When I set out for the Central Coast in the summer of 2006 I was looking for a new path in life, a career, a foundation for the next chapter in my life. I had no way of knowing that I would be sitting here, almost 20 years later, reflecting back on all that has happened in that time, having spent 18 of the last 20 years at Pali Wine Co.
This job, this company, the Perr family, have given me countless things to be grateful for over the last 2 decades. And as Pali has grown and evolved over that time, so have I.
I was hired in June 2007, as a “cellar hand”, though I managed to negotiate the title of “assistant winemaker” rather quickly. Pali Wine Co. was in its infancy at that time, with the wines all being made by Brian Loring (Loring Wine Company), a rockstar winemaker when it came to California Pinot Noirs. I jumped at the chance to work under Brian, and also at the potential that I saw in the future of the winery. It was clear to me that the Perr’s, along with the Knight family, were committed to creating a winery that could compete on the world stage. It was obvious that there was a commitment to building a long-lasting wine business and I was hoping to be a part of that growth.
Very quickly in 2008 we crushed our first grapes in our newly constructed winery building in Lompoc, and that same year we switched winemakers bringing on Kenneth Juhasz as our Consulting Winemaker. I was immediately tasked with figuring out how to set up and run the cellar. Kenneth would go on to be not only our long-time consulting winemaker, but also a mentor and close friend. With his guidance and support, Tim Perr, our founding partner, thrust the title of winemaker on me in 2010, a title that I was uncertain that I was ready for. Both Tim and Kenneth pushed me and supported me to become the best winemaker that I can be – and I am grateful for that.
Since joining Pali in 2007 I have risen from Cellar Hand to Assistant Winemaker, then to Winemaker, then to my current role as Director of Winemaking Operations (though truly I am still “just” the winemaker, at least in my own eyes). There have been so many other milestones in that same time:
- Moving into the new winery in 2008
- Opening tasting rooms across Southern California – from Lompoc to San Diego, and spots in between
- Marrying, Emily, the love of my life in 2011, almost 10 years after our 1st kiss
- Starting a family with Emily in 2012 with the arrival of August Joshua, and next Penelope Hattie 20 months later in 2014. Both were brought “home” to the apartment above our first tasting room in the Funk Zone. We lived there for 2 years and loved every second!
- Planting 2 vineyards of our own in 2012 – our estate property in the Sta. Rita Hills, plus a smaller vineyard in Sonoma Coast. Being involved with these projects added a whole other level of experience and understanding to my own portfolio. I have learned so much and am continuing to expand my knowledge and education in this area
- Countless wine festivals, winemaker dinners, industry events, networking and meeting with others that share a passion for wine
- Traveling all over the country to spread the gospel of Pali – New York, Washington DC, Virginia, Nashville, Atlanta, Florida (many times), Alabama, New Orleans, Texas, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Chicago, Iowa, Kansas, and even the mother-f’n Catalina Wine Mixer!
I am so lucky to have been able to grow in my career as Pali has grown and evolved. I like to think that I was in the right place at the right time when I was hired back in 2007, when I was a green, aspiring winemaker with only one harvest under my belt.
One thing about this industry, which also holds true for Pali Wine Co. and myself, is that things are always evolving and changing. Consumer preferences change, winemaking philosophies change, vineyard operations change – and hopefully all for the better. From both a personal and professional standpoint my priorities and philosophies in grape growing and winemaking continue to evolve.
The wines that we were producing in our early days were much different than the wines we produce today. Stylistically we have moved away from wines that are highly extracted and overly ripe with high alcohol and residual sugar. Today we focus on wines that are well-balanced and age-worthy, with moderate alcohol and complex flavors. There is also a bigger emphasis on “minimal-intervention” winemaking, something we barely spoke of 20 years ago.
In the vineyard I have become more and more focused on ways to improve our farming for better soil, vine, environmental and human health. In 2012, when we planted our vineyards, the big focus was on “sustainable farming”, and as the years have gone on we have migrated more into organic farming. Currently we are taking that a step further with a focus on “regenerative organic farming."
In the cellar, I am excited for the upcoming 2025 harvest season as we will be making wine in a new facility with a lot more space. I am also looking forward to experimenting with new fermentation and aging vessels (concrete tanks and “eggs” to start). This is a big part of the fun of winemaking for me – there is always something new to learn or experiment with, whether it be a new vessel, a new grape variety, a new vineyard, or a new winemaking technique. The exploration can be limitless!
Pali has given me so much more than I can put into words – obviously a career, but also the support and freedom to grow and evolve within that career. They have given me the ability and stability that I needed to start, and support, a family. And Tim, Judy and the rest of the family have been there for me through good and bad, over many, many years. Weddings and funerals, recessions and Top 100 ratings. It has been a rollercoaster of a ride and I can’t wait to see what the next 20 years will bring for Pali.
Pali for the People!
