Experience

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  Franciscan estates

  Aug 2009 - Nov 2009

  Harvest laboratory intern

  Worked all laboratory aspects of harvest, including but not limited to: taking measurements of degrees Brix, pH, TA, percent alcohol, and temperature; obtaining free and total sulfur values using Foss Fiastar, as well as through a Ripper hand titration; and maintain paperwork organization and computer data entry.

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  Matchbook wine company

  Feb 2010 - Jan 2011

  Laboratory technician

  General winery laboratory work including but not limited to: determining volatile acidity via Cash Still, free sulfur via Aeration/Oxidation, degrees Brix by hydrometer, TA, pH, ethanol percentage via ebulliometer; inoculating tanks of juice with yeast and malolactic bacteria; determining malic acid, ammonia, and glucose levels using a Stat Fax analyzer; and preparing various trials and tests for winemaking. Aid in performing pumpovers; barrel emptying, filling, and washing; filtering; and chemical additions when needed. Training in sensory perception and identification of aromas and flavors in juice and wine, sales techniques, wine pouring and education via tasting events. Show less

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  University of california, davis

  Jun 2011 - Jul 2013

  Graduate student researcher

  Master's of Science in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis. Performed independent research in the department of Food Science and Technology in food safety microbiology and bioinformatics.

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  Turkovich family wines

  Aug 2012 - Jun 2013

  Tasting room associate

  Poured wine for visitors to the tasting room, served food, sold wine and small items, educated patrons about different wines and winemaking processes.

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  Odette estate winery

  Sept 2013 - Nov 2013

  Cellar intern

  Worked at a small, ultra-premium winery for first harvest after graduate school. Duties included tank and equipment sanitation, calculating and performing wine and must additions, performing pump-overs, and fermentation tracking via Brix and temperature measurements.

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  California concentrate company

  Jan 2014 - Feb 2014

  Enologist

  Orchestrated experimentation to clarify and fine red and white juice before concentration using a number of fining agents, and ran typical juice chemistry. Started a microbiology program at the facility including microscope selection, training in proper use of a microscope, and a setting up a monitoring program for juice.

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  Church road winery

  Feb 2014 - May 2014

  Vintage cellarhand

  Duties included fermentation tracking; cap temperature tracking and management; making wine and must additions; barrel filling, emptying, and cellar organization; and sanitation of tanks and equipment. Tasted active fermentations daily with the winemaking team to learn the decision making process for drain and press and pumpovers.

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  Sterling vineyards

  Jun 2014 - Jan 2015

  Interim assistant winemaker

  Before harvest, helped direct normal winery workflow from topping and blending to fining and bottling. Coordinated finished wine blending and bottling with the winemaking team and cellar leads. Wrote work orders, set up trials and tastings, and sampled and assembled final blends for bottling or shipping. Proficient in WIPS database use and forklift certified.During harvest, managed the Reserve program under supervision from the Director of Winemaking. Experienced the winemaking process from vineyard sampling and block selection, through grape receiving and crush, to inoculation and fermentation. Monitored primary and malolactic fermentations, coordinated daily tastings, wrote all work orders, made press cut decisions, created efficient and organized data management spreadsheets, and updated pump over instructions daily. Made new oak barrel selections.Created a juice and wine tracking database through modification of existing tank temperature monitoring software. Worked directly with a programmer to add data tracking pathways and create sensible organization and presentation of chemistry.Wrote, formatted, and edited Cellar Training Manual collecting SOPs for year-round winery cellar activities. Show less

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  Sterling vineyards

  Jun 2015 - now

  Winemaking duties include: management of day to day operations and logistics, collaboration with Senior Winemaker on blending and winemaking decisions, extensive sensory evaluation throughout the life of the wine, making pick calls and drain and press decisions during harvest, inventory management, additive and supply ordering, long term work planning and scheduling, TTB compliance checks and management, work order writing, and collaboration with sister winery sites on projects and production.Other duties include: management and supervision of full time Enologist and 2-4 interns during harvest, supporting site-wide safety initiatives and involvement in Safety Committee, travel for national sales, representation of the brand in both print and media, hosting groups for tours and tastings, support with creation and execution of annual budget and CAPEX projects, and participation in creation of tasting and technical notes.Media experience includes: interviews with media outlets for the 2019 Emmy Awards, promotion of Sterling Vineyards Rose Fest with live and taped segments, print and web interviews on a wide range of topics such as Sterling Vineyards portfolio and history, still and sparkling wine, and food and wine pairings. Show less Duties included: onsite management of operations, logistics coordination, work order writing, blending and fining trial assembly and tasting, inventory and topping management, shipping logistics, additive and supply ordering, long term work planning and scheduling, TTB compliance checks and management, annual SOP reviews and updates, grape scheduling, intern supervision, data gathering and tracking, bottling QC, working with Senior Winemaker to create and finalize blends, involvement with Safety and Values Committees, supporting trade visits and tours. Show less

  • Winemaker

    Feb 2018 - now

  • Assistant Winemaker

    Jun 2015 - Feb 2018
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  Treasury wine estates

  Mar 2021 - now

  Winemaker

  Manage day to day and long term production of grapes and wine for multiple brands, supporting Director of Luxury Winemaking. During harvest, coordinated red grape receiving, tank filling, and red and white barrel downs, in addition to managing fermentations for over 100 different lots. Collaborate with weekly and long term production planning, shipping and receiving, and bottling. Specifically for Sterling Vineyards, brand representation for events and PR, creation of technical notes, and some social media work. Show less