Raised in Bellingham, Washington, Mari Wells Coyle’s passion for the outdoors started at a young age. Surrounded by picturesque hills and local ingredients, her family celebrated every occasion with a seasonal meal and a special bottle of wine.
With a love for both art and science, she was very intrigued by the study of winemaking. Moreover, she desired a career that would allow her to spend time outdoors in a beautiful setting. Mari joins Chateau St. Jean Winery as head winemaker and has developed a true passion for crafting Cabernet and Bordeaux wines and describes her main role as a winemaker “to bring the best fruit to the bottle. Every decision I make is a part of bringing the vineyards to the table in a meaningful way.”
A seasoned veteran with over 20 years of industry experience, Mari first earned her degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis, and accepted her first winemaking position at the age of 24. Since then, she has led several start-up wineries and helped iconic wineries meet modern industry standards which all have led her to Sonoma County and the iconic CSJ winery. Some notable wineries she worked at include David Girard Vineyards, Sterling Vineyards, and most recently One Hope Wine as the Executive Winemaker.
When she is not at the winery, Mari enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband, their two sons, and their dog Snoopy. Originally from the Pac Northwest, she is a true outdoor enthusiast and can be found around Sonoma County enjoying biking, hiking, yoga, running, and white-water rafting.