Saturday, November 01, 2025 | By: SML Fine Wines
It is our pleasure to welcome Stephanie Cook of Wonderment Wines, California for our November Producer Showcase. Learn a little more about the fascinating journey that led her to Wonderment below:
Born and raised in Leesville, South Carolina, Stephanie began traveling the world as a fashion model, living and working in London, Milan and Istanbul.
Landing back in South Carolina, this time in Charleston, she turned her lifelong love of food into a new career, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University. After staging in a restaurant in Milan, she returned to the incredible food, history and beauty of Charleston. Stephanie put her hospitality and entrepreneurial skills to the test, creating and leading the successful special events and catering company, Bridgeside Events, which she later sold.
All the while, her secret dream to become a winemaker waited patiently for its moment. After losing her dad unexpectedly, the man who made homemade Muscadine wine in the laundry room, it motivated her to make her dream of becoming a winemaker become a reality.
Not long after, she met Bob Biale of Robert Biale Vineyards at a industry event in New York City and informed Bob that she was coming to work for him. True to her word, she worked that year's harvest in Napa, soaking up every bit of knowledge she could.
In 2011, she bought her own grapes and made her first Pinot Noir and two Zinfandels. In 2012, she continued honing her skills at Spottswoode, a family wine estate in St. Helena - and fell ever more in love with winemaking. In 2013, she was the senior intern at Anomaly Vineyards working with acclaimed winemaker Mark Porembski. In spring of 2014 Stephanie decided to go down under to New Zealand, specifically to Marlborough and spend 3 months in the role of Vintage Winemaker for Spy Valley Wines. During the 2014 Napa/Sonoma harvest Stephanie worked harvest at Staglin Family Vineyard with winemaker Frederik Johansson.
Stephanie continues to live in Charleston, SC with her adorable 12-year old son. The rest, as they say, is history - or, as we like to say, a balancing act.
Meet Stephanie and her beautiful vintages at our November 14th wine tasting from 4-7pm.