20 Questions with Winemaker Katie Santora

Winemaker, Katie Santora invites us into the Chehalem Winery at Corral Creek to play our game of 20 questions! With her dog, Mani, tagging along, Katie talks about being proud to be a woman in the industry, her favorite wine to bring to a party and reflects on her first harvest

Katie: Hi, welcome to Chehalem!

CW: Hey Katie, ready for 20 questions?

Katie: I am so ready. 

CW: Alright let’s go. Trick or treat?

Katie: Trick!

CW: Beach or mountains?

Katie: Oh, that’s a hard one but I’d have to say the mountains just because I’m from Utah, Salt Lake City originally. I have to give a shout out to my mountain town.

CW: What’s one thing you have to do when you go back to Utah?

Katie: I have to? I get to see family! So that’s really exciting. But what I have to do is, I don’t know. When I go back to Utah it’s like a vacation, so I don’t really have to do anything. 

I’m just going to change this and write the brix of the tank today.

CW: And what’s a brix?

Katie: Brix is the way that we monitor a tank during fermentation. So basically, during fermentation, sugar changes to alcohol. And depending on how much sugar is left, that’s how you know how close the fermentation is to finishing. So, we monitor them every day!

CW: Email or text?

Katie: I would say text message. If you want to get ahold of me, you need to text message me. But I do listen and read all my emails, it just takes time.

CW: What’s the best thing that’s happened to me in 2020?

Katie: The best thing to happen to me in 2020… yesterday we found out that the winery is going to be getting a couple of kittens. So that’s pretty exciting because everyone loves babies and puppies and any small animal.

This is our Gruner fermented in the egg. It’s about halfway through fermentation.

CW: And what’s the egg made out of?

Katie: Concrete!

CW: If you could have a glass of wine with anyone in history who would it be?

Katie: I would probably say my grandma. She passed away a few years ago so it would be great to see her. 

CW: If you could bring one wine to a party what would it be?

Katie: Ooh, usually a really nice rosé. I love rosé, it’s every occasion. Or if it’s any occasion, a delicious chardonnay that I found.

CW: You’re stuck on an island. You can pick one thing to eat forever without getting tired of it.

Katie: I think I would pick avocado. But it would have to be perfectly ripe, the perfect avocados. 

CW: If you weren’t a winemaker, what would you be?

Katie: If talent didn’t have to be included, I would probably want to be a writer.

CW: What’s in the tank?

Katie: This is pinot noir that we pressed off last week. It’s in a settling tank and we check it every day to see how clarified it is. We like going to barrel really clear because it ages better that way, so it’s getting there but a little bit longer. Want to go to the vineyard? Let’s check out the vines.

CW: What are you most proud of in your career?

Katie: Probably getting to where I am as a woman.

CW: Do you remember your first harvest?

Katie: Yes, I remember my first harvest. I was really green and did some mistakes that I’m pretty embarrassed about, but yep.

CW: Care to share them?

Katie: Ah, maybe not on film. But all interns every year know them, everyone makes mistakes.

CW: Favorite comfort food?

Katie: Probably spaghetti.

CW: Cellar season, budbreak, bloom, version or harvest?

Katie: Probably harvest, it’s the most exciting.

CW: What topic would you own in trivia?

Katie: I wouldn’t own any of them. I swear when people ask me questions on the spot, my mind just goes blank. 

CW: What’s your favorite movie in the past five years?

Katie: In the past five years… let’s just go with this week, it’s October we’re watching scary movies. Halloween was pretty good and spooky. 

CW: What’s your favorite food to pair with Riesling?

Katie: I would do a spicy food, Thai food, something that just really compliments it well. 

CW: How do you unwind?

Katie: Hmm how do I unwind? I usually go home. I hang out with my son and my partner. Have a nice glass of wine, and yeah just breathe.

CW: Drinking gamay, hamburger or steak?

Katie: Definitely a hamburger.

CW: Favorite vintage?

Katie: My favorite vintage probably was 2008. It was my first vintage in Oregon, which started my career here, so it was great.

CW: Who came with you in the vineyard today?

Katie: This is my dog Manny. She comes with me every day and is definitely part of the crew here. Give me 10!

CW: Thanks for the 20 questions Katie, happy harvest.

Katie: Thanks so much!