Team

The Winemaker

Vogelzang Vineyard team is proud to have winemaker Robbie Meyer, former assistant winemaker at Peter Michael and winemaker for Lewis Wines. Over the last year, Robbie and the Coastal Vineyard Care team have worked together to fine-tune the growing of our Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc varietals in preparation for our coming estate wines. Robbie’s interest in wine began at an early age while working with food and wine in his native city of Marietta, Georgia, leading him to serve as a restaurant wine steward when he was eighteen. His academic work was based in Biology, and he received a B.S. degree from the University of Georgia. It was his love of food and wine that brought him to study winemaking in California. His studies in plant sciences and chemistry were a great match for his graduate work at the University of California, Davis where he received his Master's Degree in Enology.

Robbie spent five vintages at Peter Michael Winery as well as two vintages as winemaker for Lewis Cellars. He currently has his own winery, L’Angevin, as well as producing Vogelzang Vineyard wines.

The Vineyard Management Team

 Vineyard Managers, Jeff Newton and Ben Merz of Coastal Vineyard Care along with specialized consultants utilize the latest viticulture techniques and sustainable farming practices. New high density plantings, fine tuning of wire heights and trellis, and low but perfectly balanced yields have produced some of the finest fruit to date.  In 2005 Vogelzang Vineyard used 5% acres for its initial offering of Sauvignon Blanc and each subsequent year, with the addition of Cabernet and Viognier, more of our estate grapes are placed into Vogelzang Vineyard Wines.  The remainder is sold on long term and annual contracts to the exquisite and boutique wineries of the Santa Ynez Valley. This team is equipped to handle every and all decision with the latest knowledge and the longest expeience in the Central Coast. 

 It has been a true gift to be acquainted with these fine professionals and to have them on board at Vogelzang Vineyard.  One of the most satisfying moments on the vineyard is the walking of the rows with Robbie and Ben discussing our goals, retracing decisions made at the initial pruning and following those decisions through to the last days before harvest. Were we correct? Where do we need change? Where did nature forgive and where did it give us challenges.  I am reminded of the quote, “Man plans, God laughs”.  In the vineyard and winery,after the surrender of control,the use of much patience, and the ability to laugh at oneself, it is the joy in the sharing of this gift with friends and fellow wine lovers that is our reward