Aaron Coe, Owner & Winemaker
Aaron Coe, an Idaho native with deep culinary roots, comes from a lineage of cooks (Coe means ‘cook’) dating back to 14th-century England—reflected in the family crest displayed on every Coe Cellars bottle. Born and raised in Boise, Aaron discovered his passion for cooking at the age of six and continues to regularly delight friends and family with his expert, self-taught skills.
Aaron’s professional journey began humbly at 15 as a dishwasher at Bogus Basin Ski Lodge. He soon transitioned into fine dining, spending five years as a server at Boise’s renowned Desert Sage. In 2001, he moved to Portland, Oregon, to work at Genoa, the top-rated restaurant in the state. During his seven years there—the last two of which he spent running the wine program—Aaron immersed himself in the world of food and wine.
Exquisite Sangiovese and Riserva Wines
His introduction to winemaking came through Dick Erath, a 1960s pioneer of Oregon’s wine industry, who taught him the foundation of winemaking. On his days off, Aaron eagerly worked at local wineries, gaining hands-on experience in the craft of winemaking. A pivotal trip to Italy deepened his love for wine and inspired him to expand his career into winemaking. Working with Italian wine importer Casa Bruno over eight years, Aaron developed expertise in Italian wines and formed connections with some of Italy’s top winemakers, learning their traditional techniques and imbuing their family’s generational knowledge, tips, and tricks into each vintage of wine he made back home in the States.
In 2010, Aaron founded Coe Cellars with a vision: to create Old World style wines using the vibrant fruit of the Pacific Northwest. His first vintage featured Sangiovese grapes – the grape used in Chianti – sourced from Dick Boushey’s vineyard in Columbia Valley, Washington, a varietal that remains the hallmark of Coe Cellars’ lineup. Over the years, Aaron has collaborated with premium growers in Walla Walla, WA, and crafted his wines at an urban co-op in Portland.
In 2022, Aaron met his life and business partner, Marisa, who joined him in the winemaking journey. Together, they doubled production in 2023, setting the stage for Coe Cellars to evolve into its own winery and tasting room in Idaho. In 2024, operations moved to Caldwell, Idaho, where they now create exceptional wines with plans to open a tasting room, dedicated winery, and launch the Coe Cellars Wine Club in the near future.