KRISTIN BRYDEN Winemaker & General Manager
Originally from Redding, California, Kristin first came to the Central Coast to attend California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, graduating with a degree in Food Science. After working for several wineries, including Wild Horse Winery and Vineyard and Lockwood Vineyard, she gained a profound respect for estate wine programs, furthering her belief that great wines are made in the vineyard.Recognizing the importance of being able to observe the vines throughout the growing season to craft wines with a true sense of place, Kristin was drawn to Zaca Mesa Winery and Vineyards’ estate program in Santa Barbara County. She joined the team in 2011 as Assistant Winemaker and was promoted to Head Winemaker in 2016, bringing her passion, enthusiasm, and keen palate to the wines that reflect Zaca Mesa’s unique vineyard site.Kristin is happy to call the Central Coast her home, where she enjoys hiking, water skiing, camping, and spending as much time outdoors in her downtime as possible.
AGUSTIN ROBLES Cellar Master
Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Agustin grew up learning the family business: commercial farming. He gained an appreciation for how the land and seasons affect the growing and harvesting of corn, chilies, tomatoes, beans, and garbanzos. In 1981, at just 17 years old, he moved to the Santa Ynez Valley and got his very first job with Zaca Mesa Winery. His first years were spent working in the vineyard with Ruben Camacho. After learning the ropes of the vineyard for a few years, he moved inside the winery to work with the wine, not the vines, and became Cellar Master in 1988. Agustin has been working at Zaca Mesa for over half his life. On Sundays, you can find Agustin at his favorite place to eat: Los Alamos’ legendary Full of Life Flatbread restaurant. He loves the beach, weekend trips to San Francisco, playing all sports, and BBQing.
RUBEN CAMACHO Vineyard Manager
Ruben Camacho Sr. came to the US in 1975. He was hired by Zaca Mesa in 1977 as a tractor driver. The previous vineyard manager taught Ruben everything he knows about the vineyards. After seven years of hard vineyard work, Ruben was promoted to Vineyard Manager. Zaca Mesa’s Black Bear Syrah was named after Ruben’s experience in 1978. While in the Mesa H block of the vineyard, he noticed a black bear eating the soon to be famous Syrah grapes. His dogs, Bingo and Chispa, bravely protected the grapes and chased the black bear up a tree. That section of the vineyard was renamed the Black Bear Block and has been producing amazing grapes ever since. Over 30 years of experience has made Ruben probably the most important person in Zaca Mesa’s history with his knowledge of the land, fountain of information, support, and great spirit.
HILARY KEY Direct to Consumer Manager
Hilary Key was promoted to our Direct to Consumer Manager after she joined the Zaca Mesa team in the summer of 2021 as our Tasting Room Manager. Her passion for hospitality & service make her a wonderfully caring person to manage our Wine Club memberships and Tasting Room Operations. She caught the wine bug after a chef she worked with recommended pursuing sommelier training as she was constantly excited about all things wine. Her love and passion for wine continued to grow, so she began taking classes with the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, obtaining her Level 1 Sommelier certification and her WSET Level 2 award. Her current favorite wine at Zaca Mesa is the 2018 Recusant Amphora – our Grenache and Mourvèdre blend aged in 100% clay amphora – due to its texture and soft tannic structure. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids, cooking, and the great outdoors (she somehow usually ends up at a winery after a hike...)
JAKE LAGGREN Hospitality Manager
Jake joined Zaca Mesa as a Tasting Room Associate in June 2024 and quickly climbed the ranks to become our Hospitality Manager. His enthusiasm for hospitality shines through in everything he does, especially event management and the tasting room experience. Jake has always had a knack for all things wine and hospitality. His journey began working in a steakhouse with an extensive wine list, where he discovered the joy of food and wine pairings at a young age. Over the years, he has explored many roles in hotels, motels, bars, diners, and tasting rooms, developing a genuine affection for the people and culture of the wine industry. In his downtime, Jake loves to unwind with a good book, reading around seven books a month! When he's not lost in a story, you can usually find him enjoying a sunny day at the beach or off on a fun road trip to a national park.
AWILDA MERCADO Accounting Assistant
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Awilda attended college there and received a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. Since receiving her degree, Awilda has held a variety of jobs in Santa Barbara County as an accountant. She worked for Mentor Corporation for 5 years before coming here to Zaca Mesa, where she has been for over 10 years as the Accounting Assistant. Although Awilda is not much of a wine drinker herself, she has a passion for food. When she is not at the winery, she enjoys tasting her way through different ethnic foods and trying new restaurants. Her favorite type of food is Indian or Middle Eastern.
Want to make the most of Zaca Mesa? Sign up for one of our wine clubs to receive a special selection of wines chosen by our winemakers, invitations to exclusive member events, complimentary tastings, and more!
All retail sales subject to a 1% Santa Barbara County Wine Preserve Fee.
This is a taxable 1% assessment added to all California retail orders which funds the promotion and protection of our world-class wine region.
For a limited time, get an additional 5% off on the first club shipment.
Give something meaningful, memorable, and delicious, a Reserve “Black Bear Society” or a My Mesa Membership, even if it’s for you! It’s the gift that keeps pouring joy all year long.
Learn more at our Club Page, or sign up below!
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