If you hear the word “Damsel” and immediately think of a girl in a silk dress waiting for a knight to show up on a horse, you clearly haven’t met Mari Womack. At Damsel Cellars, “Not all Damsels are in Distress” isn’t just a catchy tagline on a bottle; it’s a lifestyle. Mari didn’t get into this business by waiting for a rescue. She fell in love with wine while working in the Seattle restaurant scene. When she decided to make the wine rather than serving it, she paved her path by hauling hoses, scrubbing tanks, and working her tail off in the trenches.
From “Order Up” to “Bottoms Up”
Before Mari was “The Damsel” of Woodinville, she spent over twenty years in what she calls the “trenches” of the Seattle restaurant scene. It wasn’t a classroom where she fell in love with wine and it definitely was not in a vineyard. Instead, her story begins with working to put herself through college by working in hospitality. The wine and food she was delivering to tables was more than she could actually afford. One truth about Mari is that she is a hustler. Between shifts, she earned a degree in landscape design and horticulture and spent time in the real estate world.
When the 2008 market shift hit, Mari decided to stop talking about making wine and actually do it. It was the kick in the pants she needed to start following her true dream. She volunteered at wineries which in turn culminated in a now-famous “barter” with winemaker Darby English. The trade off; Mari would run his tasting room and he would teach her how to make wine. From practicing forklift turns in the parking lot to processing 85 tons of grapes a year, By the time she was masterfully navigating a forklift through a crowded cellar, it was pretty clear to everyone that this was one Damsel who had no intention of waiting around for a rescue.
Giving the Father Grape Center Stage
So, how did a self-taught winemaker with a landscape degree and a killer work ethic end up falling for Cabernet Franc? Easy; their personalities are the same. In the wine world, Cab Franc is often treated like the red headed step-child. Mostly known as being responsible for the legendary Cabernet Sauvignon, but people don’t always know what to do expect when he shows up on his own. Cab Franc can be a little herbal, a little spicy, and if you don’t treat him right; his attitude will shine through.
For Mari, that was exactly the draw. While other winemakers were chasing the “easy win” of crowd-pleasing blends, she saw a varietal that didn’t need to be softened or saved. She found that when you source from the right spots—like the rugged, sun-drenched soils of Boushey Vineyard, Cabernet Franc reveals a strength that is entirely its own. It’s a grape that mirrors her own path: it’s got grit, it’s got layers, and it doesn’t apologize for being a little different. Mari didn’t just “find” Cabernet Franc; she recognized a kindred spirit in a grape that refuses to be boring.
The Dynamic Duo: Lara Croft meets John McClane
At Damsel Cellars, there is no “delicate.” If you look at Mari’s journey—the restaurant hustle, the literal heavy lifting, and the grit it took to build this brand, she’s the Lara Croft of Woodinville. She’s tactical, she’s highly skilled, and she’s probably already three steps ahead of the terrain. But every great lead needs a partner who can take a hit and keep on swinging.
That’s where the 2022 Boushey Vineyard Cabernet Franc comes in. If Mari is the refined adventurer, her Cab Franc is the John McClane of the cellar. It’s the Die Hard of grapes. It shows up to the party a little rugged, maybe smelling a bit like tobacco and earth, and definitely not wearing a tuxedo. While other wines are busy looking pretty in the glass, this Cab Franc is getting the job done on the palate.
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The “Yippee-Ki-Yay” Aromatics: It doesn’t lead with perfume; it leads with presence. The 2022 vintage hits you with a punch of savory herbs, black pepper, and that classic “pencil-shaving” graphite. It’s the scent of complexity.
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The “Main Event” Texture: Just like McClane, this wine has a legendary backbone. This wine has an athletic tannin structure that is built to go the distance. It’s got the muscle to command the table but the wit to keep things interesting.
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The Unstoppable Hero: Cabernet Franc is a varietal with serious staying power and this wine isn’t just “getting by.” It’s owning the glass. It delivers bright, defiant red fruit and a finish that lingers long after the credits roll.
When you pair Mari’s precision with the “never-say-die” attitude of this grape, you get a wine that doesn’t just sit there—it performs. It’s sophisticated enough for a mission, but rugged enough to handle a rough night. It’s the hero we didn’t know we needed, and just like Damsel Cellars’ tagline says, it certainly doesn’t need rescuing.
~Slàinte!
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