Nicole Walsh

Nicole Walsh graduated from Michigan State with a BS in Horticulture-emphasis on Viticulture and Enology. Upon graduation, she worked in the Michigan wine industry as a vineyard manager and winemaker for 4 years. In 2001, she started working with Randall Grahm at Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz, CA. For the past 18 years, Nicole has held every position in wine production including, associate winemaker, vineyard manager, and grower relations. There was a brief interruption in her tenure at Bonny Doon in 2008 when she moved to Marlborough, New Zealand for a year to manage and make wine at a Marlborough winery. In 2012, Nicole was inspired to start her own wine brand, Ser. Focusing on local Central Coast vineyards, she produces varietal, vineyard designate wines. In 2013, she earned a diploma from the WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust). She intends to further her wine education to apply for the Master of Wine program in the near future.

"I am so honored to receive the Fuel Your Dreams scholarship award. This is very exciting for me to start funding my dream of becoming a Master of Wine. Through my continued study of wine, it is my intention to start an education seminar series in my local community. It is important to me to be able to share this gained knowledge with others."