Born in Colorado, Desiree O’Donovan moved with her family to Santa Rosa and grew up in wine country. The wine industry was not on her radar as a career, however. She attended Santa Rosa Junior College with dentistry as her professional goal, and while in school, took a part-time position at a local winery part-time for financial reasons. It was here that she “fell in love with wine” and realized her true passion.

She completed two academic programs, an Associate of Science degree in biology from Santa Rosa Junior College in 2008 and the Viticulture and Enology program at Napa Valley College in 2013. In between these, she held a harvest internship at Girard Winery in Sonoma for the 2008 vintage, followed by a two-year position as a software manager with The Ranch Winery in Saint Helena and nearly three years as the wine information analyst for cellar operations with JuiceBox Custom Crush in Napa. There she met Tim Milos, who encouraged her to become a winemaker.

In mid-2014, Desiree joined The Wine Foundry in Napa as assistant winemaker, and while there, met Dr. Jan Krupp, co-founder of Krupp Brothers Winery, who was using its services. In mid-2016, she accepted the position of assistant winemaker at Krupp Brothers, was promoted to associate winemaker there in early 2020, and became its lead winemaker in October 2021. Her first signature wine for the winery was the 2021 M7 Cabernet Sauvignon, which received 95 points from Jeb Dunnuck.

Desiree describes herself as a “cellar-born” winemaker who learned from a wide range of winemakers while working in custom crush facilities. She sees her winemaking as “sensory driven,” and is known for her remarkable palate memory for the effects of barrels, yeasts, and blends on the wine. Krupps Brothers is noted for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, The Doctor, a red blend, and Sauvignon Blanc, among other wines.

When not crafting wine, Desiree loves being out in nature and spending time with her spouse, a sommelier. An avid trail runner, while running, she revels in the aroma of California’s bay trees that border her pathway.