Alongside key women winemakers who have staked their claim in the Pacific Northwest, Way Out West began with the desire to offer Washington and Oregon wines crafted with a deft hand and a fresh, local sensibility. Spearheading the Pinot Noir project, for example, is artisan producer Anne Hubatch, founder of Helioterra Wines in Portland, OR, and well-known for her hard-working, hands-on approach to her craft. "She's a force of nature" says Way Out West curator Jeff Cox. "She gets up in the morning and gets it done!" Early on, Anne earned a degree in Geology and Environmental Studies, knowing that her future career would be tied to the outdoors and the land. To this day, her terroir-driven style reflects that same deep connection. For the Way Out West Pinot Noir, grapes are sourced in the Willamette Valley AVA, which "is a true place, a whole environment... not just a production address."

Just over the Columbia River, French-born winemaker Frédérique Vion is the woman behind Way Out West's Washington Red Blend and Sauvignon Blanc. A native of Provence, Frédérique grew up with a great love for rosé... but has gone on to master winemaking in all its iterations. After earning a degree in agronomy from Perpignan University and a master’s in winemaking and viticulture at Toulouse University, she worked first in the Haut-Médoc region of France (near Bordeaux), then in Australia. Ultimately, her world tour led her to the Pacific NW, where she served as winemaker and cellar master for Sagelands Vineyards in eastern Washington for many years. Then, in 2012, she found a home at the family-owned Four Feathers Wine Services. There, as Head Winemaker, she oversees a vast array of projects based on Washington wines and spanning the whole of the Columbia Valley.