By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Nicole Camp never expected a backyard full of pears to change the course of her life. But what began as an experiment with homemade pear wine has grown into LaShellé Wines, one of Washington state’s most respected Black-owned boutique wineries.
Readers recognized Camp’s remarkable journey during The Seattle Medium’s inaugural Best of the Best Northwest Readers’ Choice Awards, selecting the founder and winemaker of LaShellé Wines as Best Black Winemaker. Camp, one of Washington state’s few Black female winemakers, has built a loyal following through elegant, small-lot wines and an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship.
Nestled in Woodinville’s Warehouse District, away from many of the area’s larger wineries, LaShellé Wines has quietly earned a reputation for producing handcrafted wines while offering visitors the opportunity to meet the winemaker behind every bottle.
Camp’s journey into winemaking didn’t begin in a sprawling European vineyard or on a family estate. It began in a Seattle backyard.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Camp moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2001. That same year, she found herself with an abundance of pears growing in her backyard.
“I originally started making pear wine in 2001 to about 2007,” Camp said, recalling the years before a major windstorm swept through the Seattle area. “I was making stewed pears with it originally, and it was literally just one day I was drinking some wine and I decided that I would try and see if pears would do that.”
What began as a creative way to use an abundance of fruit gradually became something much bigger.
For several years, Camp continued making wine as a hobby while teaching elementary school. But the more she learned, the more she realized winemaking had become more than a pastime.
Curious to deepen her understanding of the craft, Camp enrolled at the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College in 2015. What began as a personal educational journey quickly evolved into a business. Building on her bachelor’s degree, she completed an Associate of Arts degree in Winemaking, and within just a few years, that backyard experiment had grown into LaShellé Wines.
Today, LaShellé Wines produces a diverse portfolio of wines using grapes sourced from premier vineyards throughout Eastern Washington. By partnering with trusted growers rather than owning a vineyard, Camp has the flexibility to produce everything from classic white and red wines to lesser-known varietals that reflect her curiosity and creativity as a winemaker.
Camp approaches winemaking with patience and precision, believing every step of the process should protect the integrity of the wine.
When asked whether she still stomps grapes by foot, Camp laughed.
“We do not do that,” she said. “I did it more for a fun aspect when we were first starting our port because it was just 30 pounds, which is way too little to be putting through the press.”
Instead, every decision is intentional.
Related Article: Thank You For Making Our Inaugural Best Of The Best Northwest Readers’ Choice Awards A Huge Success
“Every time you move a wine, it gets a little bit upset with you, so you’re trying to protect the wine so that you’re not overstressing it,” Camp explained.
That philosophy extends throughout production, including hand-bottling each vintage to ensure the wine is handled as gently as possible.
Perfecting the craft, however, was only one part of building LaShellé Wines. Establishing herself in an industry historically dominated by men presented an entirely different challenge.
As a self-funded winery owned by Camp and her husband, earning credibility often meant overcoming assumptions before conversations even began.
“The bigger challenge for me was when we were first getting started and I was trying to get contracts because a lot of people wanted to talk to my husband instead of me,” Camp said. “There’s everyday people who are looking at a female winemaker and they’re like, ‘Oh, she doesn’t know how to do things.'”
Camp’s experience reflects broader changes taking place within Washington’s wine industry, according to local wine educator and event organizer Marcia Jones.
“The industry has long been perceived as a playground reserved for white men,” Jones said. “Even white women weren’t acknowledged or considered business-savvy enough to run a vineyard or make wine, and that really wasn’t that long ago. Now, we have a wealth of Black women who are making the wine, who are understanding the soil-to-bottle concept.”
While Jones said there are a growing number of Black-owned wine brands in Washington, she noted that there are still relatively few Black women serving as the winemakers behind those labels.
“When I first started, there was only one Black woman winemaker in the state of Washington. Now, there are at least six Black women-owned brands, but only three actual winemakers: Nicole, Shae and Kristen,” Jones said. “Nicole was the second. To meet someone who is doing that very thing, who is so deeply knowledgeable and talented, she is absolutely making an impact. They are small but mighty.”
According to Jones, Camp’s visibility is helping reshape perceptions of who belongs in the wine industry while inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.
“People are seeing her and saying, ‘Wow, I wasn’t even thinking of Black women when I think of wine,'” Jones said. “Even more so, the younger generation looks at her and thinks, ‘I didn’t even know we could go into this industry.’ She is her own person, she doesn’t work for anybody, and this generation is looking for that kind of entrepreneurship.”
Jones, who was among those who nominated Camp for the Readers’ Choice Awards, believes the recognition reflects the impact Camp has already made on the region.
“It really speaks to the fact that she’s already making that impact,” Jones said. “She’s doing enough that people know who she is and what she makes. For Seattle local residents who sometimes think Woodinville is way too far out there, seeing her celebrated in The Seattle Medium will encourage them to make the trip.”
Beyond her talent as a winemaker, Jones said Camp’s character has helped make her a respected figure within the local wine community.
“Not only does she make great wine, she’s just good people,” Jones said.
Receiving The Seattle Medium’s Best Black Winemaker honor was both unexpected and deeply meaningful for Camp.
“I was very humbled and honored for that,” Camp said. “That was a very big kudos to seeing that I’m actually seen, and I didn’t realize I was being seen as well as I was.”
Today, approximately 95% of LaShellé Wines’ production is sold directly through its welcoming Woodinville tasting room, where visitors often have the opportunity to meet Camp and learn firsthand about the wines she creates.
Looking back on the journey from a backyard full of pears to an award-winning winery, Camp encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to trust themselves, start where they are and embrace the unknown.
“I feel that if you’re wanting to have a business and you’re wanting to do that gumption, I think you should go for it,” Camp said. “You’re going to surround yourself with the people that you need to be around, and letting yourself be seen and heard is really good. Take the leap of faith. Start small and grow.”
To see the full list of winners visit bestofthebestnw.com
