Only the second winemaker in its history, Lonborg’s addition will allow Founder and longtime Winemaker Bob Tillman to focus more on Alta Colina’s organically-farmed estate winery.
April 20, 2020 (Paso Robles, Calif.) — Alta Colina, the Paso Robles-based producer of estate Rhone wines, is pleased to announce it has hired Molly Lonborg as Winemaker. Lonborg comes to Alta Colina after nine years at Halter Ranch Vineyard.
Adding Lonborg to the team will free up Founder Bob Tillman to focus more on managing Alta Colina’s estate vineyard. Since founding the winery in 2003, Tillman has been Alta Colina’s winemaker while also managing its 31-acre organically-farmed vineyard, located on the Westside of Paso Robles in the Adelaida District sub-AVA.
“We have just produced, arguably, our best vintage yet. However, I want the wines to continually improve,” said Tillman. “This has always been our approach, and I’ve concluded that even more focus on both growing and winemaking is needed. The strategy is very simple: better fruit plus better winemaking equals greater wines.”
“Molly possesses a world-class palate and she is longtime fan of our winemaking style,” Tillman added. “Even better, we have known Molly for years and know what a great compliment to our team she will be.”
Prior to joining Alta Colina, Lonborg was the Associate Winemaker at Halter Ranch. She began her tenure there in 2011, holding several key positions. First hired as a Lab Manager and Cellar Assistant, she was soon promoted to Enologist and then Assistant Winemaker. In 2018, Lonborg was named Associate Winemaker. Before Halter Ranch, she held lab and cellar positions at several Central Coast wineries, including JUSTIN Vineyard & Winery and Orcutt Road Cellars. Lonborg is a graduate of CalPoly, San Luis Obispo, where she majored in earth sciences with a concentration in wine and viticulture.
“Coming to work for Alta Colina is a dream come true. Bob and Maggie are such genuine, passionate people and it is an honor to continue to build on the successes that they have created,” said Lonborg. “Their commitment to quality is portrayed in their exceptional vineyard and beautiful wines. I could not be more excited to continue my career working with the fruit from this property and the dynamic team at Alta Colina.”
About Alta Colina
Spanish for “high hill,” Alta Colina was founded in 2003 on the sole principal that great wines are grown, not made. Alta Colina’s mission is to grow superior Rhone-style wines from its estate vineyard, located in the heart of the Adelaida District in Paso Robles, and to provide an unmatched hospitality experience. A true family winery, Founder Bob Tillman and his daughter, Maggie, are forging a lasting legacy of quality and sustainability that will continue thriving for generations to come. Alta Colina is also home to The Trailer Pond – a secluded, vintage trailer campsite tucked away in the estate vineyard, and a recipient of Sunset Magazine’s “Best of the West” Travel Award. For more information, please visit, altacolinawine.com.
