The married co-founders—alongside Brandi and Catherine Carlile—of XOBC Cellars talk about diversity, the state’s incredible wine terroir, and what they love about living in Seattle.
Interview by Malia Alexander
Amy and Jeri Andrews Hilary McMullen
ON WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT WASHINGTON WINE
Jeri: We are insanely fortunate in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Walla Walla Valley in particular, to have some of the best soil for growing anything. What’s also special is all the love that goes into it—the winemaking talent we have here is incredible.
Amy: And that’s what we all gravitate towards. We’re really about allowing the wine to speak for itself and letting that Washington terroir come out in the glass.
ON FAVORITE LOCAL WINE HANGOUTS
Amy: We love The Corson Building (H5609 Corson Ave S) and the wines they curate to accompany their seasonal, local food. Barking Frog (14580 NE 14th St) in Woodinville also has an amazing wine lineup. Le Caviste (1919 Seventh Ave) is great for sipping, as is POP Culture Champagne Bar (42 Lakeshore Plaza) in Kirkland. Of course, we recommend enjoying a bottle of XOBC Cellars at Loupe Lounge (400 Broad St), atop the Space Needle.
ON BEING AN LGBTQ- AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESS IN a MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY
Jeri: We want to make great wines that all people—Gen Xers, Gen Zers, women, the LGBTQ+ community, people of color—can explore and learn about while also feeling welcomed at the table. That, and diversifying our industrusty, is a really big driver for us.
ON GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Amy: The Looking Out Foundation, which was begun by Brandi Carlile in 2007, enables a number of invaluable organizations to receive funds that they so desperately need. We echo that ethos by allocating our profits to the foundation. Community means everything to us. XOBC doesn’t have wine club “members,” for instance, but rather a community of “collectors.” There’s a double meaning there: people collect wine, but they also collect goodness in the world.
ON HOW YOU SPEND YOUR FREE TIME
Amy: If we’re not working, we’re on our boat. Our favorite thing to do is have a picnic on the water, with that amazing view of the city.
Jeri: We also support the Storm in a big way, and we love going to Seahawks and Mariners games. We’re just huge fans of Seattle. I cannot believe that we get to look out at our view in Magnolia and see the water and the mountains. We feel so lucky to live in this city!
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