Helen Turley

About Helen Turley

• Born in Augusta, Georgia, and earned a B.S. from Cornell University in 1976, studying viticulture and fermentation science.
• Started in the lab at Robert Mondavi Winery in 1977, then worked briefly at Chappellet and took a winemaking job in Kentucky before returning to California in 1984 as winemaker for B.R. Cohn in Sonoma Valley.
• Was the founding winemaker at Peter Michael Winery in Knights Valley, making its first Mon Plaisir Chardonnay in 1987 and shaping the Les Pavots red blend.
• Through the 1990s she consulted for a string of start-ups that became cult names, including Colgin (from its first 1992 vintage until 1999), Bryant Family (1992-2002) and Pahlmeyer (about nine years, leaving in early 2000).
• Made wine for Turley Wine Cellars, founded by her brother Larry Turley, until 1995.
• In 1991 she and husband John Wetlaufer, a viticulturist, planted the Marcassin Vineyard about three miles from the Pacific at roughly 1,400 feet, when the far Sonoma Coast was thought too cold for fine wine; the label dates to 1992.
• Marcassin was made at Martinelli's facility for years until its own Windsor winery was finished in 2011; by late 2006 Martinelli was her only remaining consulting client.
• Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave Marcassin wines a series of perfect scores and in 2017 named her for a Lifetime Winemaker Achievement award and Marcassin as best Sonoma County winery.
• Inducted into the California Hall of Fame in 2019, one of very few winemakers so honored.
• Still co-owns Marcassin with Wetlaufer; a January 2026 Vinous visit found day-to-day winemaking shared with Ryan O'Donnell and Amanda McPhee. The winery is allocation-only, with no public tastings.

Helen's own wines

• Marcassin · since 1991

Wineries Helen has made wine for

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

• Martinelli Winery
• Peter Michael Winery
• Colgin Cellars
• Bryant Family Vineyard
• Pahlmeyer
• Blankiet Estate
• Turley Wine Cellars
• B.R. Cohn Winery
• La Jota Vineyard Co.
• Landmark Vineyards
• Green & Red Vineyard
• Robert Mondavi Winery

Notable wines and scores

• 2013 Marcassin Vineyard Chardonnay: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 2008 Marcassin Vineyard Chardonnay: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 1996 Marcassin Chardonnay: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 1997 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Turley era): 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 2014 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir: 97 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate
• 2009 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir: 97 pts, Wine Spectator

Recognition

• Food & Wine Winemaker of the Year, 1999
• Wine Spectator Hall of Fame, 2004
• Wine Spectator Distinguished Service Award, 2010
• Robert Parker Wine Advocate Lifetime Winemaker Achievement Award, 2017
• Robert Parker Wine Advocate Extraordinary Winery Award (Marcassin, best Sonoma County winery), 2017
• California Hall of Fame inductee, 2019

Taste Helen's wines in wine country

Marcassin itself is allocation-only with no public tastings, but many of the wineries Helen shaped welcome visitors by appointment. 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

californiamuseum.org · en.wikipedia.org · webpages.scu.edu · winespectator.com · thewinecellarinsider.com · marcassinvineyards.com