Nancie Oxley "Wine Girl"
Winemaker
St. Julian Winery & Distillery
Nancie Oxley - “Wine Girl”, couldn’t be a more perfect nickname for Nancie, St. Julian Winery & Distillery’s Winemaker! Her passion for wine is inspiring and infectious to anyone who knows her. Meet Nancie Oxley, Michigan’s first female winemaker.
She began her career during her undergraduate Food Science studies when she assisted enologist Dr. Richard Vine in making wine as a part of Purdue University’s grape and wine research program, as well as assisting in the coordination of the Indy International Wine Competition. In the fall of 2001, Nancie completed an internship at the prestigious Geyser Peak in Sonoma, California, working under the tutelage of Winemaker Daryl Groom. Growing up in the Midwest, Nancie came back “home” to share her love of the vineyards and the appellation.
Recognized as Michigan’s first female winemaker, she joined St. Julian in 2002 as the Assistant Winemaker, moved up the ranks to Head Winemaker in 2010 and to Vice President in 2017. She is seriously committed to St. Julian’s ability to produce world-class wines. Her high energy and enthusiasm for wine making is empowered by two postgraduate degrees in 2010, a Masters in Agribusiness Management from Purdue University and a MBA from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. In 2013, Nancie was awarded the Outstanding Food Science Alumni Award from Purdue University. She was also awarded the Class of 2019 Fruit & Vegetable Grower’s 40 Under 40.
Nancie was awarded the 2019 Distinguished Agriculture Alumni Award from Purdue University’s College of Agriculture. Honorees must have a demonstrated record of outstanding accomplishments, have made significant contributions to his/her profession or society in general, and exhibit high potential for future professional growth.
Nancie’s most prestigious honor was being given the title of Purdue University Old Master in 2022. Old Masters is a long-standing Purdue tradition that aims to connect distinguished professionals to the student body in order to broaden perspectives, promote excellence, and inspire generations to move the world forward as Boilermakers.
Most recently, Nancie was chosen as one of the 2023 Wine Industry Leaders by Wine Business Monthly. At Michigan’s most awarded winery, she crafts high-quality wines from vitis vinifera and hybrids – as well as fruit wines to cater to the local tastes. Nancie has an outsized influence on the Michigan wine scene and has mentored many others as they pursued winemaking in the Great Lakes State.
Nancie is a guiding force behind the high standards and quality focused wines produced at St. Julian. Her out-going and pleasant nature, along with her energy-backed positive attitude, have combined to make her an approachable and respected winemaker amongst the wine industry.
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