair of Blue Mt. Heart to Heart HIV/Aids Foundation, Past Fundraiser Chair for local National Elks Foundation Scholarship Committee

•    Winefellow
•    WELL community
•    Wines & Spirits (Number 1 W&S group on Linked)
•    Wine Business Network
•    Green Vines Wine & Spirit Networking Group
•    world wide wineprofessionals
•    Beer Wine Spirits Network
•    WINE - Wine Industry Networking Executives
•    Wine2.0
•    WITS Wine Industry Technology Symposium
•    Wine Industry Insiders
•    GrapeRadio (Wine Talk) Listeners Group
•    Wine Connections
•    Walla Walla Businesses
•    Walla Walla Valley Businesses
•    Vintage Wines
•    Wine Collectors Only
•    Twisted Oak Winery
•    Wine Reviews
•    PALATE PRESS: The online wine magazine

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Honors:

The Wine Century Club

Front Page Article: http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2006/05/04/local_news/local01.txt

Front Page Article: http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/05/01/local_news/080501l1winewoman.txt

Article about Wine Judge: http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/05/23/local_news/080523local05strictlybusiness.txt

Catie McIntyre Walker’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• getting back in touch