Cailan was born in 1990 in Bakersfield, California, where much of her family lives now, including parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. She grew up in Santa Barbara from age seven with her mother and three other siblings, where the need to be near the ocean began. She was born into a family that greatly valued the earth around them. She was taught from infancy with both parents how to appreciate everything living and not living that surrounded her, from grandpa’s vegetable garden, the neighbors flowers, the pine trees in the mountains, the fish in their lakes, the sun in the sky and the waves at the beach. It’s no wonder she ended up studying Earth Science at Santa Barbara City College for four years out of high school. She was destined to be a second grade elementary school teacher, but after the crash of education systems in 2008, an alarm went off in her head. She had to forge a new path that didn’t require going into college debt. A wine tasting class she once took unexpectedly opened the door to a new career—one filled with travel, adventure, and endless learning. The wine industry sparked her curiosity and offered fresh insights into the world around her. You never know where life will take you; opportunities truly are endless. Over the years, Cailan worked with a variety of wine companies, both large and small, each experience deepening her knowledge, perspective, and passion for the craft. She went from Santa Barbara to Europe, to San Francisco, to Paso Robles, to New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, and back to the Central Coast over the course of 14 years.

After all is said and done, it’s still every wine for themselves. Every wine is a unique time capsule that captures a specific moment in history. Every whiff and sip brings with it a fresh understanding and new perspective on life.