Emily Fergestrom is the owner and co-founder of Fortuity Cellars, a Yakima Valley winery known for its dedication to crafting high-quality, limited-production wines that reflect the unique terroir of the AVA. Since 2016, Emily has led the brand strategy, sales and marketing at Fortuity.

With a 20+ year background in public affairs and strategic communications, Emily brings a wealth of experience in building influential relationships, crafting powerful narratives, and driving successful campaigns. Her career has included roles in communications and advocacy, in both the public and private sectors.

Some call it Chance. We call it Fortuity.

Little did Lee and Emily know that a chance meeting on a cold and rainy December afternoon in Seattle would profoundly change the rest of their lives. Fast forward to today — the two are married, living in the Yakima Valley and embarking on the vintners’ life! Located in the Yakima Valley (Wash.) and established in 2017, Lee and Emily Fergestrom work closely with wine grape growers to select fruit that showcase the best of the Yakima Valley. Quality is top priority and the results are bright, fruit-driven wines – perfect for pairing with food!

Dr Wade Wolfe

Thurston Wolfe Winery

Thurston Wolfe is a small family winery owned by Wade Wolfe and Becky Yeaman, specializing in unique red & white table and dessert wines. Grapes are sourced from growers located in the Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley at sites best suited to the varieties produced. These sites and grower relationships were developed through Wade’s extensive contacts and knowledge of the region dating back to the late 1970’s.

Started in 1987, Thurston Wolfe was first located in the historic Old City Hall on North Front Street in Yakima.  Thurston Wolfe moved to Prosser in 1996 to be more centrally located in the industry and its grape sources. A new custom designed winery was completed and occupied in January 2006 in Prosser Vintner’s Village at 588 Cabernet Court off Exit 80 of Interstate 82.

Lisa Lawrence is the owner of Gård Vintners and Lawrence Vineyards together with her husband Josh, and co-owner of Desert Wind Winery with the Merkel family. Her primary focus is on marketing, operations, and strategic management, with a passion for vineyards and estate wines of Washington.

Raised in Olympia, Lisa holds a BA in Communication from Pacific Lutheran University where she was an All-American softball player. She worked in Seattle for several years in tech marketing and public relations before she moved to the family farm with Josh and together began planting vineyard in 2003. The couple was instrumental in establishing the Royal Slope AVA in 2020. Together they raise their family on the farm in Royal City, where Lisa also coaches high school and travel softball.

Gård Vintners/Lawrence Vineyards/Desert Wind Winery

Marty is Managing Winemaker and Co-Owner of L’Ecole N° 41 with his wife Megan and children, Riley and Rebecca.  Marty assumed the operation of the winery from Megan’s parents, Jean and Baker Ferguson, in 1989, six years after the winery’s founding.

Today Marty’s primary focus is a hands-on approach to the winery’s viticulture operation.  Along with his estate vineyards, Ferguson and Seven Hills, Marty personally works with over 30 vineyards located throughout the Columbia Valley.  He collaborates with each grower to optimally manage contracted vineyard blocks to meet the quality requirements established by the winery.

In addition, Marty is a Managing Partner with Gary and Chris Figgins (Leonetti Cellar) and Norm McKibben (Pepper Bridge Winery) in the highly acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard and the SeVein vineyard development, home to L’Ecole’s newest Estate vineyard, Ferguson.  Marty’s ongoing dedication and commitment to our wine industry is evident in his many leadership roles.  He has served nearly 30 years on the Boards of various wine industry associations, including the Washington Wine Commission.

Marty was instrumental in the founding of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance, serving as its first President.  He worked with other industry pioneers in the development of the Walla Walla Community College Center for Enology and Viticulture and continues serving in an advisory role.

L’Ecole No 41

L’Ecole N° 41 is a third generation family-owned, artisan winery located in the historic Frenchtown School depicted on our label.  Founded in 1983, we were the third winery established in the Walla Walla Valley.

We have become one of the most prominent and visible Walla Walla Valley wineries with national and international distribution.

Kristina brings both education and practical skills to her position as co-owner and and head winemaker at Arbor Crest Wine Cellars.

A graduate of UC-Davis with a degree in Fermentation Science, Kristina came to Arbor Crest in 1999 after several years as the assistant winemaker at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery in Healdsburg, California.

Arbor Crest Wine Cellars

In the early 1980s, Harold and Marcia Mielke began a venture that would transform the inventor’s estate into our region’s premier destination winery.

After purchasing a winery in California, they relocated operations to Spokane Valley to take advantage of the budding Washington wine industry, establishing Arbor Crest Wine Cellars as the state’s 29th winery (a number that has since grown to over 980). To serve as the winery’s new headquarters, they acquired the idyllic Riblet Estate, which had been designated as a national historic landmark in 1979. The inventor’s former workshop now accommodates the Winery’s administrative offices.

By 1999, the family business was being expanded to the next generation as the Mielke’s daughter, Kristina Mielke van Löben Sels, departed her position as associate winemaker at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards in Sonoma County, California, to take over as head winemaker for Arbor Crest.

Tom is Associate General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Head of Government Affairs for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Since joining Ste. Michelle and the Washington wine industry in 2011, Tom has held various leadership roles in legal, regulatory, and corporate compliance and ethics functions.

He has extensive knowledge of alcohol regulatory and sales and marketing law throughout the US and international markets. He uses a deep understanding of the commercial and legal landscape in the beverage alcohol industry to help Ste. Michelle respond to challenges, pursue business opportunities, and mitigate risk.

Tom received his JD from Washington University in St. Louis and a BA in Political Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Established in 1933, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is a leading Pacific Northwest wine company and among the most admired premium wine companies in the United States.

As the largest wine company in Washington State, Ste. Michelle is rooted in an unwavering passion for producing the highest quality wines, delighting wine consumers, supporting our communities, and protecting the environment. Ste. Michelle sustainably farms 2,200 acres of estate vineyards in Washington and Oregon.

The Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio features leading wineries from Washington including Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Eroica, Col Solare and Spring Valley Vineyard; A to Z, Erath, and Rex Hill from Oregon; and premier California wineries Conn Creek and Patz & Hall. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is also the exclusive import partner Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte from France.

Nicole Arnold serves as Director of Operations and Winemaker for RM Wineries and Evergreen Family Wines in Quincy and Mattawa, Washington.

Nicole began her wine industry career in 2011 and gained experience at several of Washington State’s largest wine production facilities, including Goose Ridge Vineyards and Columbia Crest. In 2014, she joined Milbrandt Vineyards, where she played a key role in establishing and developing the Ancient Lake Custom Crush Facility in Quincy, Washington.

In 2020, Nicole was promoted to Head Winemaker of the Ancient Lake Facility. There, she focused on crafting premium white wines that showcase the distinctive character of the Ancient Lakes AVA, earning recognition for producing wines of exceptional quality. In 2025, Nicole became Director of Operations for RM Wineries and Evergreen Family Wines, overseeing production and operations across both winery facilities.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Washington State University, bringing a strong scientific foundation to her approach to winemaking and winery operations. Passionate about the Washington wine industry, Nicole is dedicated to showcasing the quality and diversity of Washington-grown wines and helping elevate the region’s reputation on both the national and international stage.

RM Wineries

Jerry Milbrandt, a pioneer of the Columbia Valley wine region, saw potential in growing and producing world class wines in Eastern Washington.  In 1997, he planted our first vineyards and soon became recognized for helping establish two of the top AVA’s in Washington State: Ancient Lake and Wahluke Slope.

With our estate vineyards now spanning over 3,000 acres along with our two wine processing facilities, Ancient Lake and Wahluke Wine Company; RM Wineries is focused on 3 things: consistently producing world class Washington State Wines, furthering consumer education about Washington State Wines, and cultivating strong, long lasting relationships within the industry who share the same passion we have in promoting Washington State Wine!

Joe Pfost is the CFO of Mark Ryan Winery and has worked in the PNW wine industry since 2004. Over the past two decades, they have managed financial and operational strategies across the industry’s production, wholesale, and retail sectors, with a career that includes roles at Winebow, garagiste, Precept Wine, and Chateau Ste. Michelle.

Joe holds a B.S. in Mathematics from The Evergreen State College and earned an MBA from Seattle University in 2013.

Mark Ryan Winery

Established in 1999 in Woodinville, Washington, by Mark Ryan McNeilly, Mark Ryan Winery is an acclaimed Washington winery.

Specializing on Red Mountain, Mark Ryan Winery  produces wine from grapes grown in the high desert, on a very warm site. They are big-shouldered wines that they coax a great amount of finesse and elegance.  Mark Ryan utilizes specific vineyard sites to create their own style, and have continued adding a portfolio of the most sought-after vineyards in Horse Heaven Hills, Yakima Valley, and Columbia Valley.