Alicia Olivares - English

Get to know Alicia Olivares -

English

Viticulture and Enology Student, Lab Manager, wife, mother, and recipient of the FIRST Alliance of Women in Washington Wine Scholarship

Suman Kumar (SK): You were the inaugural recipient of The Alliance of Women in Washington Wine Scholarship, in addition to the Washington Wine Industry Foundation scholarship. What did earning this award mean to you and your career aspirations in wine?

Alicia Olivares (AO): It meant everything to me. The scholarship reaffirmed, to me, that people believe in me. They also believed that I have a future in the wine industry and that I deserved that financial help to get there. To be the one that inaugurated the AWWW scholarship was such an honor and made me extremely happy. I will be forever grateful to these foundations and the people that make it happen. I want to thank them for believing in me and my future.

SK: You are the first in your family to pursue higher education. What does this mean to you and your family?

AO: As in many cultures, the value of an education in the Latino culture is very important. It's especially true for those that migrate to the United States with the dream of a better future for their family. My parents always told me and my siblings that education was the way to a better living. They did not want us to be doing hard labor in the orchards, from sun up to sun down, six to seven days a week like they had been their lives. To go to college and earn a degree is a huge accomplishment; it makes me feel proud. I know my parents are proud as well. My parent's hard work is also paying off in that way, knowing they provided a better life for their children.

SK: What advice would you give to those people who want to pursue higher education but feel intimidated?

AO: The advice I would give those people would be: to go for it regardless of negative feelings or doubts they may have as many other students are thinking this same way.  It's important to get up every day and just do it, and thank yourself for doing it, I know I do. The closer you get to your goal the easier it gets. Starting is not always easy but once you start, no one can stop you. Slowly but surely, you will get to where you envision yourself. Who knows, you may be someone else’s motivation.

SK: Your experience spans a spectrum. Can you share the various roles you have held in your wine career from the past to the present?

AO: I have done a bit of everything in my eight years in the wine industry. In 2015, I began working as a Quality Control Technician and as a Lab Technician; my day was split between these two positions. During harvest season, if the lab was slow, I would go out to the cellar and do cellar work, such as chemical additions, inoculations, racks, etc. I have been Lab Manager for two years now, I make chemical work orders for the cellar, I put blends together, and set up trials for winemaking. Also, I am invited by winemaking to do inventory tastings from time to time. I have learned so much, and I am eager to keep learning and adding to my skills so that I may become better at what I already do.

SK: There is a common saying amongst vintners: “a little struggle for a vine makes the best wine.” Can you share with us some struggles you faced and how this shaped and helped you within the wine industry?

AO: You learn by making mistakes and then learning from those experiences. Mistakes teach you the do’s and don’ts of the winemaking process. Thankfully, I have never had a crazy experience, but I have witnessed some “big deals” and I have learned from them. I have learned how to fix winemaking problems by seeing how they are addressed. One day I will come across issues like that, and I will be grateful to my past experiences to guide me during moments like that.

SK: Oftentimes you hear the saying “I’m trying to get a foot in the door” and the wine industry is no different. However, those who don’t already have any previous footing in this industry don’t know that there are doors that even exist. When you are a person who shows up at multiple intersections of diversity it becomes not only a question of finding a door to get your foot in, but also, who has the key to the door, will they help me unlock it, let me in, and when I’m through that door, will they help me thrive. Who are some key figures that have influenced you in your journey?

AO: I am extremely thankful to have people that can be that key in my career. Without these people, I would honestly not be where I am right now. I owe it all to their support and encouragement. Foremost, I want to express my gratitude to Winemaker, Kendall Mix. Kendall is an extraordinary human being, always looking out for his employees and wanting them to succeed. People like Kendall create positive impacts on people and he is the person that always motivated me in my education. His support means so much to me and he inspires me to keep going. I look up to him as a mentor. Another key person in my journey is Winemaking Director, Brandon Rice. Brandon provided me with an opportunity to attend school by giving me flexibility in my work schedule. Both Brandon and Kendall, continue to encourage me to continue my education. I feel extremely lucky to be able to attend the Fall quarter and work harvest at the same time. I know that most students don’t have that opportunity; I feel lucky to have been given this opportunity by Brandon.

SK: What advice would you give to women who are where you were 5 years ago?

AO: I would tell them, that struggle is not forever, continue fighting for your goals. And, you will reach your destination one step at a time. Everyone has unique circumstances. Some have it easy, others don’t. It’s never too late to go to school and work towards a career in an area you desire. One day you will look back at your progress and be proud and thankful that you kept moving forward and didn’t give up on yourself.

SK: How do you balance your work and family and do you have support along the way?

AO: It’s HARD! I knew it would be, but I decided to work towards a career and provide a better life for my family, they are my motivation. I try to take it easy most days and not “lose it”, especially at harvest. I have to stop and remind myself to take it one day at a time. I am a full-time employee and a full-time student. I am also a mother of two precious boys and married to a hardworking and supportive husband. My day starts at 4 am each day, as I get ready for the day and get my boys ready for school. I am usually at work by 6 am and head out again by 8 am to drive an hour's distance to school each day. I usually have 3-4 classes depending on the day. On my short school days, I am expected back at work. The days I don’t return to work, are the days when I have longer school days, usually labs. On those days I don’t reach home until 9 pm. When I arrive home, I try and spend time with my boys, before getting to the homework. Harvest season is especially a busy time and those who work in the industry know there’s no such thing as weekends off during that time of the year. I want to thank my husband for his support at home and my employer for the schedule flexibility. While not easy, it is doable.  Also, I am thankful for all the difficult times for shaping me into a better and stronger person. We don’t know what we are capable of until we try for ourselves.