Bryce Willingham grew up in the rural area of Appaloosa Acres, near Clovis, California. Her mother and grandmother loved growing things, with her mother focusing on foods and her grandmother on flowers and fruit trees. This undoubtedly fostered Bryce’s love of agriculture. It can’t be said that her love of wine developed in her youth—her family mostly drank white Zinfandel on special occasions such as holidays. It wasn’t until she was in her 20s that she grew to love wine as a result of visiting tasting rooms in Paso Robles along with her brother’s then girlfriend (and now wife).

Although Bryce originally was headed for a degree in education and was managing grant-funded after-school programs, she realized that her long-term path was in another direction and came to the realization that, in her own words, “winemaking was a real job.” This led her to apply to California State University, Fresno, where she earned a B.S. in Viticulture and Enology in 2012.

While in school, Bryce applied to every winery within a 50-mile radius of campus, hoping to gain “hands-on” experience. Success in this effort was long in coming because, in her opinion, at that point she had no relevant experience but it seemed as though being a petite woman made potential employers wary of her physical capabilities in the cellar. But by persisting, Bryce landed an internship at Mission Bell Winery, where she was mentored by Oren Kaye. She made her first vintage at the winery in 2010, an experience that reinforced her love of winemaking. As Bryce says, “I found that winemaking scratched both my creative and scientific itch all in one delicious package!”

With some experience under her belt, Bryce continued her winemaking odyssey by completing internships at Constellation Brands, Bronco Wine Company, and E. & J. Gallo. She then completed eight years as winemaker for Constellation, working both in California and at Drylands Winery in New Zealand. Her primary responsibility was managing the firm’s white wine crush program, which included Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, and new product development for the Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon and red blends.

In mid-2023, she founded Willingham Wine Consulting, where she relies on a strong research background that informs her practical approach to viticulture and winemaking, blending science and creativity to elevate wine quality. Bryce joined Bokisch Vineyards in Lodi in early 2024 as its winemaker and is crafting wines from Spanish grape varietals, particularly Albariño as well as sparkling wines.

Outside of the cellar and vineyard, Bryce finds creativity and balance through making pottery, propagating plants, and spending time with her beloved rescue dogs, Jax and Juniper. Moreover, as a woman in winemaking, she is committed to mentorship, sustainability, and making space for the next generation of voices in the industry.