6 Questions with Kate Payne-Brown

  1. So Kate, what's your superpower?

    I tend to connect ideas and people. It's definitely one of the things I'm known for. It's like, 'Oh, you, you should meet this person because they're going to help you along with your journey...'

    I'm a Gemini. So I'm often thinking about a million things at once and I'm kind of a collector of ideas. And I feel like having a broad network allows me to bring people together and connect them in ways that maybe I didn't realize. Maybe I didn't realize that was my superpower in the past, but I would say that that's certainly my superpower now.

  2. As a winemaker, is it Burgundy red or white for you?

    Definitely both, at the same time! I love both and a little tasting of both is usually the right answer. Maybe followed by a beer.

  3. Wait, you like to drink beer in Burgundy?!

    Burgundy is like seeing old friends. There's an excitement and loveliness that comes with going to Burgundy every year. But not to state the obvious, after doing a lot of tastings, sometimes 12 hours a day of tastings... really all I want to do is drink a beer.

  4. What's it like being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated craft like winemaking?

    Coming back to Oregon in the mid 2000s, I was so fortunate to be surrounded by all these women winemakers and vineyard managers. And then here at Stoller, there are so many women in decision-making roles. So in an industry that is so male dominated, I felt embraced and empowered and lifted up by all the women around me. I don't think I would be standing here today without all that support. And I think about that going forward, about how to lift other women up in this industry. It's deeply important to me.

  5. What's one misconception about your job?

    Winemaking is not always glamorous or romantic by any stretch of the imagination. Expect to clean a lot of tanks and to get dirty! If you can handle that, then it is incredibly rewarding. There's something glorious about working with a team to create something from these beautiful grapes that we've grown and tended to all year. The grapes comes in, and you're creating something that's almost a time capsule for that vintage in that place, at that time. It's really magical.

  6. What's one thing your looking forward to in Burgundy?

    Oh, there are so many places Burgundy! Old medieval towns with cobblestone streets and patisseries and cafes. One of my favorite experiences is going to the farmers markets. There are larger ones on Saturdays, and a small one on Wednesdays. I know this because I parked my car there. And I did not move it the night before. And in true French fashion, the next day they simply put the farmers market on my car. All the stalls were set up right around my little Renault, and I could not get it out. The lesson? Always move your car on Tuesday evenings before market day.