Alumni

A Double Don Growing Through the Grapevines

by Garrett Starr, Office of Development Communications

Daniela Bazán ’06, MS ’18

For Daniela Bazán ’06, MS ’18, leaving her childhood home of Napa Valley for college initially felt like a big leap, but moving south across the Golden Gate was just the beginning. Bazán springboarded her USF education into experiences abroad — experiences which eventually helped deepen her roots, strengthen her legacy, and mold community contributions back where it all began. 

Daniela Bazán was raised in the wine industry. Her father, Mario Bazán, arrived in Napa Valley from Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1973. By the time she was born, he was employed as a supervisor at a local winery. She grew up playing in the soil of two of Napa’s most famous vineyards.

Old photo of the Bazán family playing in Napa’s vineyards

In 2005, the family launched Bazán Cellars with a small production of Cabernet Sauvignon exclusively. The family business has grown, now operating a Downtown Napa tasting room for the past seven years, and scaling up to a larger location in 2023.

Bazán Cellars is generously sharing its tasting room and expertise with the USF community by hosting A Taste of the North Bay, an event for USF alumni, families, and community members on May 17, 2026.

As the first in her family to attend college, Daniela’s academic journey began at USF with a degree in Spanish and Latin American studies. During her undergraduate years, she took full advantage of the opportunities at her fingertips, travelling globally, engaging in activism, and participating in two living-learning communities, including enrolling as a Martín-Baró scholar.

“I had no clue what I was getting myself into heading off to college, but through the living-learning communities and study abroad, I met two incredible women with Oaxacan roots,” said Bazán. “At USF, there was a lot of support and recognition for the contributions of Oaxacan culture, whether to cuisine or to the arts. I hadn't experienced that before. In Napa, there wasn't a strong Oaxacan culture at the time.”

Bazán as a USF undergraduate in Chile
Bazán as a USF undergraduate in Chile

She says her USF path afforded her a lot of creativity and flexibility, including trips with professors abroad to Chile, India, El Salvador (on an Aruppe Immersion), and a semester abroad in Oaxaca.

Bazán is a lifelong learner, earning her master of arts in environmental management from USF.

“I studied nothing directly related to viticulture and oenology,” says Bazán. “I never have, but I ended up making my way back to Napa. I've been working for almost 20 years now, helping oversee vineyard operations for our clients, but also for our wines, and helping behind the scenes.”

Bazán is continually striving for the betterment of the land community where she was raised. She recently completed a Napa-based leadership program for vintners and is working to promote ecologically sustainable farming practices.

“I have worked with experts and a local institute in creating farm plans and maps for native plant habitat, achieving ‘fish friendly farming’ and ‘bee friendly farming’ certifications,” says Bazán. “Napa Valley is our home. It’s where we grow our families, work, explore different hobbies — and where we are committed to preserving the land, our community, and the art of winemaking.”

Join the USF community at A Taste of the North Bay, hosted by Daniela Bazán and Bazán Cellars on May 17, 2026.