Chef Farias Returns to Her Texas Roots, Bringing a Fresh Perspective to the Hill Country Culinary Landscape
AUSTIN, TX (April 22, 2024) — William Chris Wine Company is thrilled to announce the hiring of Julie E. Farias as executive chef. Chef Farias is returning to her native Texas to join the William Chris team with a wealth of experience after making a significant mark in New York.
The San Antonio-born chef began her career at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin before enrolling at the Culinary Institute of America, which brought her to New York. After graduation, Chef Farias worked in hotels and restaurants for over 20 years, spending most of her time learning from chefs such as Daniel Boulud, Andrew Carmellini, and Eric Ripert. In addition, Chef Farias has spent time in the Las Vegas culinary community and as a consultant for projects in Miami and Los Angeles. Notably, Chef Farias worked at James Beard award-winning restaurant Frenchette NYC, her most recent job before her triumphant homecoming to Texas.
“Having Julie join the team has already added tremendous value to our member and guest experience at William Chris Vineyards,” says WCWC Founder and CEO Chris Brundrett. “She’s an outstanding chef and is creating some pretty magical things in the kitchen here at William Chris — we can’t wait to watch her continue to build a world-class culinary program during her time here.”
Chef Farias spearheads all culinary components for on-site experiences, like member release parties, private events and other elevated food & wine pairings hosted on the William Chris Vineyards property, including their seasonal Vineyard Table Experience. She will also consult for WCWC’s remaining Hill Country-based destinations: Lost Draw Wines, Wine for the People and Uplift Vineyard. Chef Farias has seamlessly integrated into her new role, and her expertise in selecting seasonal ingredients that harmonize with the current wine tasting menu helps ensure that guests have as memorable and educational a visit as possible.
“In my role as executive chef for William Chris, I aim to create harmony between the wine offerings and dishes I create by enhancing the flavors,” says Farias. “I want to present the best collaboration opportunities between food and wine to elevate all culinary experiences at William Chris. I leverage my expertise in sourcing, along with my passion for wine, to provide the team with confident choices. And most importantly, I love feeding everyone!”
Chef Farias’ culinary philosophy stems from her desire to stand out among her peers, who wore the same uniforms, worked the same hours and shared the same duties. She is driven by the ability to focus on her craft without limitations. Through this foundation, she is constantly learning — whether it’s new techniques or types of cuisines — to help her succeed as a leader in the culinary world. Chef Farias looks forward to contributing to the impact of William Chris and the Texas Hill Country on the wine world at large.
For more information or to visit William Chris Vineyards, visit https://www.williamchriswines.
ABOUT WILLIAM CHRIS WINE COMPANY
William Chris Wine Company (WCWC) was founded in October 2020 following a merger between business partners Chris Brundrett of William Chris Vineyards and Andrew Sides of Lost Draw. After many years of working closely together in various projects as peers in Texas winemaking, Andrew and Chris blended their businesses and teams to create William Chris Wine Company. Their shared vision of elevating Texas wine and cultivating a place where future leaders in the industry can develop and grow their careers has been a driving force behind their mission. William Chris Wine Company is vineyard-driven, taking a farming-focused, low-intervention approach to winemaking. WCWC is the parent company of the William Chris Vineyards (est. 2008), Lost Draw (est. 2012), Skeleton Key (est. 2015), Grower Project (est. 2015), Yes We Can (est. 2017), Uplift Vineyard (est. 2022), and Wine for the People (est. 2010) brands, and is the leading producer of 100% Texas-grown wines. Throughout the years, William Chris Wine Company properties and wines have won countless awards, including William Chris Vineyards being named as a top 100 winery by World’s Best Vineyards in both 2022 and 2023. They also have had wines selected in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Texas Monthly Vinters Cups. In 2022 the William Chris Wanderer Series Relief Project III made R.H. Drexel’s Top 50 Wines Of 2022, and the William Chris 2020 Roussanne, La Pradera Vineyards was awarded 92 points from Decanter Magazine. For a full press kit and more information, please visit williamchriswines.com.
