Vinnovators

October 9, 2015

Throughout the state of California and beyond, Cal Poly alumni are making names for themselves and their wine brands, garnering praise and awards for their efforts, and earning legions of loyal fans along the way. Here we profile a handful of remarkable head winemakers — from restrained traditionalists to rebellious renegades to would-be cattle rustlers — and ask them about their favorite offerings.

COBY PARKER-GARCIA
Agribusiness, ’02
4 Claiborne & Churchill Vintners, Edna Valley

FAVORITE WINE:
Pinot noir. It is a very elegant red wine — not a lot of tannins. It’s very approachable. It has everything: fruit, earth, spice.

AWARDS:
Our riesling won a gold medal at the 2001 Riesling du Monde, an international competition of the world’s best rieslings held in Alsace, France. It’s rare for a U.S.-produced wine to win gold. Our 2009 riesling and gewürztraminer earned 91 points in Wine Enthusiast’s 100-point rating system.

BEST PART ABOUT BEING A WINEMAKER?
No two days are alike. I get to work in the cellar, process fruit, blend fruit, work in the vineyard. I deal with the science and the art of wine making.

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