About
Megan Couture is a one-woman show making her mark on the Central Washington wine scene. But before she was a winery owner, she was a Saint, right here at Carroll College.
Carroll’s Catholic roots, small size, and liberal arts education drew Couture to Helena in 2001. In 2005, she graduated with a major in History and a minor in Theology. During her time at Carroll, Couture said that she appreciated the rigorous academic standards and the strong sense of community. “My best friends now are people that I met at Carroll,” she said. Couture credits her academic advisor, Father Sullivan, as one of the most influential people during her time here. His high standards and challenging classes were formative in her college years. Couture recalled, “I loved the way he taught; he’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.” In addition to her academic commitment, Megan was involved in Campus Ministry and enjoyed hanging out at the General Merch on Last Chance Gulch off-campus.
After graduation, Megan Couture spent several months traveling in Europe before joining the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Philadelphia. After completing her service term, she worked as a Youth Minister for a parish in Enumclaw, Washington, before returning to Europe. Eventually, Megan returned to her hometown of Quincy, Washington, and worked at a café and coffee shop owned by her friends. During this time, Couture became friends with a local winemaker at a wine bar in town and began working there part-time.
After a few years of learning and leaning into her passion for winemaking, Couture was encouraged to start her own winery. Her grandfather gifted her her inheritance early so that she could start her business, saying that he would rather be here to watch her succeed at her dream.
In 2011, Errant Cellars launched with one barrel of wine, a red blend named Henry’s Red, in honor of her grandfather Daniel Henry, who helped Couture get started. Megan gradually grew her business, adding a few new wines each year, starting with reds and expanding to whites and then rosés. Couture sources all of her grapes locally, making her business a true Central Washington winery.
Like other agricultural businesses, winemaking follows a seasonal cycle. Fall is harvest season, when the grapes are harvested, crushed, and processed. The wine is then stored in barrels to age for 18 to 48 months for reds and 6 months for whites. Winter is the slow season with fewer tourists, and spring brings blending, tasting, and bottling. Summer is busy with tourists in the tasting room.
Couture says that while many people think her job is all fun and games, it’s actually a lot of intensive manual labor. While her husband, family, and friends step in to help during busy times, for the most part, Couture is a one-woman show. Her favorite part of the job is the actual making of the wine. “I’m more introverted,” said Couture. “I like the solitude of the cellar.” She explained that she loves checking the barrels, figuring out how to fix problems with the wine, and enjoys working in a career that combines both art and science.
Couture said that her time at Carroll helped drive her to the place in life where she is now. She explained that the liberal arts education allowed her to take a wide range of classes, giving her a diverse set of knowledge and experiences. Megan also credits Carroll’s motto, “Not for school but for life,” as being particularly influential. “When I was a student, I didn’t get it. I thought it was silly,” Couture laughed. “But now I understand.” Couture explained that she now realizes that Carroll’s motto is about continuing to seek, learn, and grow, as well as meeting new people and expanding one’s curiosity. “It sets a great foundation for being an adult,” she stated.
When asked what advice she would give to current students at Carroll, Megan said, “... take advantage of all the opportunities. Get out of your comfort zone and take classes in new subjects. Be open-minded, get involved, and take it all in!”
To listen to Megan’s interview on Big Sky, Small World - CLICK HERE
To learn more about Errant Cellars - CLICK HERE