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Karl Wittstrom
Owner
Karl Wittstrom oversees the daily management and operations of Ancient Peaks Winery. Karl is an entrepreneur, winegrower, rancher and longtime Paso Robles area resident who was raised amid his family’s ranching and farming business. Karl is a director of the California Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, and he is a member of the California Cattlemen’s Association, California Farm Bureau and Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. He oversees his own family vineyard and co-owns Margarita Vineyard and Ancient Peaks Winery.
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Doug Filipponi
Owner
Doug Filipponi is a longtime local winegrower and Paso Robles native who oversees all vineyard operations for Ancient Peaks Winery. Doug was named “Wine Industry Person of The Year” by his wine industry peers at the 2006 California Mid State Fair in Paso Robles. He is also the president of Filipponi & Thompson Drilling, a past president of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, and a past chairman of the Paso Robles Wine Festival. Doug is co-owner of Margarita Vineyard and Ancient Peaks Winery.
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Rob Rossi
Owner
Rob Rossi oversees strategic planning and development for Ancient Peaks Winery. Rob is a local entrepreneur and businessman with varied interests throughout the Central Coast. Rob is a newcomer to the wine industry, having introduced Robert Mondavi to Santa Margarita Ranch in 1999. Rob’s interests emphasize historic renovations and reuse projects, which have included the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo and Granada Theater in Santa Barbara. He co-owns Margarita Vineyard and Ancient Peaks Winery.
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Mike Sinor
Director of Winemaking
Mike Sinor is recognized as one of the Central Coast’s highest-rated winemakers (96 points - Wine Spectator; 95 points – Connoisseur’s Guide; 92 points – Wine Advocate; 92 points – Wine Enthusiast; 92 points – Wine & Spirits). His winemaking career on the Central Coast spans more than 20 years. At Ancient Peaks Winery, Mike directs the quality and style of the wines, and he also oversees viticultural practices at the winery’s estate Margarita Vineyard. His first complete vintage with Ancient Peaks was 2006. “The opportunity to work with Margarita Vineyard is what really drew me to Ancient Peaks,” Mike says. “It stands apart as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region. The growing conditions here are remarkable—and that’s something I’m driven to reflect in the wines of Ancient Peaks.”
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Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins
VP of Sales & Marketing
As the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Ancient Peaks Winery, Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins is the primary contact for distribution as well as direct sales, and is responsible for marketing planning and development. Amanda is a fifth-generation Paso Robles native with deep family roots in local agriculture and ranching. Prior to joining Ancient Peaks Winery, she worked in the real estate banking industry.
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Stewart Cameron
Assistant Winemaker
Stewart Cameron oversees our daily winery operations and is involved in all facets of winemaking at Ancient Peaks along with Winemaker Mike Sinor. After studying cellular and molecular biology in college, Stewart moved to San Luis Obispo. Here, he was struck by the beauty of the surrounding wine country, and he soon found himself drawn to the wine industry. He caught the winemaking bug while working in a winery lab in Paso Robles, and he later joined Ancient Peaks in 2006. He has since worked his way up to the position of assistant winemaker, demonstrating an innate talent for winemaking along the way.
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Nina Leschinsky
Direct to Consumer Sales Manager
Nina Leschinsky manages our direct-to-consumer sales programs, including our tasting room and wine club. After developing an interest in hospitality while studying business and French at Cal Poly, she moved to San Francisco, where she worked in sales and brand marketing for the Kimpton Group family of boutique hotels. She later returned to the Central Coast to further pursue her interests in food and wine. She spent several years as the tasting room manager at Wild Horse Winery before joining Ancient Peaks Winery in 2008. Since then, Nina’s expertise has helped drive substantial growth in our direct sales programs.
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Kristin Muhly
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Kristin Muhly coordinates the sales and marketing of Ancient Peaks wines. She was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. She earned her Ag Business and Wine & Viticulture degree at Cal Poly, and has worked in the wine industry ever since. Her experience includes stints at Justin Winery, Vines of Mendoza, Domaine Alfred and the Crimson Wine Group. At Ancient Peaks Winery, Kristin has a guiding hand in all of our sales and marketing efforts, including social media, online marketing and distributor relations. She has been known to pitch in during harvest, too.
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Duke
Official Winery Dog
Duke is the winery’s resident beagle and office watchdog for Assistant Winemaker Stewart Cameron. Duke was born during the 2008 harvest, and is now known for his dashing personality and mischievous exploits. His hobbies include eating, playing catch and chasing any cellar work who dares to taunt him. Duke can be a howler, and he greets newcomers with a bark—but his tail starts wagging once he gets to know you.
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