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Vineyard Manager and Winemaker
Luke graduated from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Fruit Science and a minor in Wine and Viticulture. Luke is committed to sustainable vineyard practices and the elemental belief that great wine begins in the vineyards, in the quality of the fruit and in the characteristics of its terroir. He joined Left Coast Cellars shortly after its establishment in 2003 and has worked hand in hand with the ownership family to develop vineyards producing excellent wines that speak of this very special place. Luke's experience in vineyard management and winemaking stem from his earlier work at the esteemed Harlan Estate Winery in the Napa valley, and in California's Central Coast at Meridian Vineyards in Paso Robles. Luke and his hand selected crew and staff are dedicated to delivering the finest of handcrafted vintages.
Contact Luke via lm (at) leftcoastcellars (dot) com |
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Associate Winemaker
Joe joins us from Belle Valle Cellars, his bio will be posted shortly. Meanwhile, contact him via jw (at) leftcoastcellars (dot) com |
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National Sales Manager
With an energy as vast as the Lone Star state, this native Texan brings his experience as Sales Coordinator for Murphy-Goode in Sonoma and Oregon's Witness Tree to the Left Coast Cellars' team. A veteran of the restaurant business, Mark spent years in the front-of-the-house where he gained his passion for fine wines. After working as Sommelier at the prestigious The Little Nell in Aspen, he headed to McMinnville to open his own eatery in the heart of the Oregon wine country.
Contact Mark via mark (at) leftcoastcellars (dot) com |
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Hospitality Director
Molly just joined our team, her bio will be posted shortly. Meanwhile contact Molly via molly (at) leftcoastcellars (dot) com |
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Marketing Director & Tech Guru
After 20 years in the Las Vegas desert, this native Oregonian is thrilled to be back among the trees and flowers of the Willamette Valley. Ivy's favorite color is pink, ahem, rose, and as an amateur ornithologist she can identify many of the birds living throughout the Left Coast acreage. She loves using her background in events production to help plan Left Fielder Wine Club parties and special happenings for the Tasting Room, while also wielding her technological expertise to manage the Left Coast online presence and the inner workings of our office. She counts Joel Hodgson and Crow T. Robot among her heroes.
Contact Ivy via ivy (at) leftcoastcellars (dot) com |
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Chef de Cuisine
Formerly of King Estate's catering department, Carolynn took the helm of Left Coast Cellars' kitchen shortly after the cafe opened in June 2010. Her talent for crafting dishes that pair with our handcrafted wines is unparalleled. Her favorite time of year is spring when she can oversee the planting of her dream garden to provide delicious estate-grown, organic produce for our guests.
Contact Carolynn via cafe (at) leftcoastcellars (dot) com |
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Accountant
With more than 35 years in accounting and an Associate Degree in Business Technology/Office Accounting, Francie lends her specialized experience to Left Coast Cellars. A small business owner, she is much more than a money manager, she brings perspective and balance, and keeps everyone organized and informed. Francie and her husband of 28 years, Ervin, raised 5 children and now enjoy the grandparenting of the next generation of 8. Raised in Washington before moving to the Willamette Valley in 1979, Francie is devoted to the success of small businesses in Yamhill County.
Contact Francie via fd (at) leftcoastcellars (dot) com |
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Vineyard Groundskeeper
If there is anyone who embodies the heart and soul of Left Coast Cellars and its crew, it is Baldomero. In the vineyards and in the expanding gardens of the property, his passion for life and Pinot Noir is reflected in his work. Rain or shine you will always find him working, and signing as he does. Proud to call Oregon home, he loves its climate, beauty and wine. If you are an early riser, you may spot him running the property's hills, prior to beginning his workday. As our Grand Curator of vines, we can't imagine Left Coast without him. |
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Hospitality Staff
Our hospitality staff are the people who will greet you cordially upon arrival at Left Coast Cellars, and the smiling faces you will see waving goodbye as you drive away. We are so lucky to have them on our team.
Pictured from left to right, top to bottom: Luann, Evelyn, Diane, Carolyn, Devon, Judy, Suzanne and Angey. |
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Our Crew
We consider our crew family, joining together to tend our vines throughout the year. They begin cane pruning the vines in early February each season, carefully hand training each vine through its annual journey from bud break to canopy management to leaf pulling and, finally, hand harvesting each fall. All this attention of our devoted vineyard crew creates what we feel is the best fruit in Oregon. We bring only the best estate grown fruit to the winery to be made into wine, processed in the gentlest manner possible.
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Update on the Ownership Family (Sept. 2011)
Time marches on, and certainly as our place here in the sun (or shade, depending on the time of day or season!) has grown and evolved, so has our younger generation.
Let's begin with Cali for whom our Cali's Cuvee Pinot Noir is named. Cali now has three years' of practical, working experience in and around the edges of architecture and the world of nonprofits. Upon her graduation from Brown University in May 2008, she began work with the architectural firm of Fernau & Hartman in Berkeley, California. A year later, she accepted a position with the nonprofit Public Architecture in San Francisco. Check out their website for a view into the amazing work they are doing or look through the book in our tasting room, The Power of Pro Bono, 40 Stories About Design for the Public Good by Architects and Their Clients, many of the interviews were conducted by Cali herself.
If you have visited Left Coast, and we hope you have or soon will, you will know that, increasingly – in addition to our wines – we are noted for our extensive landscape efforts and environmental attention. Cali is now furthering this part of our family's passion by enrolling in a three year Master's program in landscape architecture at Harvard's School of Architecture and Design. She looks forward to a return to her Left Coast palette in the summers ahead...and, until then, pouring Cali's Cuvee at our Thanksgiving Open House.
Karleton, the eldest of the three, moved from Oregon to Seattle, Washington this year to pursue both his interests in food and wine (he is a student in the Cordon Bleu program there) and to be with Renee, the love of his life. The happy pair was joined in marriage at a small family gathering at the vineyard in September; we are all elated. Renee brings beauty and brains, grace and a genuine sweetness to our families’ collective strengths, along with a solid business background. She is currently working for the Gates Foundation in Seattle. Welcome, Renee!
Our youngest, Taylor, has now completed his undergraduate degree in history, at the University of British Columbia. Not only did he enjoy a wonderful education but also experienced "fifteen minutes of fame" when he was hired by Whistler during the 2010 Olympics as one of twelve snowboarders flying through flames as part of the nightly entertainment program. Taylor is now living at the vineyard – working in the cellar and helping out in the tasting room café – while looking forward to the 2011 harvest. His mother smiles more daily at his proximity. |
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