Ron Melville, a businessman, and the founder of Melville Vineyards, grew up with a love of gardening, a passion he shared with his father. Ron also developed a love of good wine and began collecting it during college. While he pursued a successful career in finance as a member of the Pacific Stock Exchange, he knew his love of gardening and wine would keep alive his dream to develop his own vineyard. Melville Vineyards is the realization of Ron's Dream.

Ron has devoted the last decade studying viticulture and growing high quality grapes, first in Sonoma County's Knight's Valley and now in western Santa Ynez Valley. In Knights Valley, Ron successfully grew Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This fruit made it into the reserve programs of Geyser Peak Winery and Dry Creek Vineyards and into Chateau St. Jean wine production.

Ron's passion for Burgundian wines brought him to Lompoc, located in western Santa Ynez Valley, within the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. In 1996, he developed 82 acres of vineyards in Lompoc where he heavily planted 14 different clones of Pinot Noir and 4 different clones of Chardonnay. Ron also included plantings of Rhone varietals, Syrah and Viognier. This grape production has made it into the winemaking programs of top winemakers in Santa Barbara County from Bonaccorsi Wine Co., Brewer-Clifton, Jaffurs Wine Cellars to Whitcraft Winery.

Approximately twelve years ago, he purchased 100 acres in Cat Canyon which he named Verna's Vineyard, 2 miles North of Los Alamos in Santa Barbara County, for vineyard development. Cat Canyon is primarily dedicated to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah production. The shared enthusiasm of Ron's sons, Brent and Chad Melville, and winemaker, Greg Brewer have sparked a family project -- the future success of Melville Winery.

Greg Brewer - Winemaker

A French teacher, consultant, musician and winemaker - Greg Brewer. This modern renaissance man brings extensive experience and talent in winemaking to Melville Vineyards& Winery. Before joining Melville, Greg was assistant winemaker to Bruce McGuire at Santa Barbara Winery. While at Santa Barbara Winery, he served as a board member to the Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association. Greg was also the winemaker and general manager at Sunstone Vineyards and Winery.

Among his most impressive works in winemaking is the creation of Brewer-Clifton Wines. The Brewer-Clifton label was the result of a passion for Burgundian wines shared by close friends - Greg and Carrie Brewer, and Steve Clifton. Together, they have vinified top-rated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County. When not winemaking or hosting occasional winemaker dinners, Greg shares his passion with others by presenting lectures on viticulture and oenology. His philosophy for making fine wine is that it begins in the terroir of a vineyard. The 1997 Brewer-Clifton Sweeney Canyon Chardonnay and the 1997 Brewer-Clifton Santa Maria Hills Pinot Noir support the success behind Greg's philosophy. Greg was featured in Wine & Spirits magazine as one of the "Winemakers to Watch in the 21st Century." and highlighted recently in Wine Spectator magazine in July 2003 and September 2003.

 

Brent Melville - Vineyard Manager, Verna's Vineyard / Sta. Rita Hills Vineyard

Brent Melville, a former stock trader, worked in his family's vineyard business in Knight's Valley in Sonoma County. There he gained valuable experience in grape production and vineyard management. After pursuing a career in the stock market, Brent, a farmer at heart, joined forces with his father Ron in 1996 to develop Melville Vineyards & Winery in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation in Santa Ynez Valley and the later developement of Verna's Vineyard in Los Alamos. Brent studied viticulture and oenology at UC Davis and has worked extensively with viticulturists to develop his skill for vineyard management. For the past twelve years, Brent has been instrumental in the vineyard development of 82 acres in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation of Santa Ynez Valley and in the development of Verna's Vineyard in Cat Canyon. Brent manages both Sta. Rita Hills Vineyard and Verna's Vineyard, 100 acres of Melville estate fruit in Cat Canyon located in Los Alamos.

Chad Melville - National Sales Manager

Chad Melville, like his brother Brent, left the stock market to pursue a career in winemaking. Chad's experience working for Melville Vineyards' grape production in Sonoma County ignited his interest in wine. This interest sent Chad abroad to Australia, France, New Zealand and South Africa where he researched viticulture, vinification and oenology. Chad continued his viticulture, vinification and oenology studies at UC Davis. He has worked with reputable Santa Barbara County winemakers such as Greg Brewer, Bruce McGuire, Craig Jaffurs, Lane Tanner, and Chris Whitcraft. He brought this knowledge to Melville where he assisted in winemaking and was instrumental in the development of Melville Vineyards & Winery. His abundant knowledge of wine production from farming to bottling is now served heading Melville's wholesale sales and distribution as National Sales Manger.