Angie Shaltry Riff received her Bachelors degrees in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry from the University of Idaho in 1999. After graduating, an outstanding bottle of Sanford Pinot Noir inspired her to pursue a career in the wine industry. She moved to Sonoma County, California where she spent her first two years at the family owned Alexander Valley Vineyards working in the lab and cellar.
A fortuitous caddy pairing of her husband Brien and John Wetlaufer led to an interview and later a position working for world-renowned winemaker Helen M. Turley. Agreeing to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to apprentice under the California legend, Angie proceeded to learn the art of the cellar from 25-year industry veteran Jeanne Beall at Bryant Family Vineyards, Blankiet Estate, and Kapcsandy Family winery in the Napa Valley.
With the cellar portion of the apprenticeship complete, she became the Cellar Master/Assistant Winemaker working directly with her mentor on Helen Turley’s own label at Marcassin Wine Company. Throughout the four years working for Helen, no winery task was left unturned -- from cleaning tanks to orchestrating harvest and bottling -- all critical to the function of a small winery. Although her primary role was in the winery, keeping a hand in and understanding the vineyard was essential in learning how to make great wine.
In 2007, with two small boys, quality of life became very important. Embracing the concept of a winery without borders, her first vintage of 2007 Russian River Pinot Noir was made in California and then trucked in barrel to Idaho, where aging, bottling, and distribution occurs. The 2007 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was processed in Oregon and then trucked to Idaho for finishing. In 2008, Périple broadened its repetoire to include the Burgess Vineyard Columbia Valley Syrah. Beginning at 300 cases in 2007 and 2008, Périple expanded to 650 cases in 2009 and will reach just over 1,000 cases in 2010.
