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The Troupe

Jacki Evans

Jacki was born and bred in Texas and studied Biology at the University of Texas in Austin. She has over 10 years of winemaking experience with 18 harvests around the world, including Napa Valley of California, Willamette Valley of Oregon, the Great Southern of Western Australia, Barossa Valley of South Australia, Burgenland, Austria, and Marlborough, New Zealand.  During this time, she studied winemaking at Napa Valley College and whatever else she could get her hands on.  She's been in the Yakima Valley of Washington State making wine with Owen Roe Winery since the 2013 vintage.  Jacki loves wine, traveling, and all the good things in life.

Nacho Licea

Jose Ignacio Licea (Nacho) was born to a farmer family, and raised as such. He earned a Bachelor's degree, followed by a Master's Degree in Business Management with a minor in high Management from the University of Colima. Nacho moved to Washington State in 2001, establishing first contact with the wine industry. Nacho has many years of experience in all aspects of winemaking and currently works as a vineyard manager in Central Washington. In his free time, Nacho loves to spend time with his family enjoying the wonders of nature.

Elyse Woda

Born and raised  in Columbus, Ohio, Elyse headed west after graduating from the Ohio State University with a degree in Geology. She spent most of her time working as a public servant with both the state and federal government.

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In 2017, Elyse obtained a bachelor's degree in Ecology from the Evergreen State College and continued to work in her field specializing in lichen and bryophyte studies. Elyse met Sin Banderas while working with Owen Roe in 2014 and recently joined the team to serve as the IT and marketing specialist. In her free time, Elyse enjoys growing specialty houseplants, mushroom hunting,  and making nature-inspired jewelry.

Francois Dereeper

Born in Madagascar, from a Madagascan mother and a French father, François lived in Tahiti, French Polynesia until he left his island to attend college. There, he obtained a B.S in Biochemistry from the University of Bordeaux, France. Being in the heart of wine, and taking on his father and grand father enthusiasm for all things fermentation (His Grand Father was a baker, in France, and his father retired from being a Brewmaster, in Tahiti), François naturally decided to get a Master in Viticulture, Enology and Winemaking  at the ISVV, in Bordeaux (Superior Institute of Wine and Vines).

After an internship in a prestigious winery in Bordeaux, François turned his head to the USA in August of 2010. Heading there for a 4 months internship at Maryhill Winery… he’ll stay there for 3 years, before starting working with Owen Roe winery in August 2013 where he still works today.

 

If you stop by Owen Roe you might hear him sing in the cellar. François also loves to play the guitar, travel and photography."

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