Dec. 7, 2020, Santa Lucia Highlands, Calif.— The Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans has elected two new officers and two new members to the grower and vintner organization’s board of directors.
Steve McIntyre, founder of McIntyre Vineyards and Monterey Pacific, has been elected president. McIntyre’s farming company Monterey Pacific farms more than 12,000 acres of vineyard in Monterey County. Paul Clifton, director of winemaking at Hahn Family Wines, a pioneering winery who first planted grapes in the region in 1973, has been elected vice president. Scott Caraccioli, general manager of Escolle Vineyard and Caraccioli Cellars, and Charlie Wagner, owner and winemaker of Mer Soleil Vineyards fill two new director seats.
Mark Pisoni, vineyard manager for Pisoni Vineyards was re-elected to the role of treasurer. Dan Lee, president of Morgan Winery and Double L Vineyard, Jason Smith, CEO of Valley Farm Management, and John Peterson, owner of Peterson Vineyards and Mansfield-Dunne wines were re-elected to the board of directors for three-year terms. Currently serving officers and members include Secretary Kristen McIntyre, general manager of McIntyre Vineyards, and directors Joe Alarid of Tondré Grapefield and Tondré Wines, and Gary Franscioni owner of Rosella’s Vineyard, Sierra Mar Vineyard and ROAR Wines, and partner in Garys’ Vineyard and Soberanes Vineyard.
The Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County is one of the crown jewels of California’s cool, coastal winegrowing regions, where generational farming families produce some of the state’s most awarded cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. The appellation encompasses nearly 6,000 planted acres with 50 vineyard properties planted on the elevated, sloping alluvial terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range in close proximity to nearby Monterey Bay. The Santa Lucia Highlands celebrates 30 years as a recognized American Viticultural Area in 2021. The
Formed in 2005, the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Artisans is the not-for-profit regional association of vineyards and wineries that grow grapes in the Santa Lucia Highlands or use the appellation’s fruit to craft single-vineyard designated and appellation releases. Visit the region’s online home at www.santaluciahighlands.com or contact info@santaluciahighlands.com for more information.
