Darren, Farmer & Winemaker

Favorite Wine
Paso Robles Syrah

Favorite Meal
Bowl of cereal and glass of cold milk

Edward Darren grew up making wine for family and friends with his father, Randolph. Randolph encouraged Edward Darren to obtain a degree in Wine and Viticulture with the promise that they would create a “real” winery once he had a degree in hand. After acquiring a BS in Enology From Cal Poly, Edward Darren built the winery on his family’s avocado ranch where he was born and raised.

Jill, Co-Founder & Experience Maker

Favorite Wine
Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Chablis

Favorite Meal to Cook
Homemade Pasta

As the co-founder and official “Do-er of A Lot of Things,” Jill has been with Rincon Mountain Winery since the very beginning. When she’s not talking tasting notes and vinyl with guests at the Tasting Room, she’s dreaming up memorable experiences for Rincon’s customers and Wine Club members. As a Level 1 Sommelier who works with the grapes from planting through bottling, she’s got a unique perspective and stories to share with wine enthusiasts who are curious about Rincon Mountain Winery’s vintages.

Salvador, Vineyard Manager & Horse Lover

Favorite Wine
Tempranillo and Zinfandel

Favorite Meal to Cook 
Mixed meat with veggies tacos

As the Manager of our Paso Robles ranch, Salvador oversees the vineyard, hopyard, barleyfield, and the animals who call the ranch home. With his rich background of hands-on experience, Salvador has worked for nearly two decades to keep the ranch running true to the highest quality standards. With his positive energy and unrivaled work ethic, Salvador is the guy you turn to for motivation during long harvest days.

Tanner, Night Owl & Master Prepper

Favorite Wine
Rincon Mountain rosés

Favorite Meal to Cook
Shepherd’s pie with lamb and red wine

Though Tanner has only been with Rincon Mountain Winery in its present iteration since 2019, he’s been involved with Rincon Mountain wines since Randolph started bottling his first vintages. As the official on-site Cellar Rat (his words, not ours), Tanner keeps the whole operation on track. Whether he’s prepping the equipment, rinsing the foamer, or taste testing the final product, we know we can rely on his attention to detail and sense of humor to make the long days fly by.

Donna, Hostess with the Mostest

Favorite Wine
Sauvignon Blanc

Favorite Meal to Cook
Roman Bucatini Flambe

Donna (Jill’s mom) joined the tasting room team in 2024 when Jill was pregnant and needed a little extra help — as moms tend to do. What started as a temporary role quickly turned into something more when Donna fell in love with the tasting room, the people, and sharing wine stories with guests.

Today, you’ll find her behind the bar creating warm, welcoming experiences and making everyone feel right at home.

Alfie, Huntress

Favorite Wine
She’s more of a beer girl…

Favorite Meal to Cook
Whatever dad’s making!

Alfie joined the team when she was just 3 months old, and quickly went from resident cuteness to self-designated Huntress of the Mountain. Alfie’s job includes hanging with her best buds, Lucy and Monk, barking at the paragliders who get too close to the mountain, and making sure coyotes don’t steal her dad’s wine at night. She’s happy to get paid in belly rubs and treats, which she collects with interest at every winery event.

Lucy, Guardian of the Grapes

Favorite Wine
She’s not allowed to drink

Favorite Meal to Cook
Does canned dog food count?

Lucy joined the team as a puppy in 2017 and has really grown into her role. As Rincon Mountain Winery’s Head of Security, Lucy starts and ends her day with a patrol of the property. During the day she can be found napping in the sun, helping mom in the office, or lounging in the winery. Despite the long hours during harvest, Lucy is a loyal and loving team member who always gives 110%. With her German Shepherd alertness, she never misses the opportunity for pets or ear scratches. Lucy’s currently enrolled in a training program for Very Good Girls, certificate pending.