Meet Stephanie Cuadra of Terrestoria Wine Imports

Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I actually marvel at how I ended up where I am today, in the world of wine, that is—because nothing could have been further from my aspirations as a girl growing up in Pasadena, California. In fact, one of my first jobs after graduating from Georgetown University landed me in Venezuela where I covered Hugo Chavez’s 1998 presidential bid as a staff writer for the Daily Journal of Caracas. And it was journalism that would inspire me to take a deep dive into geopolitics through intensive self-study which led me to successfully sit the U.S. Foreign Service exam. However, one of my greatest disappointments would follow soon after, when I was turned down by the State Department due to a painfully poor performance during the oral assessment in Washington.

It would require far too many characters—not only in words, but especially people—to relate the numerous twists and turns of life that inspired me to become a wine merchant in Utah and winemaker in Italy. Curiously, it was that diplomatic calling left unfulfilled all those years ago that guided me into a vocation in wine. Suffice it to say that the path to wine was long and circuitous, yet I can’t imagine any other industry where my most unwavering interests—global affairs, history, intergroup relations and lifelong learning—could possibly intersect in a more profound way.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not quite. Because in this case, the road wasn’t even paved. That being said, it’s in my nature to venture off into uncharted territory, so I suppose one gets what one asks for. I find the prospect of possibly altering the status quo irresistible. So when I founded Terrestoria Wine Imports in 2016, the prevailing assumption that importing fine wine to Utah would be a futile pursuit indicated an opportunity because no one in mainstream distribution was paying attention to the unprecedented growth in local demand for beverage alcohol—particularly for fine wine.

It has taken the better part of the past six years to lay the groundwork for a business model that champions artisan wine producers and engages directly with consumers, while vocally promoting Utah and its dynamic economy in a new light. Patience, perseverance, and pure stubbornness have been essential. What began as a single-wine import on behalf of a Galician winery has grown into a deliberately curated portfolio of indie wines from across Italy and Spain—many of which have made pivotal U.S. market debuts by way of Utah.

Any big plans?
There is perpetual work in progress behind the scenes at Terrestoria—which now represents sixteen small family wineries including Lasorte Cuadra, which is a big development not to mention a very personal one. My husband Roberto and I founded the winery in 2019 from our farm in Valle d’Itria, Puglia. The annual production of our generational field blend Silos is only about 7000 bottles, half of which is exported directly to Utah, of course.

Every day is now a careful balancing act between the countless demands of Lasorte Cuadra’s winemaking operations and all the moving parts of Terrestoria’s growing portfolio. It’s a lot. Yet there is cohesion in it all. From where I stand today, the future looks bright for artisan wines in Utah and beyond.