Ana Diogo-Draper
USA
Ana's Wines
- USA
- 13 wines
- 4 styles
Portuguese winemaker who's made California her home
- Since she first landed in California as an intern, Ana Diogo-Draper has worked her way through the ranks, quickly becoming Director of Winemaking at a Napa winery and an award-winning ambassador for Portuguese wines.
- Ana gets to work with some of the best vineyards in California’s Sonoma and Amador counties – plus her native Portugal – because of YOU.
- Ana is passionate about creating wines with structure and elegance, and loves introducing new varieties to Angels under her own independent label. With your support, she has no limits.
Ana Diogo-Draper's Story
Portuguese-born Ana Diogo-Draper, one of Naked’s winemakers since the early years, had an ah-ha moment in college while studying agricultural engineering. She took a class under a talented and inspiring winemaker and was immediately smitten by the detail and creativity. She became a research assistant in the university’s experimental cellar and worked harvest in Alentejo.
Ana’s 2004 harvest internship in Napa was a pivotal moment in her life. Working alongside inspiring women, she realized her winemaking dream was possible and never looked back. During her second harvest in California, she met her future husband and never returned to Portugal. She quickly worked her way from harvest intern to director of winemaker.
As your independent winemaker, Ana’s won a number of awards, including a Gold at the prestigious 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards for her 2020 Amador County Touriga Nacional – the first Decanter medal ever awarded in the region..
Ana describes her winemaking style as hands-off, intuitive, terroir driven, fruit forward and bold. She especially likes to play with lesser-known varieties as much as everyday favorites. "A little inside secret – winemakers love to make wines that they love to drink," she said.
She makes Cabernet Sauvignon, but also Portuguese varieties like Tempranillo and Touriga Nacional. Tempranillo is one of her favorites because it is a very terroir-driven variety. “Temprano means early…Tempranillo is an early ripening grape that gives me a sense of the vintage first, which shapes my winemaking approach,” she said.
Ana’s lineup includes wines from Amador County in California’s Sierra Foothills, Sonoma’s Moon Mountain and Alexander Valley, Pine Mountain on the edge of Mendocino County, and Portugal. She has long term relationships with growers in these areas that give her access to premium fruit.
Because of Angel support, Ana is living her dream. “I was very lucky to join Naked when it came to California. I wanted to be an independent winemaker, work on the wines I wanted to, pitch the wines I wanted to make, know my worth and be fearless,” said Ana. “I also love being a part of the Angel community.”
Ana's Archangels
I love cooking with wine ... Sometimes I even put it in the food!
I am a RETIRED computer geek that worked for a large consumer products company. I have always liked wine to a certain extent since I was old enough to drink it (or my parents would let me try it). However, I was seriously bit by the wine bug a number of years ago and began trying everything! I'm more partial to reds and sparklers than whites (especially sweet wines - color me dry), but love trying them all! Bas vers le haut!
