Madeleine was raised in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, but spent her youth exploring forests, mountains and tide pools more than vineyards. A former bat biologist, ornithologist, and wine marketer, Madeleine’s path to viticulture was not direct. She brings unique experience and perspective to the Atlas team. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, where she focused on Ecology and Evolutionary Theory, while spending her summers (as she did in High School) working for the US Forest Service as a bat researcher. A part-time job at a tasting room after college turned into seven years in sales and marketing where she was inspired by observing her company’s shift from conventional practices to sustainable and biodynamic farming, particularly the application of ecological principles toward greater sustainability in the vineyard. This interest in sustainable farming motivated her to enter graduate study at the University of California, Davis. Madeleine’s graduate research took place in the DOQ Priorat of Spain, where she studied grapevine physiological response to water stress in complex slopes vineyards. Madeleine is a certified Pest Control Advisor and also carries her Qualified Applicator’s License. She has been particularly involved with the Atlas spray programs, using Integrated Pest Management principles to minimize chemical use and maximize the efficacy of necessary sprays, while also prioritizing the safety of Atlas employees. Her passion for sustainable farming can be seen in the decision for Atlas to obtain certification of all our full service farming properties.