Nancy Ulloa is the owner, winemaker, and boss lady of Ullua Cellars. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, she immigrated to California as a child and grew up in Salinas. Discovering wine while working in fine-dining restaurants during college, she became fascinated by the interplay between food, wine, and the environment. She moved to Paso Robles and immersed herself in the local wine community. Spirituality has been a significant benefactor of her success, and Tarot readings and wine-and-crystal tastings are regular occurrences during weekend visits to the tasting room.  

Her winemaking employs all the intrinsic factors rarely used by other winemakers. She describes her wines as made “with intention,” incorporating meditation, affirmations, and a spiritual reverence for vineyards and the land. “I use crystal healing energy during the fermentation and aging of my babies. Expressions of gratitude and goddess energy are infused in the wines through Sanskrit mantra chanting, sound baths, and other rituals.” Her goal is expressive, character-driven wines reflecting origin and the energy she brings to the cellar.

From the beginning, Nancy has made distinctive white wines, rather than the region’s more typical red grapes. She prefers wines with aromatic lift and food versatility, particularly those that pair well with the layered flavors of Mexican cuisine. This 2024 Sémillon is a good example. It’s from the Vogelzang Vineyard in Happy Canyon, just outside of Los Olivos. She describes it as being of “guava, candied mango, lemon curd, yellow starburst, and almond croissant” while recommending pairing it with Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, or Blue Calcite, the mineral composition of which should bring clear communication, honesty, and compassion into your life.  As she writes on the bottle, “A Vibe is worth more than a thousand words.” It is, indeed.