Heidi Barrett

About Heidi Barrett

• Born in Berkeley to winemaker Richard (Dick) Peterson; the family moved to St. Helena in 1968 when he became winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyard.
• Earned a B.S. in fermentation science from UC Davis in 1980, one of only four women in her class.
• First job after college was at Silver Oak Cellars; she worked at Rutherford Hill in 1982.
• Became head winemaker at Buehler Vineyards in 1983, at age 25.
• Went independent in 1988; Dalla Valle was her first major client, and its 1992 Maya earned a perfect 100 from Robert Parker.
• Made the early Screaming Eagle vintages for founder Jean Phillips; a 6-liter bottle of her 1992 Screaming Eagle sold for $500,000 at the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction.
• Founded her own label, La Sirena, in 1994, and Barrett & Barrett in 2008 with husband Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena.
• Has co-made Amuse Bouche and Au Sommet with daughter Chelsea since 2017, and launched Aviatrix with Chelsea to explore regions outside Napa.
• Opened her own La Sirena tasting room in Calistoga in spring 2026.
• Also a licensed helicopter pilot, scuba diver and painter whose artwork appears on La Sirena's Studio Series labels.

Heidi's own wines

• La Sirena · since 1994
• Barrett & Barrett Wines · since 2008
• Aviatrix

Where Heidi makes wine today

• Amuse Bouche · winemaker
• Au Sommet · winemaker
• Mars Estate (former Lamborn property, Howell Mountain) · consulting winemaker

Wineries Heidi has made wine for

Consulting relationships change often; these are clients past and recent as reported over the years.

• Screaming Eagle
• Dalla Valle Vineyards
• Lamborn Family Vineyards
• Paradigm Winery
• Kenzo Estate
• Buehler Vineyards
• Grace Family Vineyards
• Fantesca Estate & Winery
• Revana Estate
• Vineyard 29
• Barbour Vineyards

Notable wines and scores

• 1992 Dalla Valle Maya: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 1997 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 1991 Dalla Valle Maya: 99 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon (debut release): 99 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 1993 Dalla Valle Maya: 98 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate

Recognition

• A 6-liter bottle of her 1992 Screaming Eagle sold for $500,000 at the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction, a record at the time.

Taste Heidi's wines in wine country

Many of these wineries are by appointment only, and some sell only to their mailing lists. Tell us which wines you would like to taste and your chauffeur will book what is possible and build the day around it. See our Napa Valley wine tours and Sonoma County wine tours, or plan a private tour.

Sources

lasirenawine.com · en.wikipedia.org · napavalleyfocus.substack.com · napawineproject.com · thedrinksbusiness.com · aviatrix-wine.com · finewinesinternational.com · decanter.com