People Behind the Pour: Samā Cellars Blends Science, Soul, and Story in Every Bottle
As we raise a glass to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May, WeRise is proud to shine a spotlight on Samā Cellars, a boutique winery based in Washington state that’s reimagining what it means to make wine with both precision and passion. At the helm is Chaitanya “Chaz” Bangur, a winemaker whose journey — from India to the Pacific Northwest, from biochemistry to barrels — embodies the beautiful intersection of science and art.
Chaz didn’t grow up in the vineyards or around wine. Growing up in India, wine and alcohol were nonexistent in his world. But that changed when he moved to the U.S. in 1993 to pursue a PhD in biochemistry at the University at Buffalo. Surrounded by a vibrant microbrew culture, his curiosity about fermentation and flavor slowly began to take root.
His real immersion into wine came years later, after moving to Seattle for a career in biotech. It was here, among the wineries in Woodinville and the sprawling vineyards of Eastern Washington, that Chaz began to fall in love with wine, not just as a beverage, but as an expressive, living thing. “Many winemakers say they fell in love with wine in France or Italy,” he says. “But I fell in love with wine right here in Washington.”
Chaz’s scientific training gave him a unique entry point into the winemaking world. “My PhD was on Saccharomyces cerevisiae — the same yeast used in winemaking — so I already had a strong foundation in fermentation,” he explains. "Coming from a science background, I found it was easy to talk to the winemakers at the Woodinville wineries," he says. "I would enjoy having conversations with them." But it wasn’t just science that drew him in. It was the storytelling, the creativity, and the deeply personal nature of wine that hooked him.
When his daughter left for college, Chaz decided it was time to pursue his own next chapter — enrolling in the winemaking program at Northwest Wine Academy. What started as a spark quickly became a calling. “After the first quarter, I knew: if I’m going to do this, I need to commit fully,” he says. And commit he did. Drawing on years of experience in big tech, leading product incubation, scaling complex operations, and building new business areas from the ground up, Chaz brought a startup mindset to winemaking. “I’d spent my career driving innovation and helping launch new businesses,” he explains. “So, when I realized I wanted to build something of my own in wine, I knew I couldn’t take a tentative approach.”
He created his first vintage in 2022, producing 400 cases in his inaugural year, and launched Samā Cellars in 2024, scaling production to 1,500 cases — a bold move that reflects his confidence, strategic foresight, and unwavering drive. “If I’m doing this, I’m going all in,” he says. “That’s the only way I know how to build.” And that boldness has already paid off. All six wines from his inaugural vintage have received critical acclaim, earning accolades from prominent wine magazines and critics, as well as awards at both local and national competitions. It's a remarkable feat for a debut winemaker and a strong signal that Samā is already making a serious impression in the wine world.
But make no mistake: Samā is not just a science project. It’s a soulful, intentional expression of Chaz’s palate, perspective, and heritage. The winery's name, “Samā,” was inspired by a moment of serendipity, when Chaz’s wife hummed a line from a Bollywood song. As they explored its meaning, they uncovered something profound: in Sanskrit, Hindi, and Urdu, Samā means balance and environment; in Filipino, it means community; in Japanese, it conveys deep respect. Each translation felt like a perfect reflection of their vision.
That vision takes shape in the wines themselves. While many in Washington focus on Bordeaux varietals, Chaz has carved out a niche with Rhône-style wines — including Syrah, Grenache, and others — that offer bright fruit, spice, and effortless food-friendliness.
“I love wines that invite food to the table,” he says. “As someone who grew up with Indian cuisine and enjoys bold flavors from around the world — Mexican, Thai, Italian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern — I found that Rhône wines were far more versatile. They don’t overpower the dish; they elevate it.”
That same openness guides his work in the broader wine community. As one of the very few Indian winemakers in the U.S., Chaz is passionate about representation and expanding the wine conversation to include more voices, cultures, and stories.
“When it comes to wine, Asians and particularly Indians are still dramatically underrepresented,” he says. “We bring a different lens to this craft. Different food traditions, flavor preferences, and ways of connecting with people. That’s something to celebrate.”
Through Samā Cellars, Chaz is not just making award-winning wines — he’s building bridges: between science and art, between tradition and innovation, between cultures and communities, and expanding the story of Washington wine.
WeRise is thrilled to partner with Samā Cellars, and we’re proud to feature their wines in our wine bar and online bottle shop. Be sure to sign up for the WeRise newsletter so you’re the first to know about news and events at WeRise Wines. To learn more about Chaz and Samā Cellars, check out their website and be sure to visit their brand-new tasting room, opening in Redmond, WA, in June!
