Millie Howie

Millie Howie A third generation San Franciscan, Millie Howie started her wine journalism career in Sonoma County "not knowing wine from pickle juice" and ended as a prolific and honored wine writer. Millie died April 5, 2011 at the age of 88. Born Mildred Carter on June 13, 1922, she attended Washington High School in San Francisco and U.C. Berkeley. Early on she worked at KGO TV, eventually becoming the first female writer/producer hired in San Francisco. In 1970, she formed Mildred Howie Public Relations and also developed her talent as a food columnist. She moved in the mid-1970s to the Alexander Valley where she was the prime catalyst in creating Sonoma County's first wine map and is credited with bringing wide recognition to Sonoma County's wine industry. She worked tirelessly in the founding of the Sonoma County Wine Library and considered it one of her greatest achievements. In 1993, she was honored by the Luther Burbank Foundation as a "Living Treasure in Literature." Millie is survived by daughters Linda Ramey of San Francisco and Jann Hayes (Prentice) of Half Moon Bay and also by her cat "Punkin."