Bailarin Cellars | Sonoma County Winery | Sacramento Tasting Room

What Makes You Dance?

Bailarin Cellars | Sonoma County Winery | Sacramento Tasting Room

Helen Bacigalupi | Pioneer

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Helen Bacigalupi, a distinguished wine grower that has left an indelible mark on the viticultural landscape. Her enduring influence in the world of winemaking and viticulture begin with the land and carry through multiple generations following her giant footsteps. Helen and her husband Charles founded Bacigalupi Vineyards in 1956. Their vineyard gained international acclaim in the 1976 Judgment of Paris as California wine triumphed over the French in a blind tasting competition with Bacigalupi chardonnay fruit as significant composition of the winning Chateau Montelana.

Bailarin Cellars first began working with Bacigalupi Vineyards in 2017 with a small amount pinot noir fruit. We were ecstatic to be able to secure a small amount of their chardonnay a few years later. We are proud to be able to share their story through our wines at Bailarin.

 
 

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Growth

I was born in 1925 and grew up very poor in the state of Wyoming - my father was always looking for work so we moved frequently. My granny mostly raised me and taught me how to bake, I still make her famous pie crusts for our family holidays. I always loved learning and knew that the only way I was going to make something of myself was to do well in school.

We moved so much that I never spent consecutive school years in one place - I ended up graduating high school by mail. They would send me my assignments, I would complete them and send them back. At that time penmanship was very important and I also graduated from the Zaner Bloser School of cursive handwriting.

I love to read - I read the Wall Street Journal everyday front cover to back. Reading and learning from others is important in developing your own education. Working hard and not giving up - preserving when things are tough is the only way you grow as a person and in your business.

I would say seeing how far the agricultural community has come in Sonoma County and how much the wine industry has grown has been a joy for me to experience. I mean I grew up in the horse and buggy time period - so what I have seen in my lifetime is pretty extraordinary. When we started it was such a small industry we didn't know if we were going to make it. It was a big risk, but in the end it all paid off.

1956 First Harvest

Jules Robbins | Tech CEO

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Jules Robbins, the Founder & CEO behind VinesOS, an all-in-one DTC wine platform including a winery POS, wine club software, wine ecommerce, and tasting reservations. We have worked closely with Jules and team since initially adopting their club software. As their POS beta client, we have had a front row seat to their development process that never stops. Jules’ tech expertise and passion pair with a strong connectivity to her clients and the wine industry to drive her platform forward. We are happy to celebrate her in our hero feature.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Connections

I'm, at heart, a tech geek. After years of working in a cubicle for the tech giants AOL, Netscape, and Yahoo, I left to follow my dreams of creating a Direct-To-Consumer platform for a unique vertical at the heart of California -- the wine industry -- to lend my expertise from the top ladder of Corporate America. 

It may be odd for a tech geek to be motivated by connections... But there are so many ways in my life that "connections" are, at the core... what makes me want to dance. 

Connections with clients, my team, family, and friends. 

My connection with clients is all about understanding needs, leaning in to listen, and communicating those needs to our product and engineering teams to develop features, continually advance our software, and to enable clients to connect, in turn, with their customers. At VinesOS, we have an average 97% customer satisfaction rating, and we know that because we care enough to connect with every client after every ticket or conversation and ask, "How did we do?". For me, it's about something more than just the technology. Connection is the humanizing element of technology. It's wanting to use technology and what we have to improve things for others.

We are human beings, not meant to be isolated in cubicles, just staring at the glowing screen. In my days at corporate America, I knew I wanted to have a family one day, and I was not planning to bring a child into the world only to leave her in daycare at six weeks of age, to return to a cubicle. When I started my business, I was able to be at home with nanny support during those early years. There's nothing more special than that connection. I was lucky, and so was she. Technology, for me, enabled that. 

Team connection. We are a global team, working remotely, even before Covid. My team is carefully selected for specialized, advanced skills and is in Italy (formally in Ukraine), Brazil, and several here in California. We connect on Slack like some would around a water cooler. Conversations shared just last week: preparing for a big mud run in CA; a new baby on the way in Brazil; excitement to see a favorite Ukrainian band playing in Rome; a sister's wedding in LA; my teen daughter going to Junior Olympics for waterpolo. We connect around the product we build and also as friends. I feel so grateful to have this fantastic team. It's about connections. Relationships.

I came to California from Toronto in 2000, and to this day, remaining close to my family is a huge priority. We are over 3,000 miles away, but with annual or semi-annual visits, phone calls, SMS, and shared vacations, we make concerted efforts to stay closely connected. Family is so important. 

What's important in life isn't just what you do; it's about the connections and the difference you make in someone else's day and life. 

Isn't it the same with wine? It brings people together, friends and family, sometimes strangers, but it's always about connecting. It's the sharing, storytelling, and remembering experiences, such as when you enjoyed the first sip of that delicate Suacci Pinot. And that is why people continue to purchase on-premise, online, or to join a club... (other than that, it's fantastic wine....); it's to bring it home and remember and share the initial experience. Wine, too, is so much about connecting and sharing. 

I feel so fortunate for so many beautiful connections in my life.  

Paco Mendoza | Winegrower

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month, we celebrate Paco Mendoza, a winegrower who works alongside his children Maritza, Alexis, and Francisco in his small family business, Mendoza Vineyard Management. Paco farmed Mila Family Vineyards for the Cabernet Sauvignon vintages in a biodynamic manner. This is more challenging than traditional farming methods but greatly benefits the soil, ecosystem, and fruit. Exceptional wine begins with exceptional farming and requires hard work over the course of a vintage growing season. We appreciate Paco and his team for all their hard work!

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Growing a legacy of love through hard work

As a kid in Mexico, I grew up farming orchards and working with cattle. So, as a teenager in California, it came naturally to me to start growing grapes here, and I haven't stopped since. I grew up with the Munselle and Wasson families, working with them for 24 years, and learned a lot from them in the beautiful Alexander Valley.

I have worked all around Sonoma and Mendocino county and raised my kids in the industry. I feel fortunate enough to have been apart of starting many vineyards, one being Mila - an organic and biodynamic vineyard in Alexander Valley.

Farming vineyards with my family is a dream come true. I get to do what I love, with those I love.

An ideal day for me is spending it in the vineyards with my German Short Haired Pointer, Canelo, checking out the crews work. I also enjoy hopping on the tractor and helping the crew work, although I don’t do it as much as I would like.

Brad Morlock | Artist

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Brad Morlock, a talented local artist who uses brick charcoal and printmaking paper to create large format pieces that challenge value and perspective. He has won numerous awards including “Best in Show” at the Union Gallery at Sacramento State University and two “Awards of Merit” at the California State Fair Art Show. His photorealistic works are stunning and upon closer inspection reveal textures to create images. We were thrilled to commission Brad to create a piece to showcase California’s incredible topography that creates the internationally acclaimed wine growing regions we enjoy.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Running headlong down life’s twisty roads”

Even calling myself an artist gives me an inner jolt of imposter syndrome: not because I doubt my ability or the quality of my work, but mostly because of how this amazing ride came about.  In pursuit of a reinvented life through a new educational and career path, I was required to take an art class.  I could have easily taken a class like art history, stayed quiet, and walked with my grade.  Instead I took a drawing class that introduced me to the first true advocate I would find on this particular journey (thanks Gioia!).  Our final project was a charcoal drawing.  It’s still hanging proudly on my wall.

I could have left it there.  In retrospect, I couldn’t as the desire to draw—and draw BIG, grew.  Soon I was making art for my blank-walled apartment.  Next, on a summer afternoon something possessed me to stop at a mural being painted and asked if the artist needed help.  Enter advocate #2 (thanks Maren!) whose answer to every insecure art question I had was: DO IT!!!

It’s been almost 5 years. This incredible experience has yielded participation in group shows all over Northern California, awards at the California State Fair, a solo show, and most importantly the opportunity to create transformative moments in people’s homes.  My work asks viewers to consider what the experience in that alternative world might be. Will you walk into your bedroom or into this strange landscape with endless possibilities?

The message is this: the art world brought me joy, the excitement of putting myself out there, the inquisitive faces of those viewing my work, and the first accidental date with my now wife.  I wouldn’t be who I am without taking the turn down that road, and running like hell.  I hope you’ll do the same.

-Brad Morlock

Ravin Patel | Executive Chef | The 7th Street Standard

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Ravin Patel, the Food & Beverage Director and Executive Chef at The 7th Street Standard, an exciting new establishment within the Hyatt Centric Hotel near the Golden 1 Center. Ravin is a regional powerhouse on the food scene from his prior experiences leading Ella plus events such as the Tower Bridge dinner. Most recently, he elevated Seasons Kitchen & Bar in Davis to new heights while working with Presidio Co to launch The 7th Street Standard.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Creating foods that bring my cultural experiences together”

I am as Californian as they come…born and raised in Sacramento, love the outdoors and love to experience all the amazing surroundings we have here. Love to eat pizza for breakfast cold, love to eat tacos 3 meals in a row. That said I am also 1st generation born Indian American and it has a strong influence on the food I love to eat.

My Parents are from the state of Gujarat in India, a predominately vegetarian state. I grew up gardening with my parents in our backyard in the 80’s and 90’s. They grew produce that was common to them in India, and not available here. My father also owned a small grocery and deli store in Oak Park, and my time there taught me the value of hard work and the importance of hospitality and helping people with our basic needs…. FOOD and BEVERAGE!!!

With such strong influences in my early life, I pursued culinary school and moved to New York after my B.A. from UC Davis. In New York I was able to experience the same melting pot of cultures California has but in a much denser atmosphere.

With so many experiences across so many cultures I’ve truly come to love cooking by mixing flavors and techniques of different cuisines. By embracing my love for Indian food and what it offers to my guest in conjunction of using the abundance of great products we have here in Northern California, drives me to create the food and drinks we have at 7th St Standard and Clayton Club.

Guest, Friends, Peers ask me what food are you doing at the new hotel, and I struggle to convey what it exactly it is…” Its Modern California Cuisine”. My way of saying in short that it’s a smash up of all my experiences in my culinary and personal life. It’s food my mom makes me on my days off that I can apply French technique to ensure that my line cooks can replicate its flavors but deliver it to guest in a restaurant setting. It’s the use of spices and showing guest that if it contains Cumin and Turmeric it does not make it “Curry”.

Cooking in this way makes me Dance, it embodies the way we have formed communities, through our fascination with others through their food and libations. A fire, some food, and a little music will lend itself to one simple thing…Dancing.

-Ravin Patel

Ramon Perez | PUUR Chocolat

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Ramon Perez, the founder and creative talent behind PUUR Chocolat, a local but world class chocolatier. His passion shines brightly which we learned first hand when we paired up in 2020 for virtual Wine-Chocolate tastings for corporate groups. Enjoy Ramon’s pastry talents at our new neighbor (The 7th Street Standard), his bon bons in a special flight at our tasting room, or his full PUUR Chocolat lineup in his online store.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Exploring.”

Whether its harvesting cacao with the farmers in the plantations of Peru, or shopping the lower levels of department stores in Tokyo for the best in pastries and chocolate, traveling kicks childlike curiosity into overdrive. 

I’ve been very fortunate in my career, my profession has taken me around the globe to the most incredible locations where I’ve fortuitously met and become friends with inspiring individuals wether they be chefs, farmers, artists etc., this is where Travel, Food and arts are intertwined, meant for each other. Ask any gourmand, what they enjoy doing most besides eating and they will tell you traveling. Ask any global traveler the same question, and most often its about the food. 

Traveling opens up the mind, to understand that there is no one singular way of doing anything. To be resourceful in the way we operate. To respect other cultures, peoples, foods. Exploring different cities and cultures evokes our interests and sparks creativity off of old ideas. When we explore, we get introduced to new fruits and vegetables, new ways of preparing rice, or fermenting a vegetable and so much more. When we travel we get to sit in the dining rooms of the most incredible restaurants and listen to the chefs tell a story of the region through food. 

Most of all, exploring creates an energy that taps into our truest self to the point where you are sitting on a remote island in the Philippines, watching the most stunning sunset, having a glass of wine… all there is left to do is just dance… just like when we were kids.

-Ramon Perez

Jess Milbourn | Entrepreneur Chef | Devil May Care Ice Cream

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Jess Milbourn, the founder of Devil May Care Ice Cream, an innovative and exceptional local gem near the Golden 1 Arena. We are thrilled to feature Jess’ fantastic ice creams at our fall club pickup party curated to new wine releases for Members.

Jess.png


WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Creating fun and levity through food.”

Ice Cream is one of the most frivolous foods and at Devil May Care Ice Cream we revel in helping people experience it in new ways. From a classic vanilla that is overloaded with the best vanilla beans we can find, to new takes on classics like Butter Pecan or Mint chip, and even unheard of ice cream flavors like Hot Chicken & Waffles or salt cured duck yolk we always try to leave our guests happy. And in return we get a smile and sometimes a look of amazement that we pulled it off.

Spreading joy through a product that we create is one of the most fun things we can imagine. Being able to take the sting out of a hospital visit with a kid scoop or brighten someone’s day on their birthday are just a few of the things I love to see.

Sharing happiness and allowing people to have a respite from the outside world with a brief ice cream break is priceless. Seeing a young child’s eyes light up when you add sprinkles to their cone is beyond description. All of these little things add up to a fun and happy experience for everyone involved. And joy, fun, happiness and ice cream all add up to an overall experience that make me dance.

-Jess Milbourn

ice cream.jpeg

Casey Georgeson | Entrepreneur | Saint Jane Beauty

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Casey Georgeson, the founder of Saint Jane Beauty, an internationally acclaimed boutique skincare company with Sonoma County roots. SAINT JANE is available online and at Sephora and has been featured in Women’s Health, Vogue, Forbes, New York Times and more.

Casey Family_FounderUNEDITED_ Lauri Levenfeld-312.jpg


WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Empowering and inspiring my girls.” 

My family is everything to me - my husband and three daughters who are growing up way too quickly. I cherish our time together as I know that one day I’ll miss the years when they were small. I blend my career and home life because I never want to look back and feel like I lost out on this special time.

At my core, I’m a creator, I innovate and I design. I’m passionate about developing brands, products and stories that people connect with and covet. My roots are in the wine industry and I come from four generations of wine entrepreneurs. Wine is my heritage, but the intersection of wine and beauty is where the magic happens for me. From an early age, beauty products were intoxicating. They were transformative and empowering. Makeup and skincare allowed me to play dress up and be grown up at the same time. I loved watching my Mom do her beauty routine before work in the morning. Her process was mesmerizing. 

In 2018 when I had the idea for SAINT JANE, I never imagined it would affect people in so many positive ways and inspire them to feel happy in their own skin. I started small – sharing our Luxury Beauty Serum that combines 20 different botanicals to heal and nourish the skin.  It took months of trial and error, but we found THE formula and we’re still obsessed, two years after launching it.  Knowing that a product I created impacted people’s skin by helping them to heal, giving them the confidence, and a reason to smile is deeply rewarding.

SAINT JANE has also been a great example for my girls. They see me creating and building the business every day. It’s cute when they come up with their own brand ideas with logos and trademarks. When I was a little girl, I didn’t know what a Brand Creator or Innovation was…now they get to experience it for themselves as they chart their own creative paths.

-Casey Georgeson

Casey Family_FounderUNEDITED_ Lauri Levenfeld-84.jpg
Casey Family_FounderUNEDITED_ Lauri Levenfeld-168.jpg
Casey Family_FounderUNEDITED_ Lauri Levenfeld-231.jpg
unnamed.jpeg

Stephanie Nishikawa | Small Business Owner | Paper Garden Boutique

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Stephanie Nishikawa, the owner of the Paper Garden Boutique, a fantastic local gem inside the Pavilions shopping center in Sacramento who just celebrated 14 years in business. Whether it’s handmade wedding invites, holiday cards, gift cards, or other thoughtful gifts, Stephanie’s talents are sure to make a special occasion extra special.

IMG_4413.jpeg


WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Inspiring my customers with fun and creative paper crafts.”

 

I always like to keep myself busy by creating cards, handmade gifts from paper and sending “snail mail” to friends and family… that helps pass the time for me and before you know it, there aren’t enough hours in the day!  Playing with happy paper colors and making beautiful gifts is what makes me tick – but more importantly, I like to create to make people happy once they receive these special treasures.

Before I kept my hands busy with scissors, glue, and cardstock, I held a microphone with the KOVR 13 logo and was a tv reporter and fill in anchor at our CBS local news station for 8 years. My career took me all over the world including Guam as a reporter, then back on the mainland to Kansas City, Missouri as the first Asian American tv reporter at Fox station WDAF-TV and finally back to my home state of California.

With the birth of my one and only son Miles, who is now 15,  I decided chasing bad guys wasn’t a good idea anymore.  The daily grind and hustle and bustle of live shots and getting stories on the air wasn’t appealing to me anymore.  I just wanted to be a mom, and create fun stuff.  So, I took a loan from my father in-law and opened up the Paper Garden Boutique.  I have never looked back and each day I am inspired to create fun invitations, cards and paper items to decorate my store.  It’s a dream come true to inspire everyone to do something creative.  I went from a fast moving, non-stop tango and foxtrot to a slow moving sway… as a 52 year old… it’s definitely a dance I don’t mind repeating over and over!

~Stephanie Nishikawa

IMG_7198.jpg
papergarden.jpeg
Screen Shot 2020-10-28 at 12.14.25 PM.png

Mariah Davis | Small Business Owner

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Mariah Davis, a small business owner and partner of Bailarin. She is the founder of Oakview Insurance Services where she enjoys supporting small businesses, families, and individuals with their insurance needs.

IMG_0601.jpg


WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Serving others in a time of need.”

 

The running joke in my industry is that no one knows why they got into insurance.  This certainly holds true for me and like many people, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I graduated from college. Fortuitously, the idea of being an insurance agent came from one of my favorite television programs at the time. So with nothing to lose at 22 and with no prior experience, I talked Farmers Insurance into giving me an agency contract. This accelerated experience was invaluable to learn the industry and how it can help folks in times of need. I enjoyed running my Farmers Insurance Agency until 2010 but felt compelled to become an independent broker to give my clients a broader range of solutions. This decision was tough as I had to leave all of my old clients behind and start over. My journey had its fair share of lessons and bumps in the road, but I soon hit my stride and have never looked back. Fast forward to today and it was the best decision I ever made! Today, I lead Oakview Insurance Services, Inc. overseeing an amazing team of agents providing insurance services throughout CA, NV and ID. My agency focuses on Auto, Home, Life Farm, Flood, and Business Insurance products.

I love what I do and have a true passion to serve. As an insurance agent, every day is different and tends to present unique challenges and opportunities. One day I’m helping a client navigate through a wildfire claim and another I might be helping a small business or farm secure coverage. These aren’t always easy conversations but helping people through these challenging times can be very rewarding. At the end of the day, I want people to be treated like family, not a transaction.

Early on, I determined I was going to make charitable giving a cornerstone of our agency. I paired my passion of insurance education with regular giving back to the community. Every quarter, Oakview identifies a deserving charity and supports their cause. One of our favorite charities is SAYLOVE. This amazing charity gathers on the last Saturday of the month and invites everyone in the community to participate in a day of community regional beautification. It’s inspiring, uplifting, and so rewarding.

I’m also deeply passionate about breast cancer awareness. In 2020, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Luckily, I detected it early on and just recently completed chemotherapy and radiation. The most important thing I learned throughout my journey was that a with a positive outlook and support, you can overcome anything. One pillar of support for me was Amy Carraba, a board member of Albie Aware. I am very excited for Bailarin Cellars to support Albie Aware for the entire month of October!

FamilyMini2019.jpg
yuba-city-insurance.jpeg

Emilee Rudd | Artist

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Emilee Rudd, a designer, lettering artist, illustrator, and muralist who strives to create visual stories and impactful, intricate moments with design. From brand identity & logos to lettering artwork, illustrative packaging to impactful murals, and everything in between, she loves nothing more than to work with a client to achieve a bespoke visual solution. You can find her work at established international corporate brands to local hometown businesses including Bailarin Cellars, Insight Coffee Roasters, and more.

Emilee.jpg

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE

"Telling a person’s story through visual design."

I love hearing about someone's journey to where they are and their goals throughout life. It's always a treat to connect visual creativity to celebrate one's story. When I have the opportunity to use my love of art to benefit another, I feel like it gives so much more depth to the piece. Art is meant to be shared and should speak to the world, so whenever I have a successful collaboration it makes my soul dance. It feels like honor and a privilege to get to create for a living, and I'm grateful for it every day. 

Stefanie Gernert | Small Business Owner

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Stefanie Gernert, a talented local entrepreneur who started an innovative new spin company All City Riders in The Hardin near the Golden 1 Arena. All City Riders believes that people are what pushes cities forward. It is the energy generated by the people that makes up our civic identity. All City Riders sets out to create a place that represents that energy to help people lead healthier and happier lives. 

unnamed (2).jpg

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE

"Spreading Positive Energy"

I believe positive energy doesn’t just help us better enjoy our daily lives, it also impacts our health and relationships.  Some days it comes easily and on others we have to work for it.   

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, fitness has acted as a way for me to reset since I was a young child.  I have vivid memories of walking onto the pool deck as an adolescent, carrying what felt like the weight of the world on my shoulders.  Once I powered off the wall in a tight streamline it was like I immediately sliced through the tension of my day, leaving it in the wake behind me. As an adult, I now understand the gift my parents and coaches were giving me.

As a cycle instructor I get to assist people in giving their brains a rest which is key in processing the challenges we face each day.  Each cycling class is an opportunity to add some play into your day, releasing the feel-good endorphins we need to keep ourselves positive. Helping others boost the positive energy they need to face the challenges of their day is extremely rewarding to me.

As an entrepreneur and mother of two young children I often find myself in need of a reset.  The bikes, music and lights at All City Riders are my saving grace.  They are what allows me to shed any unwanted negativity and walk out into the world sporting a smile on my face.  The very smile that I wear when I dance.  

Chrisa Pappas | Fashionista

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Chrisa Pappas, local fashionista with global influence. Chrisa Pappas’ mission is to make luxury fashion more relatable – to give people the tools they need to make informed decisions when it comes to their fashion investments while offering insight and inspiration through a lens that is elegant, educated, sophisticated, forward, fun, and approachable.

177.jpg

What Makes You Dance?

“Fashion! The combination of artistry and design gets me excited and brings me joy.”  

Ever since I was young, I have loved the creativity of putting outfits together. I’ve frequently been asked how or why I put certain pieces together. There are elements of elegance and sophistication, but at the end of the day, fashion is about self-confidence.   

I’ve been a lifelong luxury fashion aficionada, but my journey as a fashion entrepreneur and influencer started about two years ago, when I was sent to Paris Fashion Week. I learned so much from that experience! As I’ve continued to travel and work on this side of the industry, I’ve had the opportunity to meet fascinating people from all over the world. Meeting these talented artists, designers, and entrepreneurs is one of my favorite things. I find it inspiring to collaborate with different people with varying artistic visions to bring exciting new beauty into the world. 

My personal motivation for this work is to make luxury fashion more relatable to people. I want to help people incorporate fashion into their daily lives, whether it’s through a YouTube review or styling tips on Instagram. I want to see greater transparency in fashion and help people understand the great amount of effort that goes into a garment. Ultimately, that creative work, effort, time, and investment reflect the quality of the piece produced.  

Fashion is an art, created by inspiration and vision by designers. I truly believe, that whatever you do, you should have confidence to do it. And when something comes from your heart, because you love it, it will give you that confidence. 

One of the things I’m grateful for with my work, is that it all starts here in my lifelong home of Sacramento. I am fortunate to be close with my family and community without having to move to New York or Paris to do what I love. It is great having roots in Sacramento and watching the city transform into a new, exciting space. It is a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family, and do what you love. 

280.jpg
073.jpg

Mona Bahraini | Small Business Owner

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Mona Bahraini, the talented small business owner of the Prickly Pear, a local nursery. The goal of The Prickly Pear is to be a facility for special needs adults to enjoy daily activities, gardening, and many other service-oriented events. You can find her work around Sacramento including at our Tasting Room.

image1.jpg

What Makes You Dance?

“Building an authentic, loving community”

From a young age, my mother taught me to always live my truth, honor a pure intentional heart and diversify my environment. That message has traveled with me to age 33 and continues to get stronger. The more I tap into my self-worth and authenticity, the more joy I bring to my family, friends and business. I feel that we are living in a generation that is empowering yet so fragile, mostly due to our access to everything by a tap on a screen. It’s of utmost importance to consciously remind ourselves to set aside time every day for self-care, when your body and soul are happy, you bring joy to everyone around you.

I feel fortunate to pursue my dreams through the Prickly Pear where I can bring a little more nature, sunshine, and joy to people’s lives every day.

unnamed-1080x675.jpg

Lindsey M. Dillon | Ceramic Artist

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Lindsey M. Dillon, a talented local ceramic artist who uses the lens of the imaginary to tell stories about human experiences. Lindsey was honored with the 2018 Emerging Artist Award from the Sacramento Region Arts & Business Council and the Expression of Excellent Award in 2017 at the Northern California Arts Inc. Bold Expressions exhibition. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions throughout California and locally, including the mugs and platters at our downtown Sacramento Tasting Room.

Hero+Feature+Image.jpg

What Makes You Dance?

“Exploring the relationship between what is and what could be”

I can say with some certainty that watching Jurassic Park at age four set me towards being an artist. Ever since I saw those velociraptors stalk through that kitchen, I’ve been fascinated with what could exist beyond the world we experience day-to-day. A love of dinosaurs led to a love of history, then to a love of mythology, fantasy, and science fiction.

These fields draw me in to this day not only because of the power of story, but also because, to me, they embody the essence of being human: using reality to create the imagined. We exist in the present, are entwined with the past, and shape our lives and the world based on what we can imagine could be. We dance between the mundane and extraordinary, between stasis and progress, between celebrating the present and striving towards the future, and time plunges us forward no matter which partners we favor. Exploring that nuanced relationship between what is and what could be is fundamental to who I am, how I approach my work as an artist, and what makes me feel alive.

One aspect of that relationship is no clearer than when I open my kiln after a final firing. Mugs or bowls or maybe a sculpture peer out from the dark interior, sticky mud and chalky minerals turned into stone-like forms and glass-like glazes by the magic of heat and chemistry. In this moment, each piece feels precious, representing the thousands of hours it took for me to develop the skill and creativity to bring it into existence; it also feels insignificant, a mere brick in the road of a vast ceramic history that spans thousands of years. As I turn each piece over in my hands, there is as much satisfaction and relief that it has survived its creation as there is a drive and curiosity to make the next one better or to experiment with something new.

Whether I’m making a mug or a sculpture, working in clay feels like engaging in the most rewarding part of being human: savoring progress with an eye towards the future, using what’s in front of me as a guide to what could be.

Through my work, I hope to invite others to do the same.

Matcha Latte 180217.jpg
Lindsey_M_Dillon_Venetian_Rumor_Detail.jpg

Marc Foster | Artist & Designer

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Marc Foster, a talented local artist and designer who is driven by the process and beauty of art and design. Marc was honored as the 2018 Visual Artist of the Year from the Sacramento Region Arts & Business Council. His many projects include collaborations with the IceBlocks in Midtown Sacramento, custom pieces for Wildwood Restaurant, and the floor to ceiling wine cabinets at our Tasting Room.

Marc+Foster+Heroe

What Makes You Dance?

“Design- all of it.”

Whether I’m working in my own studio or traveling the world with family and friends, the experience of interacting with exceptional, inimitable design makes me come to life. There is something so viscerally engaging, and often inspiring to me, in the play of dramatic lines, astounding environments and stimulating art forms coming together.

In my personal life, I find incredible moments of bliss free-diving in warm oceans, flying over gorgeous vistas, and generally traveling the planet as student of the natural phenomena of design that is the everyday. Coupled with the magnificence of designers and artists that create images and objects that silence me in awe and excitement, I am regularly “dancing” from my design interactions. At least that’s the goal.

Professionally, I am a self proclaimed “serial prototyper”...finding giddy, childlike moments in tinkering with fresh design, new ideas and even the big mistakes that often become next my big successes. It’s the challenge of working through the potential of a design where I feel alive and emotionally engaged in the process from start to finish.

The moments of inspiration for creating distinctive design are as simple as a comment or conversation with one of my children, to the wonder of walking the streets of México City and being imprinted with history and future in a single boulevard. I take all those moments and play with them over and over again.

Artist Highlight 2.jpg
Marc at the installation of Le Feuille, a stainless steel sculpture at the entrance to McKinley Village in Sacramento.

Marc at the installation of Le Feuille, a stainless steel sculpture at the entrance to McKinley Village in Sacramento.

Bay Miry | VP of Development

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Bay Miry, a talented local developer who is driven to bring value to the community. While only in his thirties, he already has accomplished much with successful historic rehab projects including 14th & R block anchored by The Shady Lady Saloon and Maydestone Apartments (15th & J) plus Powerhouse on 16th & P, a Platinum LEED Certified mixed use space. His visionary project on the 700 block of K Street has been ten years in the making and will house the future Tasting Room of Bailarín Cellars alongside many other local businesses and residents.

nicholaswray.com-20161218-152.jpg

What Makes You Dance?

"Building Community"

I’ve always been passionately drawn to trying to make sense of the world and what our purpose is while we are here. Through the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that contributing as much as possible to the improvement of the circle of people around me, and of those around them, is what makes the most sense to exert my energy towards. Creating a strong sense of community, as best I can, naturally feels like the most appropriate use of my time and focus.

So given that context, I discovered an incredibly rewarding feeling from contributing to neighborhoods through the creation of places for people to live, work, and play. This rewarding feeling especially resonates with me for development projects specifically within an urban environment where there is the greatest frequency of “human collisions” and interactions. 

So things like having a small hand in the opening of a quality housing project, neighborhood cafe, popular locally owned restaurant, or simply bringing people together for a special event in a public park, provide me with a sense of satisfaction and purpose. The strong sense of community and empathy that’s created across a wide demographic of people from these kinds of projects really fuels me to want to continue working on even more. 

I am excited to continue growing, learning, and contributing. I can’t think of a better thing to passionately focus on other than instilling as much of a positive impact on my surrounding community as possible in the time that I am on this planet. 

Bay Miry, second from right, with his parents and wife Katherine at the 700 block K Street groundbreaking event.

Bay Miry, second from right, with his parents and wife Katherine at the 700 block K Street groundbreaking event.

Photo courtesy of The Sacramento Bee.

Photo courtesy of The Sacramento Bee.

William Weese | Winemaker

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these "dancers" in our hero feature and learn from their words of wisdom.
This month we celebrate our Winemaker, Will Weese, whose love for his craft started early and goes well past production. We are fortunate to work with such a talent who also happens to be a great guy.
Will enjoying the view out near Manchester Ridge Vineyard.

Will enjoying the view out near Manchester Ridge Vineyard.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Finding the hidden beauty in life.”

Growing up in Sonoma County all my life I was surrounded by families that were in the Wine industry.  Watching, learning and practicing; I fell in love with the lifestyle that wine entails. It’s not about drinking, it’s about the company you share it with. The food you consume with it, the relaxation you feel while sipping a glass, that takes away your everyday stress.

I decided at an early age that I wanted to make wine. I set out on an adventure to see the world of wine and learn about the cultures that each wine reflects. My journey took me over seas to working harvest in New Zealand, France, and Chile, along with working harvests here in Napa and Sonoma county. I wanted to encompass both old world and new world styles in creating an identity of my own.  To help shape me as a winemaker.  But the hidden beauty for me was to find that wine is universal, we all create wines to help reflect a culture or to produce a wine that fits the wants and needs of the people that surround it.

I get excited to see how an individual has put their own personal touch on creating something that he/she wants you to see through their eyes.  To portray a place, a pin point on a map, a vineyard that lives in a different microclimate than the vineyard across the street. The sun, the soil, the wind, the fog, all different from place to place. Hillside verses valley, what root structure and trellising is chosen. So many variables that can change the outcome everyday. As a winemaker, I feel responsible to try and put all these hidden beauties inside a bottle, To pay tribute to the land that the vines call home. Not to take away any of it but to enhance each nuance, so that everyone can enjoy, what I get to experience while creating each and every wine.

Beyond that, it’s about the hidden beauty that is discovered in opening each bottle of wine. The sound a cork makes with the anticipation to see what lies inside. I love when others enjoy my wine and experience the hidden beauty for themselves.  Whether with an old friend or family during the holidays. Or maybe just sitting down on the couch and taking a deep breath to calm down from the crazy busy life that we live. When I get a message or a photo from friends telling me they are enjoying my wine, it puts a smile on my face to know I have helped them find a moment of beauty too.  

170729 Bottling 177_750w.jpg
2016 bottling

Contact Us: 707-200-7710

©2014-2023. Bailarin Cellars. All Rights Reserved.