Why This Boss Babe Winemaker Decided That 2021 is HER Year

All Things Wine

Jan 19

If you’ve been tasting at the adorable Seven Oxen tasting room off Ramada Drive in Paso Robles, California, then you’ve definitely met Miss Nancy Ulloa! You can’t miss her fiery red hair and warm, energetic personality. This girl has a hot fire burning inside her with infinite dreams of her future in the wine industry, and she even started her own brand called Ulloa Cellars specializing in unique white wines. Yet, she didn’t always know this is what she was destined to become.

Though I’ve known Nancy for a few years, I’d never heard her whole story. She kindly shared it with me, and painted a picture of her life before ambitiously jumping into winemaking. Like most winemakers, Nancy didn’t know she wanted to make wine until a few years into her professional career.

It all started back in 2016 when Nancy was living in the Bay Area, and felt unfulfilled with where she was in her life. She made a big decision to trust her intuition, made a complete 180-degree turn in her career, and hasn’t looked back since. During our interview, this boss babe revealed her secrets to manifesting her gigantic dreams into reality, and how she built a community of mentors that have helped her along her rollercoaster journey. Trust me, you DON’T want to miss out as she has some helpful advice that may just help you through your own current struggles.

First things first! How did you get into the wine industry? What was it that initially drew you in?

Before I was part of wine production, I worked in hospitality and fine dining for ten years. I’ve always considered myself a foodie, and love learning about food. I spend my free time discovering other ethnic cuisines, traveling to experience culinary adventures, playing around with different ingredients, and learning about the cultural aspects of food in different countries. To me, food is a sensory experience. When I discovered the magic of wine and food pairing, I knew I’d found my calling. During many job trainings, I kept feeling a fire inside me every time I learned something new about wine production. My love for food and wine grew so much to the point that I made the decision to leave my life behind in the Bay Area to pursue a career in the wine industry on the Central Coast.

Working in fine dining was the gateway to pursuing a career in wine; but what really turned the switch for me was a phase of enlightenment that I went through about six years ago. I’d just gotten out of an abusive relationship and felt that for the first time in my life, I was fully able to choose what I wanted to do without allowing anyone to dictate my decisions. I felt like a butterfly looking in all directions trying to figure out what I really wanted my life to look like. The first thing that came to mind was “WINE🙌🏽”. When that happened, everything felt right and I instantly turned my life around to the point that anything I did involved wine. I knew that I wanted to learn how to make wine, and to do this, I had to submerge myself in the industry. From that point on, I started saving all my money to move, got a job at a high-end steakhouse where I had access to very expensive wine, and lastly, I enrolled in the introduction course with the Court of Master Sommeliers.
In January 2017, I packed all my belongings and moved to Paso Robles to start a job at Thomas Hill Organics. After working as the Wine Director there for almost two years, I knew it was time to make the transition to work in a winery so I started a new job at Seven Oxen Estate Wines.

Nancy at the beginning of her wine journey, working at Thomas Hill Organics as the Wine Director.

Your initial background is more hospitality-focused, not winemaking. Has it been difficult for you to bridge the gap and prove yourself fully capable of a winemaking role?

Hospitality has been a huge part of my life, and I’m thankful for all the experience I have gained from it as it’s given me many valuable skills that I have applied to the development of my brand. Yet, making a transition into winemaking has been difficult for many reasons. First of all, I don’t have a formal education in winemaking so I’ve taken it upon myself to seek resources and mentorships from respected winemakers in Paso. At the beginning, it was a challenge because I didn’t feel like people were taking me seriously. Once I found the right people that saw how committed I was, I got the support I needed to fulfill my goal.

Another difficult aspect has been the physical and mental strain that comes along with winemaking. I’ve spent endless days working 12 to 14 hours, even on my days off from my regular job. I’ve learned to appreciate how amazing my body is, and how it is allowed me to stay strong and healthy in order to get the job done.

Lastly, I’ve become such a nerd when it comes to the science of making wine. I have learned so much in the last three years and have enjoyed every second of this process, knowing I am more confident and better prepared to make educated decisions.

Now, not only do you own and manage the one-woman show of Ulloa Cellars but you also hold the position of Director of Sales and Hospitality at Seven Oxen in Paso Robles… Not to mention all the winemaking tasks you complete there, too! How do you do it all and still stay sane?

Honestly, I have no idea! I’ve always been a workaholic, juggling between multiple projects while also learning new things as I go. I think the main reason that I’m able to make things happen is motivation. Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been a good student and aimed to excel at anything I put my mind to. That doesn’t mean everything is perfect and that I have always succeeded. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to let go of the illusion of control and unreasonable goals; this has allowed me to surrender to the choices I have made, and to be content with them. I’ve also worked on being more gentle with myself, and try to think of myself as a human being rather than a working machine (which is what I had done for the past 10-plus years). Being able to step back and give myself a break once in a while has helped me manage my mental and physical health, and taught me the value of enjoying my free time.

Another reason I can stay afloat is my huge support system that consists of my family, my boyfriend Tim, my mentors, and the boss babes in my social circle who are always rooting for me. Being a go-getter is rewarding but it is also extremely challenging. I highly recommend building a support system who you can reach out to for help without feeling ashamed or like a burden. People want to see you succeed, so do not hesitate to reach out to those who love you and are there for you.

“People want to see you succeed, so do not hesitate to reach out to those who love you and are there for you.”

Your wine label is quite unique and eye-catching! What is the story behind your brand design?

When brainstorming ideas for my label, I knew I wanted it to be three things: intentional, meaningful, and feminine. Ulloa is my mother’s maiden name so using it as my brand name felt like the best way to pay tribute to the matriarch of my family. My mom is a BIG influence in my personality, kindness, and the way I view life.

In terms of my label, the art was created by my dear friend and local artist Candace Rae. It was crucial to have a female artist be part of this project. Candace was able to capture and translate my vibes, ideas, and values into the identity of my brand. I was born under a crescent moon which signifies the birth of my brand as well as the magic and influence that the lunar cycles have in nature. The back of the label contains a Spanish affirmation written by me, which reads “Soy Abundancia. Soy Magia. El Universo Conspira a mi Favor”; this translates to “I am Abundance. I am Magic. The Universe Conspires in my Favor.” This affirmation means a lot to me, as I believe the power of our thoughts and energy are catalysts in manifesting our dreams. There’s plenty of abundance in the universe for all of us to obtain. What we want and desire is out there waiting for us to claim it!

As you know, Grüner Veltliner is not a wine grape that’s widely found in California. What made you want to make wine from this rare varietal?

As with my cuisine adventures, I am a fan of exploring different varieties and wine styles. When I moved to the Central Coast, I discovered many acid-driven, food-friendly obscure grapes that I fell in love with. My fascination for these wine types has directed my desire to learn more about them, and also teach others about them. I believe that learning something new about the wine you’re drinking adds a huge value to the experience. Grüner Veltliner is one of the varietals that caught my eye. Its complexity, acidity, and peppery notes scream for a food pairing—which is exactly what I wanted. When it was time to make my first vintage, I contacted a grower in Edna Valley who I set up a contract with and is now my official source for the Grüner I’ll be using for the next few years.

I know that you are a part of the amazing Dream Big Darling tribe! How has this played a role in your progress as a young entrepreneur and winemaker?

Being part of Dream Big Darling has motivated me in many ways. I came out of their retreat feeling super empowered and more confident about what I had to offer. Being surrounded by all these fierce and successful women gave me the boost to follow my path and make things happen. I have been feeling more unapologetic about asking for what I want because I know what I am worth. I have learned to cherish my uniqueness and cultural background, which have been tools I have used to stand out and be seen. I know that I bring something different to the table, and this is more valuable than anything I had ever imagined. I have knocked on doors asking for help without the fear of being seen as unexperienced and clueless. I have gained a network of amazing women who I can reach out to when I need support. But most importantly, I have been able to motivate and empower other women to reach their dreams without limitations. That is completely priceless to me!

Who are some of your mentors that you look up to? What suggestions would you give someone that is seeking out a mentor, and doesn’t know where to start?

Tyler Russell from Cordant & Nelle has been my mentor for my winemaking journey. Martha Van Inwegen from Life Elements has been my marketing strategy mentor. Elena Martinez from Top Winery has been my mentor for business logistics. I have reached out to other amazing winemakers in the past to give me guidance and they have all been kind and open about what to do. Some of them include Riley Hubbard from Hubba Wines, Bastien Leduc from Seven Oxen, Stanley Barrios from Top Winery, Ryan Pease from Paix Sur Terre, Xavier Arnaudin from Union Sacré, Sarah Fleming from Serrano Wine, Daniel Callan from Thacher, and Brian Farrel from Caelesta Wines.

My advice would be to find someone who you look up to, ask if you could talk to them about your interest, start a relationship, and officially ask them for mentorship. Some people might say no, but you can’t give up there. You have to find someone that will be open and willing to teach you. I knocked on a few doors before finding the right match, and it was worth the rejection that I had previously received.

What goals did you set for yourself at the beginning of 2021? How are they going so far?

I labeled 2021 with the theme of “THE ENTREPRENEUR”. My goal is to focus on the entrepreneurial and business side of developing my brand to better understand and execute the launching of my second vintage. So far, I have enrolled in a 6-week QuickBooks course to learn how to manage my finances and record all my business transactions. I also enrolled in a 10-week Women Business Launching program through a woman business non-profit organization. Lastly, I have been working on all the business logistic stuff (filling up lots of paperwork) with the help of a friend, to get things up and running.

If there is someone reading this that has already abandoned their 2021 resolutions for the year and feels disappointed in themselves, what would you tell them?

I would say it is never too late to pick yourself up and restart. Life is too short to dwell on the little things. There is no excuse for sitting around and letting your life pass you by. If you don’t go out and put the work in, nobody will do the work for you.

If you could go back and give the twenty-year old version of yourself a piece of advice, what would it be?

If I could go back in time, I would say to myself “Do what makes YOU happy.” I spent most of my life up until I was 28 doing what I thought people wanted me to do, making people happy. From choosing a career path, to the jobs I had, to the way I behaved. Even as a child I felt the need to cater and protect my parents and others around me. I was kept from having a normal childhood, thinking of myself as an adult at age 8. This codependency was not healthy nor sustainable. It wasn’t until I pulled away from an abusive relationship that I understood the full meaning of freedom. At this point I started living my life without any imposed mental limitations and began to plan my future as a new limitless human being. I am blessed to have been able to detach myself from my old way of thinking and I can say my priority is to do what makes me happy each and every day.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, Nancy! Where can people follow along with your journey?

Thank you, Bry! You can follow me on Instagram @oenophile.babe and @ulloacellars, or sign up for my mailing list on my website: www.ulloacellars.com.

WOW! Are you feeling as inspired as I am right now?! Nancy has such a natural talent of uplighting and empowering others, and I am so grateful that she is in my community of amazing women I look to as mentors. If you’re interested in what Nancy has in store for her brand, be sure to check out her upcoming releases from the 2020 vintage—including Verdejo and Albariño along with her OG wine, Grüner Veltliner. Her wines are limited production and sell out VERY quickly, so be sure to contact her and grab your bottles ASAP!