Laurie Daniel has been a journalist for nearly 30 years and has written about wine since 1993. Although she grew up in wine-deprived surroundings in the Midwest, she quickly developed an interest – some might say obsession – in wine after she moved to California in 1980. Her weekly wine column is published in several California newspapers, including the San Jose Mercury News, and her work has also appeared in magazines such as Food & Wine, Wine Country Living (formerly known as Appellation) and Wine Enthusiast.

Laurie is a frequent judge at wine competitions throughout California. She has traveled extensively in California’s wine appellations and makes regular trips abroad. Laurie and her husband, Steve Jankowski, live among the redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

For AppellationAmerica, Laurie’s beat encompasses Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and San Benito Counties and the diverse range of microclimates that are the basis for the myriad AVAs in this exciting section of California's Central Coast.