Adrienne Rule, a native of Sonoma County, California, grew up ensconced in the wine business. As a fourth-generation family member of a wine family, she experienced dinnertime conversations that were focused on the ins and outs of wine production and marketing. The setting of the sun over a vineyard dedicated to Zinfandel further cemented her desire to pursue a career in the wine industry.

She attended California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, an institution nationally noted for the quality of its science departments. Immediately declaring a major in chemistry upon entering as a freshman, she earned a B.S. degree in the subject in 2004.

She immediately began her odyssey to becoming a winemaker by taking a position at Vinquiry, the preeminent independent wine laboratory in the Central Coast. There, she performed analyses and interacted with winemakers, soon becoming of laboratory manager at the facility after only two years. Two years later, she moved on to Conway Family Wines as enologist and nearly two years later accepted a similar position at Bianchi Winery. Adrienne then assumed the position of operations manager at The Workshop in San Luis Obispo, where she remained for nearly three years. These experiences significantly broadened her knowledge of the day-to-day cellar operations of a winery. Moreover, she benefited from the guidance of three different mentors at crucial points of her career.

Adrienne was named winemaker at Rideau Vineyard in early 2014, where her focus is on Rhône varietals, along with making Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. Two of her Rhônes, the estate-grown Viognier and Roussanne, earned 94-point scores from the Wine Advocate in 2018.

Furthering her formal education, Adrienne completed an M.B.A degree through Western Governor’s University in 2015. She is an avid cyclist, marathoner, tri-athlete, backpacker, and deeply involved in the cause of feline rescue. Her athletic interests have led to her helping to found a Charity Fitness Club that helps train novice athletes for various events while raising funds for cancer-related charities. At her church, she is involved in a band and the choir.

She married in mid-2019 and is now the proud parent of a son, whom Adrienne enjoys taking along to check on vineyards when possible, thereby sharing her love of winemaking with the next generation.