About Us
Our Story
Taste Collection Cellars is owned and operated Chef Rhonda Russell is an Executive Chef of Wine Arts and Winemaker, owner of Taste Collection Cellars. As the only African-American female to carry this title in the U.S. she works tirelessly to not only teach and educate and demystify food and wine lovers on unique flavor pairings and combinations she is also passionate on educating children on the love of good food.
Chef Rhonda volunteers often at the Houston Food Bank and also teach the youth fourth in Houston, Texas how to cook their own food using fresh, healthy and local ingredients. She also just launched the Taste the World Subscription Box- a subscription box for worldly wine lovers where she can share her extensive wine and food knowledge with the general public.
Born and raised in the deep food culture of Louisiana, it didn’t take long for Chef Rhonda Russell to discover her passion for food. Many of her best childhood memories revolve around food and days spend absorbing every bit of knowledge from her grandmother’s kitchen- and dishes, lot of dishes.
With her passion for food ignited, Rhonda pursued formal training at the Culinary Business Academy in Rio Rancho New Mexico, earning the title of a Certified Personal Chef. Rhonda then began a career as a personal Chef in her city of Houston, TX with a particular focus on Creole and Cajun cooking. Shortly after, she began training at the International Wine Guild, completing her studies in Old World and New World wine regions, earning the title, Executive Chef of Wine Arts.
With her advanced knowledge of food and wine, Chef Rhonda enjoys finding ways to bring out the superb taste in a wide array of food through colorful food combinations and inspired wine pairings. Her keen sense of taste, brought her to become a winemaker and create her own wine collection- Taste Collection Cellars. Chef Rhonda’s passion now is to educate and demystify both wine and the food that first sparked her imagination- Creole and Cajun cooking. Chef Rhonda is a member of the world-renowned United States Personal Chefs Association, James Beard Foundation, and the International Wine Guild as a Certified Wine Sommelier and Executive Chef of Wine Arts. Food Network’s “Cooks vs Cons” – Contestant (Season 2, 2016)
Our Land
Step into our family-owned winery in the heart of the Lodi, CA and experience the best of the wine country. Surrounded by our estate vineyard, Taste Collection Cellars is recognized for its outstanding Chardonnay, Malbec, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Rose' Frizzante and our new dessert Zinfandel!
Even in the most developed areas, natural waterways are some of the last natural habitats still present. Birds, reptiles, fish, mammalians are just a few of the species that would not exist without waterways being in their natural state. We pride ourselves in bringing awareness and respect for preservation of our natural waterways. Mokelumne River is our pride and joy.
Water plays such an important part in everyone's life. The United States has 3,500,000 miles of rivers and streams. Our guardianship begins UPSTREAM and continues as it flows into the ocean. We can all agree how precious water is and we all want to be conscientious in protecting it, as well as enjoying it. Our river's are a wonderful resource for recreation, white water rafting, kayaking, paddle board, water skiing, fishing and much more. Our water ways refresh us and renew the soul!
Our Wines
Our Artisan collection consists of wines representing a mélange from the northern portion of California's Central Valley. Taste Collection Cellars and Chef of Wine Arts Rhonda Russell make and distribute her wines under five labels all inspired from her Southern upbringing in Louisiana with her grandparents she truly adored and looked up to.
Named on four of her labels: Vivian Chardonnay, Raymond Malbec, Isabelle Sauvignon Blanc, Henry Old Vine Zinfandel and her very first Vintage That Southern Taste, Syrah Rose. Each Varietal has a story of her life growing up in the South in Louisiana. The wines are carried in selected wine shops, online and Tastings by appointment