Dame Kay Simon
Kay Simon may have grown up in California and studied fermentation at UC Davis, but the Washington State Wine industry claims her as one of its own.
A very talented winemaker and general partner of Chinook Wines of Prosser, Washington, Kay began her career in California, but quickly accepted a position as winemaker at Ste. Michelle – Woodinville, Grandview and Paterson – before starting Chinook Winery with her husband, Clay Mackey, in 1983.
These were the early years of the Washington wine industry, and Kay was one of its pioneering women in wine. Today, her pioneering spirit continues as she forges new avenues for women not only in wine but Washington agriculture.
A charter member and former #LesDamesSeattle Chapter President, she has been an advocate for women in WSU Viticulture Extension education at Washington State University opening doors and helping to provide opportunities for them in the industry through her active role in the #LesDamesdEscoffier scholarship program, both as a member of and former Chair of the Chapter’s Scholarship Committee. In the fall of 2019 and the spring of 2020, she was one of the driving forces in setting up the Chapter’s seventh endowed scholarship for women, this one in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at WSU.
Professional and industry organizations have reaped the benefits of her wine knowledge and her savvy business acumen. She has served as President and Board Member of Wine Yakima Valley, and Past Vice President and Board Member of the Washington Wine Institute. She is a Charter Member of the Washington Research Advisory Committee and has served on the committee for over 20 years. In addition, she is a Professional Member of American Society for Enology & Viticulture and a Charter Member of the Washington Wine Technical Group.
In 2008, Kay was honored by the Auction of Washington Wines as Honorary Vintner. And in 2010, she received the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers Industry Service Award.
As in the past, Kay continues to make small quantities of high quality wines from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc grape varietals that she & Clay hand sell to top restaurants and fine wine merchants in the Pacific Northwest as well as a few select markets elsewhere.
Photos: Kay Simon and Husband Clay Mackey, along with the Yakima Valley hills and vineyards; a fun throwback from the Chinook website (http://www.chinookwines.com/); a photo from Kevin Cruff and Seattle magazine celebrating Chinook Wines and the Yakima Valley AVA turning 30 in 2013; and the February/March 2020 issue of Wine Enthusiast profiling Kay.
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