We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Terah Bajjalieh. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Terah below.
Hi Terah , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My unwavering work ethic is deeply rooted in the unique tapestry of my upbringing, having been shaped by the resilience and tenacity instilled in me by my mother who was a single parent. My mother shouldered the responsibilities of almost everything, but as the eldest child I also needed to help. I think this kept me focused and drove me to pursue more in life. I witnessed firsthand the extraordinary strength and sacrifices required to navigate her challenges in life. I learned at a young age, because of various circumstances if I wanted more in life, it was only going to happen if I put the effort into making things happen for myself. Her relentless commitment to providing for our family became the guiding force behind my work ethic. I draw inspiration from her tireless efforts and positive attitude. My mother and grandmothers were equally strong-willed, resilient women who made a great impact on the woman I am today. My work ethic is directly correlated to their history, experiences, and life lessons.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself and what you are working on.
I am a native Californian and grew up in the Bay Area. Before finding wine I worked in the financial sector. However, my passion for food and travel led me to wine and the decision to change careers. I embarked on my professional journey in the hospitality industry, where I received formal training at the International Culinary Institute in California. My new career path then led me to work in wine bars, a Michelin-starred restaurant, wine education, and consulting in the vibrant Bay Area. I had to start from ground zero and obtain experience so I volunteered a lot and tried a lot of different things during that time. My excitement for wine inspired me to seek international experiences to deepen my expertise in Enology and Viticulture. So I shifted gears to learn winemaking which again led me down another path. I started traveling and working at various wineries during harvest. I completed 13 harvests in five countries, honing my craft as a winemaker. My adventures took me to many places such as France, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Oregon. I would come back from Southern Hemisphere harvests and work in Northern California. I loved the travel, it was really hard work, but in a short period, I gained immeasurable experience! During this time I also decided to go back to school so I enrolled and completed a Master’s degree in Enology and Viticulture from Montpellier Supagro in France during the last few years of my traveling winemaking experience.
I am the driving force behind my personal wine project and this is what I am currently focusing on. I started my business in 2020 producing a small amount of wine, by purchasing grapes from local growers. My mission was simple: to create exceptional wines that capture the essence of carefully chosen vineyards and the sustainable practices that define my approach. I am dedicated to sourcing from regenerative, organic, and biodynamic vineyards. As a boutique winery, I do not own any vineyards; instead, I collaborate with independent growers who share my vision of sustainable viticulture, environmental consciousness, and community engagement. By forging partnerships with like-minded individuals, I can ensure that my wines reflect the unique character of the terroir and the dedication of those who nurture it. My primary goal is to uncover unique microclimates and vineyard sites that have the potential to create wines of unparalleled quality, varietal typicity, and expressive, structured, and balanced characteristics. This unwavering commitment to quality drives my sourcing decisions and inspires our winemaking techniques. We seek the not-so-common approach to varietal sourcing and choose to pick varietals that thrive in warm climates.
Terah Wine Co. is not just a wine brand; it is a reflection of my commitment to this industry where environmental sustainability, quality, and inclusivity are at the forefront. I proudly embrace diversity and inclusivity as a womxn-owned, LGBTQ, and BIPOC business. The Bay Area is a culturally vibrant complex place that has allowed me to celebrate our communities through partnerships, hiring practices, and community engagement/volunteer initiatives. Wine is a symbol of connection and culture, and I am dedicated to fostering an environment in which that can be shared while uplifting others.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
- A hard work ethic is going to be key.
- Understand the importance of networking and be committed to forging meaningful, impactful relationships.
- Approach wine from a broad perspective and always be open to trying new things and exploring.
Wine can be a very tough industry to navigate. Being a woman, and woman of color certainly made it challenging to climb the ranks and obtain work experiences that were directly impactful in my career trajectory and growth as an individual. Be prepared to work harder and be determined enough to not give up on your goals and dreams. With wine being such an expansive subject, it took me years to acquire knowledge and experience. In many ways these challenges have not stopped I just have figured out a way to navigate them and I’m hardworking enough to persist longer. Learn to be ok with pivoting, learn to be great at overcoming challenges and surround yourself with like-minded individuals that are supportive and uplifting. Don’t take for granted people offering to help you and lend a hand. We are all very busy individuals. Young folks these days have greater access to scholarships, grants, and mentorship which was not always foundational in our industry, and thats amazing but we have a long way to go as an industry.
Wine and food is very much a people business built on meaningful relationships. Being comfortable networking can serve as a valuable tool. Understand that it can take years to develop a network and be willing to serve and help others. Be kind and humble.
Determining what I wanted to do in wine took a few years to understand, and this evolved quite a bit over the last 13 years. I spent time in various areas of the business early on however looking back I wish I spent more time working in other areas of wine to truly understand how things in our industry worked and to understand what career paths looked like by individuals with years of experience. I took to winemaking early on after only a few years of working in wine, and I jumped into it blindly. While I love making wine, I do think I could have developed other skill sets and I could have benefited from understanding the life balance of winemaking. Having a broad range of skill sets and work experiences can greatly impact your future should you choose to pivot into new areas of the industry. I’m not saying we don’t need a focused and deep understanding of knowledge that is important. But take time to explore and determine what you want. I spent years traveling, building my knowledge, and also making worldwide connections. These experiences gave me alot of joy they were invaluable and have greatly impacted my viewpoints and skill set. Figure out what lights you up and makes you feel alive and use that as your driver.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
My primary objective is to foster connections with like-minded individuals who share similar aspirations. In terms of collaboration, I am particularly interested in partnering with aspiring entrepreneurs looking to establish their wine brands, offering them technical winemaking assistance and valuable business guidance. Currently, I actively consult on various collaborative wine ventures, including notable projects like Maker and Lunas Land Vineyard, in addition to managing my endeavors.
My ambition is to further cultivate this area by exploring new collaborative projects and expanding into additonal private-label bottlings. A key focus is extending my reach globally, aiming for international projects beyond my domestic business. Furthermore, I am eager to engage with organizations outside the food and wine industry seeking beverage partnerships for special events, fairs, corporate functions, and more.
An essential criterion for collaboration is aligning with individuals and businesses that possess clear visions and goals. I bring technical expertise to the table, seamlessly integrating with partners where necessary. The ideal collaborator shares my values concerning wine quality, environmental responsibility, and social initiatives.
Moreover, my dedication to staying at the forefront of industry trends and embracing innovation ensures adaptability in an ever-changing wine landscape that is equally important in future partnerships.
I am enthusiastic about collaborating with those who not only value quality and sustainability but also envision pushing the boundaries of the traditional wine experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.terahwineco.com
- Instagram: @terahwinecompany
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terahwinecompany/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terahbajjalieh
- Other: https://www.terahwineco.com/press
Image Credits
Alyssa Twelker Emma K. Morris Alison Rae
