Helen Turley is an American winemaker and wine consultant, known for bringing several Californian cult wines to the public awareness, and as the owner of a 9-acre (3.6 ha) boutique winery, Marcassin Vineyard.[1]
Turley has also fostered other consultants, such as Mark Aubert, Philippe Melka, and Heidi Barrett.[2] In addition to consulting for wineries such as Pahlmeyer, Bryant Family Vineyard, Colgin and Blankiet,[2] until 1995, she was the winemaker for Turley Wine Cellars.[3][4]
In 2001, the Roy Estate hired Turley and her husband, John Wetlaufer, to design their 17-acre (6.9 ha) Napa Valley vineyard and for Turley to serve as consulting winemaker. After making Roy Estate's 2003 & 2004 vintages, Turley canceled the arrangement in March 2005. The following September, the owners of Roy Estate filed a lawsuit against Turley and Wetlaufer alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court in May 2006.[5]