Yvonne Turgeon
As the last of the leaves fall and the cellars begin to thrum with the quiet work of fermentation, we find ourselves, once again, in the in-between. Harvest is pressed, barrelled, stored. The fruit’s journey is paused, waiting for winter’s long exhale to shape what comes next.
In this liminal space —between what was and what will be —we often catch a glimpse of something rare: change, not in theory, but in motion.
In this issue of Orchard & Vine, we turn our attention to the next generation of winery owners ; couples who aren’t just building businesses but reshaping what legacy looks like.
Millennials and Gen Z partners are stepping onto the land, into the vineyards and into tasting rooms with sleeves rolled up and spreadsheets open, often with a barrel thief in one hand and a marketing plan in the other.
They’re entering the industry at a time when nothing is guaranteed — not the climate, not the market, not even the model. And yet, they’re showing up with ideas, energy and a willingness to work in ways that stretch beyond tradition.
We spoke with married teams navigating the realities of ownership from pruning and press cycles to label design and long-haul strategy. Their roles are often hybrid: one in the vines, one in the cellar, both in the business — with stained hands and shared ambition.
Or sometimes, roles flip. They spend mornings checking fruit loads, afternoons updating websites, and evenings trying to fit a life around it all. They bring their lives and skill sets fully into the business — marketing meets viticulture, finance meets fermentation. They’re not afraid to reinvent, or to invest in skills their parents never had to consider, from digital storytelling to direct-to-consumer sales.
And their ambitions run deep. This isn’t just about making good wine. It’s about building something meaningful — for their families, their communities and the land itself.
Many of these couples didn’t walk into generational handovers. Some were helped by family, yes. Others scraped together creative deals, worked harvests abroad, or leaned into investor models that allowed them to take root. Their paths to ownership are as varied as their wines — and just as layered.
At a time when agriculture faces rising costs, shrinking margins and unpredictable climate rhythms, there is something quietly radical about choosing to begin anyway. To invest in the long game, in land, brand and partnership. To grow something that outlives the first harvest.
So as you read through this issue, consider this: maybe the future of farming and winemaking doesn’t look like tradition carried forward. Maybe it’s not something handed down, but something built together: a legacy shared, not just through bloodlines, but through belief.
Here’s to the ones starting now — messy, inspired, learning as they go. May they have strong roots and the courage to keep growing.
— Yvonne Turgeon, publisher
Top photo: Showing the people behind the craft resonates with wine consumers, like the story of the husband and wife team of Dakota and Cassandra Hood at Over the Fence Winery. (Contributed)