Brad Morlock | Artist

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Brad Morlock, a talented local artist who uses brick charcoal and printmaking paper to create large format pieces that challenge value and perspective. He has won numerous awards including “Best in Show” at the Union Gallery at Sacramento State University and two “Awards of Merit” at the California State Fair Art Show. His photorealistic works are stunning and upon closer inspection reveal textures to create images. We were thrilled to commission Brad to create a piece to showcase California’s incredible topography that creates the internationally acclaimed wine growing regions we enjoy.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Running headlong down life’s twisty roads”

Even calling myself an artist gives me an inner jolt of imposter syndrome: not because I doubt my ability or the quality of my work, but mostly because of how this amazing ride came about.  In pursuit of a reinvented life through a new educational and career path, I was required to take an art class.  I could have easily taken a class like art history, stayed quiet, and walked with my grade.  Instead I took a drawing class that introduced me to the first true advocate I would find on this particular journey (thanks Gioia!).  Our final project was a charcoal drawing.  It’s still hanging proudly on my wall.

I could have left it there.  In retrospect, I couldn’t as the desire to draw—and draw BIG, grew.  Soon I was making art for my blank-walled apartment.  Next, on a summer afternoon something possessed me to stop at a mural being painted and asked if the artist needed help.  Enter advocate #2 (thanks Maren!) whose answer to every insecure art question I had was: DO IT!!!

It’s been almost 5 years. This incredible experience has yielded participation in group shows all over Northern California, awards at the California State Fair, a solo show, and most importantly the opportunity to create transformative moments in people’s homes.  My work asks viewers to consider what the experience in that alternative world might be. Will you walk into your bedroom or into this strange landscape with endless possibilities?

The message is this: the art world brought me joy, the excitement of putting myself out there, the inquisitive faces of those viewing my work, and the first accidental date with my now wife.  I wouldn’t be who I am without taking the turn down that road, and running like hell.  I hope you’ll do the same.

-Brad Morlock

Ravin Patel | Executive Chef | The 7th Street Standard

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Ravin Patel, the Food & Beverage Director and Executive Chef at The 7th Street Standard, an exciting new establishment within the Hyatt Centric Hotel near the Golden 1 Center. Ravin is a regional powerhouse on the food scene from his prior experiences leading Ella plus events such as the Tower Bridge dinner. Most recently, he elevated Seasons Kitchen & Bar in Davis to new heights while working with Presidio Co to launch The 7th Street Standard.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Creating foods that bring my cultural experiences together”

I am as Californian as they come…born and raised in Sacramento, love the outdoors and love to experience all the amazing surroundings we have here. Love to eat pizza for breakfast cold, love to eat tacos 3 meals in a row. That said I am also 1st generation born Indian American and it has a strong influence on the food I love to eat.

My Parents are from the state of Gujarat in India, a predominately vegetarian state. I grew up gardening with my parents in our backyard in the 80’s and 90’s. They grew produce that was common to them in India, and not available here. My father also owned a small grocery and deli store in Oak Park, and my time there taught me the value of hard work and the importance of hospitality and helping people with our basic needs…. FOOD and BEVERAGE!!!

With such strong influences in my early life, I pursued culinary school and moved to New York after my B.A. from UC Davis. In New York I was able to experience the same melting pot of cultures California has but in a much denser atmosphere.

With so many experiences across so many cultures I’ve truly come to love cooking by mixing flavors and techniques of different cuisines. By embracing my love for Indian food and what it offers to my guest in conjunction of using the abundance of great products we have here in Northern California, drives me to create the food and drinks we have at 7th St Standard and Clayton Club.

Guest, Friends, Peers ask me what food are you doing at the new hotel, and I struggle to convey what it exactly it is…” Its Modern California Cuisine”. My way of saying in short that it’s a smash up of all my experiences in my culinary and personal life. It’s food my mom makes me on my days off that I can apply French technique to ensure that my line cooks can replicate its flavors but deliver it to guest in a restaurant setting. It’s the use of spices and showing guest that if it contains Cumin and Turmeric it does not make it “Curry”.

Cooking in this way makes me Dance, it embodies the way we have formed communities, through our fascination with others through their food and libations. A fire, some food, and a little music will lend itself to one simple thing…Dancing.

-Ravin Patel

Ramon Perez | PUUR Chocolat

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Ramon Perez, the founder and creative talent behind PUUR Chocolat, a local but world class chocolatier. His passion shines brightly which we learned first hand when we paired up in 2020 for virtual Wine-Chocolate tastings for corporate groups. Enjoy Ramon’s pastry talents at our new neighbor (The 7th Street Standard), his bon bons in a special flight at our tasting room, or his full PUUR Chocolat lineup in his online store.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Exploring.”

Whether its harvesting cacao with the farmers in the plantations of Peru, or shopping the lower levels of department stores in Tokyo for the best in pastries and chocolate, traveling kicks childlike curiosity into overdrive. 

I’ve been very fortunate in my career, my profession has taken me around the globe to the most incredible locations where I’ve fortuitously met and become friends with inspiring individuals wether they be chefs, farmers, artists etc., this is where Travel, Food and arts are intertwined, meant for each other. Ask any gourmand, what they enjoy doing most besides eating and they will tell you traveling. Ask any global traveler the same question, and most often its about the food. 

Traveling opens up the mind, to understand that there is no one singular way of doing anything. To be resourceful in the way we operate. To respect other cultures, peoples, foods. Exploring different cities and cultures evokes our interests and sparks creativity off of old ideas. When we explore, we get introduced to new fruits and vegetables, new ways of preparing rice, or fermenting a vegetable and so much more. When we travel we get to sit in the dining rooms of the most incredible restaurants and listen to the chefs tell a story of the region through food. 

Most of all, exploring creates an energy that taps into our truest self to the point where you are sitting on a remote island in the Philippines, watching the most stunning sunset, having a glass of wine… all there is left to do is just dance… just like when we were kids.

-Ramon Perez

Jess Milbourn | Entrepreneur Chef | Devil May Care Ice Cream

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Jess Milbourn, the founder of Devil May Care Ice Cream, an innovative and exceptional local gem near the Golden 1 Arena. We are thrilled to feature Jess’ fantastic ice creams at our fall club pickup party curated to new wine releases for Members.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

"Creating fun and levity through food.”

Ice Cream is one of the most frivolous foods and at Devil May Care Ice Cream we revel in helping people experience it in new ways. From a classic vanilla that is overloaded with the best vanilla beans we can find, to new takes on classics like Butter Pecan or Mint chip, and even unheard of ice cream flavors like Hot Chicken & Waffles or salt cured duck yolk we always try to leave our guests happy. And in return we get a smile and sometimes a look of amazement that we pulled it off.

Spreading joy through a product that we create is one of the most fun things we can imagine. Being able to take the sting out of a hospital visit with a kid scoop or brighten someone’s day on their birthday are just a few of the things I love to see.

Sharing happiness and allowing people to have a respite from the outside world with a brief ice cream break is priceless. Seeing a young child’s eyes light up when you add sprinkles to their cone is beyond description. All of these little things add up to a fun and happy experience for everyone involved. And joy, fun, happiness and ice cream all add up to an overall experience that make me dance.

-Jess Milbourn

Casey Georgeson | Entrepreneur | Saint Jane Beauty

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Casey Georgeson, the founder of Saint Jane Beauty, an internationally acclaimed boutique skincare company with Sonoma County roots. SAINT JANE is available online and at Sephora and has been featured in Women’s Health, Vogue, Forbes, New York Times and more.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Empowering and inspiring my girls.” 

My family is everything to me - my husband and three daughters who are growing up way too quickly. I cherish our time together as I know that one day I’ll miss the years when they were small. I blend my career and home life because I never want to look back and feel like I lost out on this special time.

At my core, I’m a creator, I innovate and I design. I’m passionate about developing brands, products and stories that people connect with and covet. My roots are in the wine industry and I come from four generations of wine entrepreneurs. Wine is my heritage, but the intersection of wine and beauty is where the magic happens for me. From an early age, beauty products were intoxicating. They were transformative and empowering. Makeup and skincare allowed me to play dress up and be grown up at the same time. I loved watching my Mom do her beauty routine before work in the morning. Her process was mesmerizing. 

In 2018 when I had the idea for SAINT JANE, I never imagined it would affect people in so many positive ways and inspire them to feel happy in their own skin. I started small – sharing our Luxury Beauty Serum that combines 20 different botanicals to heal and nourish the skin.  It took months of trial and error, but we found THE formula and we’re still obsessed, two years after launching it.  Knowing that a product I created impacted people’s skin by helping them to heal, giving them the confidence, and a reason to smile is deeply rewarding.

SAINT JANE has also been a great example for my girls. They see me creating and building the business every day. It’s cute when they come up with their own brand ideas with logos and trademarks. When I was a little girl, I didn’t know what a Brand Creator or Innovation was…now they get to experience it for themselves as they chart their own creative paths.

-Casey Georgeson

Stephanie Nishikawa | Small Business Owner | Paper Garden Boutique

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Stephanie Nishikawa, the owner of the Paper Garden Boutique, a fantastic local gem inside the Pavilions shopping center in Sacramento who just celebrated 14 years in business. Whether it’s handmade wedding invites, holiday cards, gift cards, or other thoughtful gifts, Stephanie’s talents are sure to make a special occasion extra special.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Inspiring my customers with fun and creative paper crafts.”

I always like to keep myself busy by creating cards, handmade gifts from paper and sending “snail mail” to friends and family… that helps pass the time for me and before you know it, there aren’t enough hours in the day!  Playing with happy paper colors and making beautiful gifts is what makes me tick – but more importantly, I like to create to make people happy once they receive these special treasures.

Before I kept my hands busy with scissors, glue, and cardstock, I held a microphone with the KOVR 13 logo and was a tv reporter and fill in anchor at our CBS local news station for 8 years. My career took me all over the world including Guam as a reporter, then back on the mainland to Kansas City, Missouri as the first Asian American tv reporter at Fox station WDAF-TV and finally back to my home state of California.

With the birth of my one and only son Miles, who is now 15,  I decided chasing bad guys wasn’t a good idea anymore.  The daily grind and hustle and bustle of live shots and getting stories on the air wasn’t appealing to me anymore.  I just wanted to be a mom, and create fun stuff.  So, I took a loan from my father in-law and opened up the Paper Garden Boutique.  I have never looked back and each day I am inspired to create fun invitations, cards and paper items to decorate my store.  It’s a dream come true to inspire everyone to do something creative.  I went from a fast moving, non-stop tango and foxtrot to a slow moving sway… as a 52 year old… it’s definitely a dance I don’t mind repeating over and over!

~Stephanie Nishikawa

Mariah Davis | Small Business Owner

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Mariah Davis, a small business owner and partner of Bailarin. She is the founder of Oakview Insurance Services where she enjoys supporting small businesses, families, and individuals with their insurance needs.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Serving others in a time of need.”

The running joke in my industry is that no one knows why they got into insurance.  This certainly holds true for me and like many people, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when I graduated from college. Fortuitously, the idea of being an insurance agent came from one of my favorite television programs at the time. So with nothing to lose at 22 and with no prior experience, I talked Farmers Insurance into giving me an agency contract. This accelerated experience was invaluable to learn the industry and how it can help folks in times of need. I enjoyed running my Farmers Insurance Agency until 2010 but felt compelled to become an independent broker to give my clients a broader range of solutions. This decision was tough as I had to leave all of my old clients behind and start over. My journey had its fair share of lessons and bumps in the road, but I soon hit my stride and have never looked back. Fast forward to today and it was the best decision I ever made! Today, I lead Oakview Insurance Services, Inc. overseeing an amazing team of agents providing insurance services throughout CA, NV and ID. My agency focuses on Auto, Home, Life Farm, Flood, and Business Insurance products.

I love what I do and have a true passion to serve. As an insurance agent, every day is different and tends to present unique challenges and opportunities. One day I’m helping a client navigate through a wildfire claim and another I might be helping a small business or farm secure coverage. These aren’t always easy conversations but helping people through these challenging times can be very rewarding. At the end of the day, I want people to be treated like family, not a transaction.

Early on, I determined I was going to make charitable giving a cornerstone of our agency. I paired my passion of insurance education with regular giving back to the community. Every quarter, Oakview identifies a deserving charity and supports their cause. One of our favorite charities is SAYLOVE. This amazing charity gathers on the last Saturday of the month and invites everyone in the community to participate in a day of community regional beautification. It’s inspiring, uplifting, and so rewarding.

I’m also deeply passionate about breast cancer awareness. In 2020, I was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Luckily, I detected it early on and just recently completed chemotherapy and radiation. The most important thing I learned throughout my journey was that a with a positive outlook and support, you can overcome anything. One pillar of support for me was Amy Carraba, a board member of Albie Aware. I am very excited for Bailarin Cellars to support Albie Aware for the entire month of October!

Emilee Rudd | Artist

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Emilee Rudd, a designer, lettering artist, illustrator, and muralist who strives to create visual stories and impactful, intricate moments with design. From brand identity & logos to lettering artwork, illustrative packaging to impactful murals, and everything in between, she loves nothing more than to work with a client to achieve a bespoke visual solution. You can find her work at established international corporate brands to local hometown businesses including Bailarin Cellars, Insight Coffee Roasters, and more.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE

"Telling a person’s story through visual design."

I love hearing about someone's journey to where they are and their goals throughout life. It's always a treat to connect visual creativity to celebrate one's story. When I have the opportunity to use my love of art to benefit another, I feel like it gives so much more depth to the piece. Art is meant to be shared and should speak to the world, so whenever I have a successful collaboration it makes my soul dance. It feels like honor and a privilege to get to create for a living, and I'm grateful for it every day. 

Stefanie Gernert | Small Business Owner

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these heroes and learn from their words of wisdom as we chase our own pursuits.

This month we celebrate Stefanie Gernert, a talented local entrepreneur who started an innovative new spin company All City Riders in The Hardin near the Golden 1 Arena. All City Riders believes that people are what pushes cities forward. It is the energy generated by the people that makes up our civic identity. All City Riders sets out to create a place that represents that energy to help people lead healthier and happier lives. 

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE

"Spreading Positive Energy"

I believe positive energy doesn’t just help us better enjoy our daily lives, it also impacts our health and relationships.  Some days it comes easily and on others we have to work for it.   

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, fitness has acted as a way for me to reset since I was a young child.  I have vivid memories of walking onto the pool deck as an adolescent, carrying what felt like the weight of the world on my shoulders.  Once I powered off the wall in a tight streamline it was like I immediately sliced through the tension of my day, leaving it in the wake behind me. As an adult, I now understand the gift my parents and coaches were giving me.

As a cycle instructor I get to assist people in giving their brains a rest which is key in processing the challenges we face each day.  Each cycling class is an opportunity to add some play into your day, releasing the feel-good endorphins we need to keep ourselves positive. Helping others boost the positive energy they need to face the challenges of their day is extremely rewarding to me.

As an entrepreneur and mother of two young children I often find myself in need of a reset.  The bikes, music and lights at All City Riders are my saving grace.  They are what allows me to shed any unwanted negativity and walk out into the world sporting a smile on my face.  The very smile that I wear when I dance.  

William Weese | Winemaker

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these "dancers" in our hero feature and learn from their words of wisdom.

This month we celebrate our Winemaker, Will Weese, whose love for his craft started early and goes well past production. We are fortunate to work with such a talent who also happens to be a great guy.

Will enjoying the view out near Manchester Ridge Vineyard.

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Finding the hidden beauty in life.”

Growing up in Sonoma County all my life I was surrounded by families that were in the Wine industry.  Watching, learning and practicing; I fell in love with the lifestyle that wine entails. It’s not about drinking, it’s about the company you share it with. The food you consume with it, the relaxation you feel while sipping a glass, that takes away your everyday stress.

I decided at an early age that I wanted to make wine. I set out on an adventure to see the world of wine and learn about the cultures that each wine reflects. My journey took me over seas to working harvest in New Zealand, France, and Chile, along with working harvests here in Napa and Sonoma county. I wanted to encompass both old world and new world styles in creating an identity of my own.  To help shape me as a winemaker.  But the hidden beauty for me was to find that wine is universal, we all create wines to help reflect a culture or to produce a wine that fits the wants and needs of the people that surround it.

I get excited to see how an individual has put their own personal touch on creating something that he/she wants you to see through their eyes.  To portray a place, a pin point on a map, a vineyard that lives in a different microclimate than the vineyard across the street. The sun, the soil, the wind, the fog, all different from place to place. Hillside verses valley, what root structure and trellising is chosen. So many variables that can change the outcome everyday. As a winemaker, I feel responsible to try and put all these hidden beauties inside a bottle, To pay tribute to the land that the vines call home. Not to take away any of it but to enhance each nuance, so that everyone can enjoy, what I get to experience while creating each and every wine.

Beyond that, it’s about the hidden beauty that is discovered in opening each bottle of wine. The sound a cork makes with the anticipation to see what lies inside. I love when others enjoy my wine and experience the hidden beauty for themselves.  Whether with an old friend or family during the holidays. Or maybe just sitting down on the couch and taking a deep breath to calm down from the crazy busy life that we live. When I get a message or a photo from friends telling me they are enjoying my wine, it puts a smile on my face to know I have helped them find a moment of beauty too.  

Molly Brown | Artist & Designer

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these "dancers" in our hero feature and learn from their words of wisdom.

This month we celebrate artist and small business owner, Molly Brown, who so beautifully designed the Bailarín Cellars award-winning label and metal sculpture displayed at our tasting room in Sacramento. 

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Creativity makes me dance.”

I have always been drawn to the creation of art and began designing at a young age. Throughout college, I started out as an apprentice to an interior designer. Paint chips and fabrics were my world. Midway through school I was drawn to graphic design. I received a degree in graphic design and went on to start my own business, Molly Brown Design. 

By experimenting with new mediums, my artwork has evolved to include painting, glassblowing, clay, metal sculptures and digital graphics. Combining these mediums creates opportunities for infinite possibilities for composition. My sculptures are usually abstract with a whimsical twist. I especially love art that require my hands getting dirty. I enjoy bonding with the materials, and want that joy to pass through the artwork to my viewers.

In 2013, I co-founded a local organic juice company, Sun & Soil. In retrospect, I learned that my creative expression went beyond traditional art and in to other facets of my life, including nutrition. Building a company and original products from the ground up was hard work, but also very rewarding. 

During this time, I continued to freelance taking on an array of projects, including logo design for Bailarin Cellars. Despite the time away from drawing, the dancer leapt from my pencil as I sketched the logo in a single night. I had to refine the letters a tad, but not bad for being a little rusty!

This spring, I was working a lot with metal designing art for various clientele. I was excited when Bailarin commissioned their logo in metal at over five foot tall. This project utilized all of my experience from drawing to graphic design to metal work and finish coating. I am proud it is on display for a business that celebrates people who do what they love.

Today I am doing just that as I create business identity systems for new companies to help them with brand development, marketing and advertising. I stay inspired using my imagination daily while continually building my skills to broaden my overall creativity.

Natalee Dyudyuk | Wine Club & Tasting Room Manager

Bailarín Cellars celebrates those who do what they love. Their passion for life is unstoppable and their enthusiasm is infectious. We celebrate these "dancers" in our hero feature and learn from their words of wisdom.

This month we celebrate one of our own, Natalee Dyudyuk, whose love of family and wine pair perfectly at Bailarin.   

WHAT MAKES YOU DANCE?

“Finding the adventure in everyday makes me dance.”

Four years ago my life looked very different than it does today.  During the week I was a School District Administrator organizing construction projects, working with various cities and transportation agencies, making sure teachers and kids had classrooms within which to begin the year anew.  On the weekends, adventure awaited in the form of trips up and down California, mostly with one goal in mind - finding new and exciting wineries to experience, and delicious eateries to encounter.  There were European vacations planned and enjoyed.  And then, something entirely novel was planned; and, nearly three years ago, my husband and I welcomed our first baby - our son, Solomon. 

I had been gainfully employed in some way or another since I was 15 1/2 and I applied for and received a work permit for my first job at local pizza parlor. I have always been proud of the fact that I was good at providing financially for myself; working definitely gave me a sense of purpose.  But when my husband and I decided to add children to our lives, I also made the decision to give that part of myself up - at least for a while.  

Two novel adventures at once - new mother, newly unemployed.  To say that these journeys started off on bumpy terrain may be an understatement.  I was so used to a daily regimen - suits and commutes and coffee and meetings.  Now my world consisted of a tiny human and, well, the coffee was about the only thing that didn’t change. However, I was determined to find my niche in this new world.  

I found it more important than ever to trust my gut; but also, to lean on my support system of family and friends - old and new.  And above all, I found it important to change my perspective on sources of purpose and joy - to understand what it means to see the world through eyes that are just beginning to understand what it means to be alive. Looking through these new lenses has become a necessity for me to thrive in this life, even more so as we welcomed our second baby - our daughter, Nola.

My love for adventure and wine, and my desire to provide for myself and my family, are things that have remained constant throughout many changes.  These are passions that I do not expect to leave me in this lifetime.  This is why, when the opportunity arose for me to become a part of a new family - Bailarín Cellars - I jumped out of my seat and waived my hands around like a crazy person.  When one door closes another one opens… and you never know what new adventures are waiting on the other side.