Famed sommelier named the new winemaker at Stolo Vineyards in Cambria
An internationally acclaimed sommelier has taken over the winemaking duties at Stolo Vineyards in Cambria.
Rajat “Raj” Parr is leading Stolo’s winemaking team, bringing his experience as a grower of wine grapes, sommelier and wine author.
He takes over for Nicole Pope, who was Stolo’s winemaker for a decade. According to information that Stolo released to media, Pope intends to focus on her own label, Haliotide Wines, and spend more time with family.
The release said that “Raj will be directing and overseeing Stolo Vineyards’ winemaking operations onsite in Cambria. His rich history and love for cool-climate, classic, French-inspired wines make Raj the perfect fit.”
According to Stolo managing partner Maria Stolo Bennetti, “What really excited me is his interest in developing new wines with us, which is precisely the focus we need as we consider additional planting and growth.”
Parr has authored two books and in 2003, he became the wine director of and oversaw wine programs for celebrity chef Michael Mina’s U.S. restaurants. A well-known sommelier, Parr runs his own wine club and has developed blends and labels that have received several James Beard Awards.
Stolo’s 9-acre Cambria vineyard, farmhouse and old dairy barn dates back to the late 1800s. The vineyard is less than 3 miles from the ocean. Stolo offers coastal-style chardonnay, gewurztraimer, pinot noir and syrah wines, and the vineyard is open daily from noon to 5 p.m. by appointment only. For details, go to www.stolofamilyvineyards.com.
