A great wine reveals something about the person who made it. Winemaker Stephanie Edge draws on her incredible life experience to pour her passion and creativity into every bottle of Turning Leaf wine.

The child of German immigrants who settled in Australia, Stephanie had a distinctly European upbringing set against the backdrop of the adventurous "Down Under" spirit. This meant wine was on the table at family meals, and Stephanie grew up with a yearning to travel abroad. At 18, she embarked on a six-year backpacking journey that would take her to 73 countries across six continents.

With the world as her classroom, Stephanie immersed herself in different cultures, learning their unique ways of living – and cooking. Travelling taught Stephanie about different spices, herbs and culinary techniques. It also taught her a thing or two about wine.

"Being exposed to so many diverse cultures and lifestyles opened my eyes to a different view of the world," says Stephanie. "I discovered such an incredible variety of food and wine. As a winemaker, I bring those sensory experiences with me into the cellar."

Fascinated by the wineries she encountered during her travels, Stephanie returned home to earn her bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science Oenology from the University of Adelaide. She also gained hands-on experience in the vineyards and cellars of Australia's famed Yarra Valley. An exchange program at the University of California at Davis brought Stephanie into the world of California winemaking. Today, as a senior winemaker, Stephanie leads the award-winning winemaking team for Turning Leaf.

"I love that I get to visit vineyards all over California and then experiment with our highest quality grapes in the winery," says Stephanie. "Drawing on my experiences and bringing my own creativity to the winemaking process is very fulfilling."