Last month, we ran a feature that focused on World Sake Day, which really is a celebration of kicking off the harvest season of sake in Japan. This month we're focused on the harvest of Pinot Noir and took some time to chat with Zidanelia Arcidiacono whos is the Assistant Winemaker at Sonoma-Cutrer. You may also know of her from her previous position at Little Black Dress Wines. We wanted to know about her start in the industry, what takes place during harvest season, why it's such a hectic time of year and how she takes time for herself. ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about when you knew you wanted to be a winemaker? ZIDANELIA ARCIDIACONO: I was born in Texas, but when I was 3, my family moved to Mendoza, Argentina, a known wine region. I loved hearing from winemakers about their stories and how passionate they were. As a teen, I knew I wanted to be in a career that allowed me to be creative as well as to be scientific! In Mendoza, I got to meet people in the wine industry and saw that they enjoyed their work. It was like a lifestyle and not a job. AM: Can you share your journey into the wine business? ZA: I began my career by working in the lab at Bodega Cruz de Piedra while attending university in Mendoza. I earned my bachelor’s in Enology and traveled to the south of France to the Cave cooperative Les Vignerons du Pays d’Enserune, working in their cellar for harvest. I decided that I wanted to travel and work in California and after some time applying, came to Sonoma-Cutrer, where I was hired as an Enologist for that season’s harvest. I love this region and although after a time, I moved on to the same position at Fetzer winery. In time, I became the Winemaker for Fetzer Reserve Wines and Little Black Dress within a few years. Coming back to where it started, my knowledge of making reserve wines allows me to create Sonoma-Cutrer’s Pinot Noirs. AM: Can you take our readers through a
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