Cattleya Wines

Cattleya is the expression of Bibiana González Rave’s great love for wine, which can be traced back to a young age. Bibiana is today a successful winemaker and wine consultant. Her wines have a heart and soul, reflecting the unique terroir in which they were grown.

Colombian born and bred, Bibiana was more or less cut off from the wine world when she grew up. However, a few chance sips from her father’s wine glass were all it took for her to catch the winemaking bug.

Educated in Europe

Bibiana moved to France and studied viticulture and oenology in Cognac. She then completed a bachelor’s degree in Bordeaux, passing with distinction. Driven by a striving for excellence and a thirst for knowledge, she went on to gain experience at some prestigious estates in France including Château Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion in Bordeaux, and Domaine Stéphane Ogier on the Côte-Rotie.

Projects in Sonoma County and Napa Valley

Bibiana’s inaugural harvest in California was in 2004. She subsequently worked six harvests in a three-year period, commuting between South Africa and the United States. After a stint as winemaker at Lynmar Estate from 2009 to 2012, Bibiana flung herself into her own projects, starting her Cattelya Wines label as well as the Shared Notes venture with husband Jeff Pisoni. Nowadays, she also offers her services as a consultant winemaker to wineries in Sonoma and Napa Valley.

Bibiana’s wines stand out in every vintage on account of their purity, power and finesse. This has not gone unnoticed among critics. The Wine Enthusiast included Bibiana in its ‘40 Under 40: America’s Tastemakers’ list for 2014, while the San Francisco Chronicle named her 2015 Winemaker of the Year.

“What you give to the land and your day-to-day dedication will always be present in the wines you craft.” 

Bibiana Gonzàlez Raves

cattleyawines.com