Cary Quintana, Cary Q Wines

Ramaytush Ohlone Land - San Francisco 

Cary Quintana is the founder and winemaker of Cary Q Wines, a woman-owned winery established in 2014. Her work is rooted in minimal-intervention winemaking, a love for underrepresented varietals, and a commitment to the practice of organic, sustainable, and regenerative farming.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, and deeply connected to her Cuban heritage, Cary’s path into winemaking has been anything but conventional. She began her career in advertising and technology before opening Vine Wine Shop & Tasting Loft in 2005, a beloved Miami neighborhood spot celebrated for championing esoteric and underrepresented wines from around the globe. The shop quickly became a hub for community, exploration, and discovery, and ultimately inspired Cary to move from curating wines to creating them herself.

In 2013, she took a bold leap and relocated to Northern California to pursue her passion for wine production, bartering her retail wine experience for mentorship within Berkley’s, Gilman district, a vibrant hub for the natural wine movement. A self-taught winemaker and alumna of the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Winemaking certification program, Cary released her first vintage just a year later, marking the beginning of Cary Q Wines.

As a queer Latina winemaker, Cary sees wine as more than what’s in the glass—it’s a way to tell stories, honor heritage, and create an inclusive space for voices unheard in our industry. Through her passion for the fermented grape, she is committed to advocating for a wine culture and community that values sustainability, inclusivity, equity, and one that reflects both the land and the diverse community of people who nurture it.