ABOUT US
Meet the Team
Upchurch Vineyard is a small, family-owned winery consisting of a close-knit team of individuals filled with passion for the Washington Wine Industry. Over the years, our team has become family, each person playing a large part in making Upchurch Vineyard the incredible winery that it is today.
Proprietor & Head Winemaker
Chris Upchurch
Chris’ love for wine started in his youth, with extensive travel throughout the Grand Cru wine-growing regions of Europe and the west coast of the United States. “I had to start off developing my palate and my perspective. How can you make great wine if you don’t know what that is?” After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado and University of Washington, Chris began his career as a wine merchant, working with several of Seattle’s best-known restaurants. This experience allowed him to hone his palate while tasting wines from around the world. Chris spent the next 23 years crafting some of the finest and most award-winning wines in Washington State as the founding winemaker and a partner of DeLille Cellars. In 2007, Chris came full circle, launching Upchurch Vineyard with his wife Thea– an opportunity that most winemakers only dream about.
As the founding winemaker and a partner at DeLille Cellars since 1992, Chris Upchurch has crafted some of the finest and most award winning wines in Washington State. He is the only winemaker to produce two Washington State brands to receive 5 stars (outstanding) in Robert Parker’s Wine Buyers Guide, for both DeLille Cellars and Doyenne.
Proprietor
Thea Upchurch
Born above her father’s grocery store in Holland, Thea’s focus has always been on the Food and Wine Industry. She obtained a Culinary Degree in Arnhem and a master’s degree in Utrecht. Being fluent in four languages she also obtained an Interpreter degree. After moving to the United States in the early 80’s, Thea first became a restaurateur in Atlanta, where she owned 2 restaurants. She then moved to Seattle where she owned 3 restaurants of which Theo’s was awarded, “Best New Restaurant” in 1996. Chris and Thea met at the opening of DeLille Cellars in 1995 and married in 2001. They were the ultimate Food and Wine pairing! In 2007, Thea combined her business experience with Chris’s winemaking to help create Upchurch Vineyard, where she is now co-owner with Chris.
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+Dick Boushey, Vineyard Manager
Dick Boushey is a lot of things to the Washington wine industry: a pioneer, an innovator and a benchmark for what quality wine growing in this state can be. He has earned the respect of his peers from his extensive involvement in the Washington Wine Growers Association and has been named “Wine Grower of the Year” by both the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers and the Washington State Grape Society.
Marshall Edwards, Vineyard Manager
With more than 30 years of viticulture experience in some of Washington’s largest vineyards, Upchurch Vineyard relies on Marshall for his passion for grape growing and sharp knowledge of the terroir. He is the Vineyard Manager of our newly planted vineyard on Candy Mountain. Named Grower of the Year in 2017 by the Washington Winegrowers.
Tino & Sonia Gomez, Cellar Assistant / Facilities Manager
Tino and Sonia have been a part of the winery since the very beginning and have become like family. Tino is our go-to man for everything from assisting with harvest and winemaking, to fixing the barn doors after they were damaged by a windstorm. Sonia, much like Tino, is a team member who wears many hats. It is thanks to her that the winery stays in tip-top shape and the gardens are so lush and beautiful.
Kristin Adams, General Manager & Director of Sales
We welcomed Kristin to the Upchurch Team in October of 2020 and we have no idea how we ever managed without her! Behind the scenes she is our fearless leader, keeping the business organized and on track all while also managing the wholesale business. Before coming to the winery, Kristin spent more than a decade at Brown Forman Corporation, and just as much time running her own business. The experience she brings to the winery has been invaluable!
Shea Bayley, Director of Marketing & DTC Sales, Wine Club Manager
Shea joined the Upchurch Team in March of 2022. Throughout her professional career she has gained a wide range of experience across the wine industry successfully completing WSET Level 2 certification, learning distribution in off-premises sales working for Young’s Market and Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, print sales and marketing at Sip Northwest Magazine, and Brand Management at Precept Wine. Her passion has always remained with boutique PNW wine, so when the opportunity came along to join the team at Upchurch Vineyard, it was an easy decision to make.
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Careers
Interested in joining the Upchurch Team? Check out our current open positions.
