Ep. 2627 Regenerative Winemaking, Mentorship & LGBTQ+ Perspectives with Terah Bajjalieh | Voices with Cynthia Chaplin

Welcome to Voices and Episode 2627 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Cynthia Chaplin talks with Californian winemaker and consultant Terah Bajjalieh about her journey from finance to winemaking, her international experience, and the challenges she’s faced as a LGBTQ+ Palestinian American in the industry. They discuss her low-intervention, regenerative approach, her focus on fresh and expressive wines, and her role at Batonnage supporting mentorship programs for women and underrepresented voices in wine.

More about the guest:

Terah Bajjalieh is a California-born winemaker and founder of Terah Wine Co., crafting distinctive wines through organic, biodynamic, and regenerative vineyard partnerships. She champions Mediterranean varieties suited to California’s warming climate, using native fermentations and minimal intervention to create wines that are fresh, lively, and expressive.

With 14 harvests across France, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and California, Terah holds a Master’s in Enology & Viticulture from SupAgro Montpellier, a BS in Finance, and WSET Level 3 certification. She launched Terah Wine Co. in 2020 to elevate underrepresented varieties and voices. Her wines have been praised by the New York Times, and she was named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Tastemakers 2024, bringing a unique perspective as a female, LGBTQ+, Arab American winemaker.

Connect:

Website: https://www.terahwineco.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terahwinecompany/  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terahbajjalieh/ 

More about our host: 

VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador and sommelier with FIS, Cynthia Chaplin is a professor of Italian Wine and Culture, with 20 years experience in the wine industry. Cynthia is a certified wine educator, author, international judge, and content creator. She designs and presents events for embassies, corporate and private clients, develops Italian wine collections for restaurants and private clients and works with Italian wineries to train their sales and export staff.

Hosting Voices has increased her commitment to DEI in the wine sector, interviewing emerging and established wine professionals and discussing topics such as inclusivity, equity, language, sustainability and challenges facing under-represented groups and cultures as they move into careers in wine. As a certified WSET Educator, Cynthia is passionate about developing wine education for a future that will have a place at the table for anyone interested in wine.

Connect:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Italian-Wines-in-English/100036868372598/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiss_my_glassx/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-

_______________________________ 

Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast 

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast 

If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ 

Until next time, Cin Cin!