New Assistant Winemaker

Just in time for harvest, Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyard has appointed Kristin Bryden to the new post of Assistant Winemaker. Kristin began her employment with the award-winning estate winery on August 15.

 “We are delighted to have someone of Kristin’s caliber on our team,” said Zaca Mesa President and CEO, Brook Williams. “She has just the right blend of practical experience and creativity in the cellar that complements our wines.”

Originally from Redding, California, Kristin is a graduate of Cal Poly University where she studied Food Science and gained an interest in winemaking. Starting her professional career at Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards in Templeton, California, Kristin worked her way from a production technician to an enologist, and eventually to Assistant Winemaker in 2006. In that position, she managed the lab and assisted in the planning and execution of all winemaking activities, with an emphasis on quality control. Kristin also benefited from the Wild Horse Vineyards’ diverse collection of winegrape varieties, allowing her to explore their many profiles and associated styles.

From Wild Horse, Kristin moved on to Monterey County’s Lockwood Vineyard in 2007.  As Associate Winemaker, she oversaw all winery operations from the Lockwood facilities built in the center of the estate vineyard. She cites her ability to witness the vines’ and grapes’ change throughout the year leading up to harvest as a key high point at Lockwood.

This familiarity with estate programs and a thorough knowledge of the vineyard calendar made Kristin a key candidate for Assistant Winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyard, where ensuring that superior quality carries through from the vineyard to the bottle is of paramount importance.

“Kristin's background working with estate programs was a big draw,” said Zaca Mesa Winemaker, Eric Mohseni. “With an estate vineyard, you are limited to what your vineyard gives you and having that mindset makes it a valuable tool. Her cellar and lab experience works with our facility and also brings us new ideas. Her enthusiasm, keen palate, and sense of adventure were added bonuses! We share a similar, Old World approach to wine making, and I think we are going to make a great wine making team.”

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Posted on: Sep 29, 2011