Q&A With Karen Francis DeGolia: Bringing Limerick Lane Cellars to Michigan for the TLF Wine Tasting

As we look ahead to this year’s Ted Lindsay Foundation Wine Tasting, we are excited to welcome back Karen DeGolia of Limerick Lane Cellars. Karen brings not only exceptional wine, but also a deeply personal story rooted in history, heart and meaningful connection.

In this Q&A, Karen shares more about her journey back to Limerick Lane, what makes the vineyard so special, her philosophy on winemaking and why supporting an event like this matters to her.

Q: Can you share a little about your history with Limerick Lane and what it felt like when you realized you had the opportunity to return?

Karen DeGolia: I’m someone who truly believes things happen for a reason. That mindset has guided me throughout my life, even in moments when I didn’t fully understand why something was happening at the time.

When I learned in 2021 that Limerick Lane Cellars was for sale, I was stunned. I would have thought I would have known, but the owner didn’t realize I had any interest in coming back. I went home after that conversation and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Then I had to make a decision: was I really going to reach out? Because once you do, you’re in it.

I waited about two weeks, then decided I needed to find out if it was true. It was. That moment led to a lot of reflection about what I wanted the rest of my life to look like. I had worked very hard in my career and had reached a point where this was actually possible. At a stage when many people choose to narrow things down, I decided I wanted my life to open up in a whole new way.

It was exciting. It was a little scary. It felt like coming home, while also stepping into something entirely new.

Q: Sonoma County has no shortage of vineyards. What makes Limerick Lane so distinctive?

Karen DeGolia: Limerick Lane is in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, but our location is truly unique. We sit on the furthest inland edge of the valley, which means we get some of the warmest temperatures there, while still benefiting from the cool fog that rolls in from the ocean. That combination of cool and hot creates an incredibly interesting microclimate, which is especially ideal for Zinfandel and our other Rhône varieties.

Beyond geography, the history of the vineyard is remarkable. Our oldest vines were planted in 1910 by an Italian immigrant named Mario DeFalva, and we still farm five and a half acres of that original block today. Those vineyards are a huge part of our identity.

In today’s wine industry, many old vineyards are being removed because they produce lower yields. For us, preserving them is part of honoring our heritage. It’s also part of how I think about sustainability and conservation. These vines matter. They tell a story.

On a personal level, we’ve also become very close with the DeFalva family, which makes that history feel even more alive and meaningful.

Q: In your bio, you describe your philosophy as “hands off, eyes on.” What does that mean in practice?

Karen DeGolia: It starts in the vineyard. We farm as sustainably as possible, and that means using a very thoughtful, light-touch approach. We bring in sheep to graze our cover crops instead of relying only on tractors. A lot of our weed work is done by hand. We’re very intentional in how we care for the land.

That same philosophy extends into the winemaking. Our winemaker, Chris Pittenger, comes from a Pinot Noir background, and that has a big influence on his approach. Pinot is a much more delicate grape than Zinfandel, so it requires more gentleness in the winemaking process. Chris applies that same level of care to Zinfandel.

The result is a style of wine that’s elegant, balanced, and lighter than what many people expect from a Zin. It’s a very different expression, and I think that’s part of what makes our wines so special.

Q: Do you have a personal favorite wine from Limerick Lane?

Karen DeGolia: I do. It’s our Marquis.

I love it because it’s a blend of fruit from five vineyards that are each over 100 years old. That includes our own estate vineyard along with several other historic vineyards we source from. It’s a beautiful expression of old-vine heritage.

The easiest way to describe it is this: there are 500 years of history in that bottle.

Any time someone tastes it, they’re blown away. It’s just a really beautiful wine.

Q: When people taste your wines, what do you hope they feel or experience?

Karen DeGolia: I answer that in two ways, because tasting the wine on the property is very different from opening a bottle somewhere else.

At Limerick Lane, we do our tastings right in the middle of the vineyard. Guests are surrounded by the vines. They can literally reach out and touch the leaves, the clusters, the history. It’s an immersive experience, and there are very few places that offer that kind of connection. We want people to feel the magic of Limerick Lane while they’re there.

When someone opens one of our bottles at home, I hope they experience the elegance and balance of the wine, but also the care, love, and attention that went into it. I hope they feel the heritage behind it and understand that what’s in the glass is something deeply rooted in place and history.

Q: Your life and career have taken some unexpected turns. What advice would you give others about trusting timing and embracing opportunity?

Karen DeGolia: When I look back, I never could have predicted the path my life would take. In many ways, it makes no logical sense. The only thing that really explains it is curiosity and a willingness to say yes to things that sounded interesting.

One of those moments was moving to Michigan. I didn’t know anyone there. I wasn’t a car person. I wasn’t an engineer. I came from a marketing background in consumer products, so joining General Motors didn’t seem like an obvious move. But I said yes. I told all my friends I’d be there for two years. I ended up staying close to nine.

That experience changed my life.

So my advice is simple: say yes. Try it. If it doesn’t work, you can always adjust. But you’ll never know what you might miss if you don’t take the chance.

Q: As you continue leading Limerick Lane into the future, what excites you most about what’s ahead?

Karen DeGolia: The wines keep getting better every year, which is exciting in itself. Our scores continue to rise, and it’s rewarding to see the recognition for what we’re doing.

At the same time, the wine industry is facing challenges, and small wineries really do need support. That makes it even more important for us to connect with new people and invite them to experience what makes Limerick Lane special.

One thing I’m especially excited about is expanding the ways people can experience the property. We have a 53-acre estate and two homes on-site, so guests can stay there and really immerse themselves in it. We’re also hosting more events, celebrations, and retreats that allow people to gather in a very meaningful setting.

For me, it all comes back to helping people experience the magic of Limerick Lane.

Q: Why was it important to you to be part of the Ted Lindsay Foundation Wine Tasting?

Karen DeGolia: There’s actually a very personal connection there for me. My very first job was teaching ice skating. I taught the children of Philadelphia Flyers players how to skate, and skating was a huge part of my life growing up. Later, when I moved to Michigan, the Red Wings were such a big part of the energy and culture there. I was lucky enough to attend games during an incredible era for the team, and those memories stayed with me.

So for me, being connected to an event tied to Ted Lindsay and the Red Wings feels very natural. There’s heart in it.

I also really respect the way sports can bring people together around a meaningful cause. Events like this give people a chance to connect over something they care about, celebrate something special, and support important work at the same time. That kind of alignment means a lot to me.

Q: When guests meet you and taste your wines at this year’s event, what do you hope they take away?

Karen DeGolia: I hope they feel the same kind of connection to Limerick Lane that I feel to Michigan.

My time in Michigan was incredibly important to me. It shaped so much of my life and career, and it still remains a meaningful part of who I am. I still have strong ties here, and I still care deeply about the people and the place.

There aren’t many wineries that come into an event like this with that kind of connection to Michigan. I hope guests feel that this is about more than just tasting wine. I hope they feel the story behind it, the sincerity behind it, and the invitation to be part of something special.

Join Us in May

Karen will be joining the Ted Lindsay Foundation Wine Tasting in May to share Limerick Lane Cellars wines and the story behind them. We hope you’ll be part of this special evening supporting TLF’s mission.

For event details and tickets, visit tedlindsay.org.