“Wine encourages me to pursue an untreatable dream and discover places I have never been.”

Juanita Diusabá Yusunguaira graduated as an honors student in 2023 and is now an assistant Winemaker at Lyme Bay Winery in Devon, England. This is our conversation on what Juanita has been up to since graduation.

Antonio Petrongelli (AP): Can you please update me on some basic information, including your date of graduation from the EV program, current employer and position?
Juanita Diusabá Yusunguaira (JDY): I graduated as an honors student in 2023 and am now an Assistant Winemaker at Lyme Bay Winery in Devon, England.

AP: How did you get into wine?
JDY: I got into wine after hearing my father was traveling around the world. He always returned with bottles of wine from Spain and talked to me about the storytelling behind each wine. After high school, my father encouraged me to travel around the world, and wine was the most intrinsic connection with my home; even if we did not produce it in my home country, Colombia, wine was always at the table when it was a special occasion, one of my unforgettable memories.

AP: Is there someone in the EV world that you admire, including fellow EV alums?
JDY: I admire one of my best mentors of wine, Marcus Rafanelli, Head Winemaker at L’Ecole N° 41 winery in Walla Walla Valley. His passion for wine and winemaking is infinite, and he is an entrepreneur meteorologist. His voice is always in my mind when I am involved in the fermentation process and applications of science behind the grapevine. The wine he and his team produce in Walla Walla is like no other place I have ever seen or worked at. It’s a lot of precision and a meticulous process that involves letting the grapes express themselves as they are, but taking action with the winemaking methods that elevate the aromas and flavors on the palate. Marcus has been making wine in other countries, and his winery team consists of graduate students from Walla Walla Community College.

AP: What’s special to you about working in the wine industry?
JDY: The wine industry is diverse. Wine takes me to different places around the world, and it’s connected with the history of each country, the language, the war, and the authentic cuisine that elevates the flavors of each wine. I cannot think about “my favorite region.” Wine encourages me to pursue an untreatable dream and discover places I have never been. Since I got involved in wine, I have started appreciating more the land, water resources, and living organisms we depend on. It takes a lot of beer to make wine!

AP: What is your favorite part of your job?
JDY: My favorite job is tasting fermented wines! I love hiding between the barrels and thinking of the good things that the past holds. We always look up to the future, but with wine, I look up to the past and the memories that bring me to where I am now.

AP: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in the industry?
JDY: There are always challenges, but one of the most complex was being an immigrant and needing help to extend my visa in the United States. I worked and studied in the country for almost nine years but could not afford to pay for another degree. I had to leave a place that I called home, and that allowed me to get to know one of my biggest passions: as a pastry chef and actual winemaker. I wish there would be more legal support and advice for people who gave their lives for a country that is not theirs.

AP: What do you think differentiates and excites you about Washington wine?
JDY: Washington wine is electrifying. There is a lot to see, such as the gorgeous mountains and the change of the seasons that always bring adventures, such as skiing, crabbing, camping, and assembling with winemakers from each area without asking. I took advantage of it; I showed up at several wineries to get to know more about the wines and the stories of the viticulturists or winemakers, and each opened the doors to me. There is a lot of passion among young winemakers who want to develop their brands, and they are doing great work making several wine styles, including unseen blending wines. Wine should always be fun!

AP: How do you foresee climate change or social issues affecting the local industry in the next few years?
JDY: The forecast climate is one of my primary concerns. After experiencing harvest in California, it was hard to imagine the coming years. There were constant alerts of fires. The forests were devasted, and the drought was one of the main concerns; there needed to be more water resources and limited use for the wineries or the irrigation systems. On the other hand, it’s a shame to see the people who work in the vineyard. The temperatures are incredibly high for them to work there, and many immigrants from South America or Mexico are hired just for the season. Still, the climate conditions are challenging for them, even though they want a job and bring some cash to their home country.

AP: What are some up-and-coming trends in wine that you’re following?
JDY: I like to follow a little bit of everything. I usually do not ask for a wine I recognize in a restaurant. I appreciate trends of native fermentations; I like this crushed fruit on the palate and the taste of soft, funky, rocky flavors. On the other hand, I look forward to the future of new regions such as England. I live in the middle of the castles, and “Mead wine” is traditionally made here. At the same time, I am amazed at the quality of the wine produced in countries such as England, Sweden, and Denmark. Are they the future of winemaking? We do not know, but the vines struggle in a different form than in Washington State or California. There is not enough sun here, and it’s constantly raining. Sparkling is my biggest desire for learning and making.

AP: What advice can you share with future EV graduates?
JDY: Challenge yourself and leave your comfort zone—surround yourself with people of goodwill who believe in community and encourage you to learn and make you grow personally and professionally. Travel, if you will, will open your mind in different ways. Plan for the short and the long term and never the end of educating yourself; education is the future for you and future generations.