Founded in 2014, Cary Q Wines is a proudly woman-owned and operated winery grounded in the belief that great wine evolves through thoughtful adaptation—to place, to season, and to a rapidly changing climate. Based in Northern California, where warmer temperatures increasingly shape the vineyard, I focus on naturally higher-acid grape varieties chosen to deliver freshness, balance, and vibrancy as conditions shift. Rather than resisting climate change, we embrace it, preserving the wine’s vitality and sense of place while honoring the land’s evolution.
At the heart of Cary Q Wines is a passion for single-vineyard expressions. I partner with organic and sustainably farmed vineyards to create wines that are environmentally clean and deeply expressive of their origins. I strive to highlight unique and site-specific varietals—often the unsung players of traditional blends. This allows them to express their character fully and independently.
My path to winemaking began far from wine country. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, with Cuban heritage, I followed my curiosity and passion west to Northern California in 2013. Largely self-taught and an alumna of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Winemaking Certification Program, I released my first vintage in 2014: a co-fermented Grenache/Mourvèdre crafted from organically farmed Sonoma fruit. That inaugural release set the foundation for a style guided by observation, restraint, and respect for the vineyard.
In the cellar, my approach is intentionally low-intervention and deeply attentive. I embrace natural acidity, wild fermentation, gentle aging, and minimal manipulation, staying sensorily engaged throughout the process to ensure each vintage captures pure, vibrant varietal expression. Depending on the wine and the year, aging takes place in concrete, stainless steel, or neutral French oak puncheons—chosen to support clarity rather than impose character.
My wines are alive, expressive, and resilient—crafted for today’s climate while honoring the integrity of tomorrow’s vineyards.
Cary Quintana, Winemaker
