As a child growing up in Minnesota, Kate Derby spent every summer at the ranch at Spring Valley, where early on she learned all about the workings of the wheat farm and winery. A week after graduating with a degree in Psychology from Minnesota’s Bethel University, Raymond moved to the ranch and began working full time for Spring Valley Vineyard, helping to manage the tasting room and giving tours of the winery and farm. Eventually, she joined the winemaking team and became Winemaker in 2023.

Can you point to one event that triggered your interest in your career?

Yes. I was originally interested in psychology and wanted to move to Walla Walla to start a family counseling center and live on the farm. After taking a leadership class in college where I put on an event for the winery, I was hooked and knew I wanted to be part of it. The neat thing about growing up around all of this is that my family never once said I had to work here for a year “just to try it.” They let us follow our dreams, and that eventually led me right to where I am today.

What about this career choice did you find most appealing?

I think there are a lot of answers to this and many ways to look at it. From my perspective as a family member, the career choice was most appealing because I get to help continue my family’s farm, be part of its future, and help grow the business into something that many more generations will be a part of.

From my perspective as an individual, the most appealing thing about this career is that it is a true blend of art, science, and agriculture. To capture that in a bottle and be able to share it with the world is something I am still, to this day, incredibly grateful for. I love that every vintage is different, and that I work hand in hand with the vineyard crew, cellar crew, interns, you name it, to bring a bottle of wine with a story of labor and love to your table.

What steps did you take to begin your education or training?

I touched on this a little bit, but my education in the wine industry really came from learning on the job. I grew up helping my Uncle Devin in the cellar from time to time. The winemakers in Walla Walla, and really all of Eastern Washington, are so willing to talk things through with one another. Many of those connections have become lifelong friendships.

Along the way, were people encouraging or discouraging?

I think you get a little bit of both in any career. There are people you think will be your cheerleaders, and then there are people you know have been and always will be your cheerleaders. More than ever, during discouraging times or experiences, it was those select few who truly believed in me and, in turn, helped me believe even more in myself.

Can you describe a challenge you had to overcome?

In winemaking, every single vintage is different. I have been part of the coldest vintage in Washington State (2011) as well as the warmest vintage (2015). Learning to pivot and learning that it is not a recipe you follow every year, has been essential. I’d say the hardest thing, especially as harvest approaches, is learning to be patient as the grapes ripen to their perfect picking point. For me, that isn’t necessarily a number. It’s guided by numbers, but ultimately decided by a gut feeling while standing in the vineyard and tasting the grapes from a particular block.

What single skill has proven to be most useful?

Patience, and being in tune with yourself. That might sound like an odd answer coming from a winemaker, but as much as wine is a science, I believe it is just as much an emotion. Wine is alive…we are here to guide it to be its best self. To do that successfully, you need patience, and you need the ability to guide it thoughtfully using the tools you have (which, for me, are intentionally minimal).

Any advice for others entering your profession?

Go confidently into the field. Do it the way you feel it should be done. There are so many ways to get one job done, and you will be incredibly successful if you do it in a way that feels true to you. That is your story, own your story, and others will support you.

Photos courtesy of Spring Valley Vineyard

For more information go to Spring Valley Vineyard