Kathy Joseph

Originally from the Chicago area, Joseph received a Bachelor of Science degree in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.^[5] She then moved to California in the late 1970s to begin a career in the wine industry.^[6] After working in several wineries, she attended graduate school in Enology at the University of California, Davis.^[6] After graduation in 1984, she spent five years at Robert Pecota Winery as Head Winemaker.^[6]

In 1989, Joseph opened her own winery, Fiddlehead Cellars in Lompoc, California.^[7][2] This was an unusual place to open a winery at the time, and Joseph was a pioneer as both a female winemaker and on account of her location choice.^[3] She focused on the then lesser-appreciated varieties of wine - Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.^[6] Fiddlehead^[8] celebrated its 25rd vintage in 2013 and is distributed among restaurants and through a wine club.^[9] Her wine has won various awards, to include San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 Wines in 1999, 2000, and 2001.^[10][11][12]

Joseph has taught classes at Napa Valley College and UC Davis,^[13] and her Fiddlestix wine was featured in a scene in the movie Sideways.^[14][4]