Bridget Raymond

Winemaker, Courtesan

Bridget was raised in the middle of vineyards in Oakville,CA (bordering Rutherford, in the heart of the Napa Valley) and spent much of her time as a child playing among the vines of her family's vineyards. She recalls some of her fondest childhood memories were of getting in grape fights with her brother in the vineyards and making wine by stomping grapes with her feet...all at the ripe age of nine!
Years later, harvest became her favorite time of year. During college, she drove up to Napa many weekends to help her uncles make wine and worked in different wineries to gain in-depth knowledge about various varietals and different winemaking processes used throughout the valley.

From winemaking to sales and marketing, Bridget was exposed to many facets of the business. In 2004 she now felt ready to pursue her life-long dream of producing her own wine. Hence, Courtesan, Brigitte, and Omerta were born.

Aside from her personal projects, Bridget is also a consulting winemaker on additional Napa wines.

Country born: United States

Education: My formal education was nice, but I owe everything I know to my family and mentors. Working alongside seasoned winemakers and walking the vineyards with growers of over 30 years .... there are some things you just can't learn from a book.

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
Wine starts in the vineyard, I merely help craft it into something beautiful. That's why I only use grapes from some of the best sources in the valley.