Lisa Callans' Happy Place

In 2024, Lisa Callan earned the prestigious title of Washington Winemaker of the Year, a recognition richly deserved for her artistry, skill, and commitment to quality.

Lisa’s winemaking journey began with a bold leap: launching her own label, Callan Cellars, in 2016 after graduating from Washington State University’s enology program in 2012 and serving as assistant winemaker at a small winery in Woodinville. What started as a modest garage project quickly grew, supported by her husband Mike and a fierce belief in her vision.

Central to Lisa’s success is her close collaboration with a select group of Eastern Washington vineyards, each chosen for shared values around gentle grape handling and hand harvesting:

• Avennia Estate Vineyard
• Boushey Vineyards (Yakima Valley): Known for elite Picpoul, Grenache Blanc and Syrah grapes; its owner Dick Boushey is renowned as one of Washington’s top growers
• Ciel du Cheval
• Clos Chevalle
• Elephant Mountain
• Olsen
• Quintessence
• Seven Hills

These partnerships go beyond transactions, they are built on Lisa’s hands-on approach and shared dedication to premium fruit, ensuring each grape is treated with respect from vine to winery.

Lisa’s passion for unique white varietals shines in her Picpoul and Grenache Blanc offerings:

• Picpoul (Boushey): The first vintage she produced at Callan Cellars. It won Best White Wine at the Great Northwest Invitational and remains her personal favorite.
• Grenache Blanc: Her top-selling white, celebrated for its vibrant acidity and layered flavors. Both wines earned double gold medals at the Seattle Wine Awards.

Lisa's red blends, crafted from fruit sourced at Ciel du Cheval, Elephant Mountain, and Quintessence, consistently earn 90+ scores in respected wine publications and competitions. Her dedication to excellence is a hallmark of every bottle.

For Lisa, winemaking is more than craft, it’s a community effort rooted in relationships. She collaborates closely with vineyard teams to ensure hand-harvested, premium quality, reflecting her belief that quality begins in the vineyard. Speaking of harvest, Lisa has often shared how it’s her "happy place" full of laughter, hard work, and grape magic.

Her motto? “We believe it is our responsibility to strive for perfection, for our customers, clients, ourselves and our community.” That commitment is clear in every bottle bearing her name.

Lisa Callan’s path, from a garage-backed hobby to state-wide acclaim, is a testament to talent, tenacity, and trust. Through her award-winning wines, close vineyard partnerships, and pioneering white varietals, she’s reshaping Washington’s wine scene, one carefully crafted glass at a time.
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