Santa Maria, CA – Miller Family Wine Company is pleased to announce the recent hire of Roxie Ward as Winemaker.
Working under Director of Winemaking, Clay Brock, Ward brings over 20 years of experience to her new role with Miller Family Wine Company. Though she initially set out to pursue a career in the arts, it was while working at a winery after college that she got her first taste of the wine industry and felt compelled to change her path. Ward went on to work various tasting room, cellar and vineyard jobs at wineries throughout California, including Paraiso Vineyards in Monterey County, Martini & Prati in Sonoma County and Mumm in Napa Valley. Fueled by an eagerness to broaden her knowledge of winemaking, she decided to move to Australia to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Wine Science while gaining experience at several Australian wineries. In 2011, Ward returned to California to work as Winemaker at Terravant Wine Company in Santa Barbara County where she went on to become Senior Director of Winemaking and Enology. Ward was then named Winemaker for Vincent Vineyards, producing Bordeaux varietals from their estate vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley. She went on to work with Ken Brown Wines, a pioneer of small lot Pinot Noir from some of the finest vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills. Most recently, Ward was the winemaker at Center of Effort Winery in the Edna Valley, focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as Chenin Blanc.
“Roxie’s time spent working in California’s most prestigious regions, as well as in Australia, adds to her well-rounded experience as a winemaker – one who is skilled in producing everything from sparkling wine to Syrah to Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc,” says Marshall Miller, Vice President of Operations. “Her ability to craft boutique wines as well as manage large production cellars, coupled with her drive and passion for this industry, inspired us to have her join as winemaker for Miller Family Wine Company. We look forward to our winemaking team as it elevates our program to even greater levels of success.”
About Miller Family Wine Company
Miller Family Wine Company is a division of the Thornhill Companies – the industry-leading umbrella brand of one of California’s premier winegrowing families, the Miller Family, who have been farming California’s Central Coast for five generations. Miller Family Wine Company manages acclaimed national branded wine labels, including J. Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Smashberry and Barrel Burner wines, control label brands for prominent retailers across the U.S., and French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles.
For more information on Miller Family Wine Company, please visit www.millerfamilywinecompany.com.
