We are honored to announce the promotion of Baley Loy to Head Winemaker at Walsh Family Wine. Baley will play a primary role in continuing to innovate and improve our winemaking.

   On a random Friday in the Spring of 2021, as I was chatting with guests in the tasting room, a buzz of excitement drew me to the cellar. A small group was getting a tour of our tank room. I wasn’t needed in there, but something about the vibe made me feel I was missing out. One of the guests, a young woman, was asking questions that made it clear she worked in winemaking. She asked about pumps and bottling, our vineyards and varietals, how our team worked together. I was impressed by her insight, and more than that, I was drawn to the sense of excitement. Some people stand out in ways that are hard to explain.

   That was how I met Baley. Prior to that visit, she’d been working for a winery in Paso Robles for three years. She was returning to the East Coast and was exploring wineries in the area, trying to see where she’d be a good fit.

   Baley joined our team not long after. Our reliance on first impressions can be a double-edged sword, but in this case, I was spot on. She worked tirelessly during a difficult, stressful vintage, and was promoted to Assistant Winemaker not long after. Over four years, she helped oversee the growth of our production during a quick expansion. She has become an integral part to Walsh Family Wine, pruning, spraying, racking, blending, and bottling – there is not a vineyard or cellar task she is unfamiliar with. Baley understands the big picture.

   Most notably, the buzz of excitement surrounding Baley has not waned a bit. I’m thrilled hand her the reins of the cellar as we approach the 2026 harvest.

   A few rapid-fire questions to get to know Baley:

What was your “lightbulb” moment in wine?

            My “lightbulb” moment was not a specific bottle, but a place. My first trip to California’s Central Coast is where I fell in love with the idea of winemaking. My rose-tinted glasses were on and every vineyard I passed along the coast was magic. I did not have any prior experience or knowledge of wine or the industry until that trip. The industry was so much more than I thought. So much hard work, dedication, innovation and tradition go into making a good bottle of wine. The magic I felt on the west coast was everywhere, in every region of wine. At least that’s how I felt when I became a part of Virginia’s wine industry.     

What aspect of Head Winemaker are you most excited about? Conversely, what’s the one thing keeping you up at night as harvest approaches?

            I am most excited about continuing where Kent [Arendt, our outgoing winemaker] left off and putting my mark on the Walsh wines to come.

            The one thing keeping me up at night is continuing where Kent left off! It’s both a sad and happy transition. Kent has been one of my mentors since the beginning and working as a close-knit team has been a wonderful experience. I could not have gotten to where I am now without him. His patience, respect, and wisdom allowed me to grow.

   Are there specific varietals or experimental styles that you would like to explore? Something WFW has not done in the past?

            I’m always thinking about Amarone. I love love love Amarone, an Italian red with very specific processes and regulations. Without going into too much of the nitty-gritty, it involves picking and drying grapes for a long time to get concentrated flavors. After the drying process, the wine goes through fermentation and is aged for years. It can be an intense, rich, higher alcohol wine; but it will really make you go: “Wow! Wine can be like this?”

If you could sit down and share a bottle of wine with any historical figure, who would it be?

            I’d sit down and share a bottle of Amarone with anyone… Marie Curie? Norman Borlaug? Socrates? Who knows!