Katy Smith Perry

Co-founder and winemaker of Tildio Winery, had an illustrious career spanning over 30 years in viticulture and winemaking. A Seattle native, Katy studied Geology and interned at the Smithsonian Institute before pursuing Enology and Viticulture at UC Davis in 1986. Her professional journey included roles at renowned wineries such as Robert Mondavi, Stags Leap Wine Cellars, Geyser Peak Winery, and Chateau Ste. Michelle. In 2001, she co-founded Tildio Winery with her husband, Milum, in the Lake Chelan region. Katy was instrumental in establishing the winery's reputation for quality and played a key role in the development of the Lake Chelan appellation. She passed away on January 27, 2025, leaving a lasting legacy in the Washington wine industry.

The Lake Chelan AVA, established in 2009 as a sub-AVA of the Columbia Valley, is a premier wine-growing region in north-central Washington, centered around the 50.5-mile-long, glacially-carved Lake Chelan. With a unique microclimate influenced by the lake's moderating effects, volcanic soil composition, and elevations ranging from 1,100 to 2,000 feet, the AVA provides ideal conditions for growing premium grape varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Syrah. The combination of warm days, cool nights, and mineral-rich soils results in wines known for their bright acidity, rich aromatics, and distinctive fruit-forward character.