Kathy Byrd, Woodward Canyon

Woodward Canyon, one of Washington’s oldest wineries, has named Kathy Byrd general manager and vice president. Byrd has already started at the position.

“Kathy’s experience in devising effective wine sales strategies coupled with her knowledge of wine operations and connections within the wine industry made her the ideal candidate,” winery co-founder Darcey Small said in a press release. “She will guide us in building on our history of crafting extraordinary wines while leading Woodward Canyon in its next chapter as a family-owned winery.”

Byrd brings 30 years of wine industry experience to Woodward Canyon. For the last eight years, she has been a consultant at Real Wine Alliance. Byrd started the company in 2018 to help wineries sell more wine in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. During this time, she consulted for over two dozen wineries and related businesses.

Prior to starting Real Wine Alliance, Byrd spent two years at Winebow, a wine distribution company. This included one year as vice president/general manager of Noble Wines. Before that, Byrd spent more than three and a half years at Young’s Market Company, another distributor, where she finished as vice president of sales for The Estates Group.

Earlier in her career, Byrd worked as national sales manager for Gundlach Bundschu Winery, based in Sonoma, California. She spent three years as western regional manager at King Estate Winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Byrd also spent four years as northwest regional manager for Francis Ford Coppola Presents. Byrd earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Woodward Canyon was founded in 1981 by Rick Small and Darcey Fugman-Small. It was the second winery established in Walla Walla Valley.

Second-generation winery co-owner Jordan Small has served as general manager at Woodward Canyon since 2021. She will continue to serve on the winery’s board of directors and co-own the winery with her brother, Sager Small. Sager Small serves as director of education.

Earlier this year, Woodward Canyon named Marcus Rafanelli as winemaker. Rafanelli took over in a planned transition from long-time winemaker Kevin Mott. Woodward Canyon also recently promoted Michelle Aichele to director of operations. Aichele, who previously oversaw wine club and direct-to-consumer sales, has worked at the winery for eight years.

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