Seasoned Santa Barbara County Winemaking Team Now Producing all “Roblar Winery and Vineyards”, “Refugio Ranch Vineyards”, and Exclusive “Gleason Family Vineyards” Wines
September 2, 2021 – Santa Ynez, CA – The Gleason Family Vineyards Santa Ynez Valley portfolio of brands (Roblar Winery and Vineyards, Refugio Ranch Vineyards, Royal Oaks Wines) has officially announced the new winemaking team of Max Marshak as head winemaker, and Kat Neenan as assistant winemaker. The debut of the winery duo arrives as a selection of the portfolio’s 2020 wines are being released, with 2020 marking the first vintage made by the new winery team. The announcement also aligns with that of executive chef Peter Cham, the portfolio’s new head of culinary operations, all part of the brands’ concerted expansion of wine country hospitality experiences.
The new Gleason Family Vineyards winemaking team brings two decades of combined wine world experience to the family-owned business’ state-of-the-art winery operation, which houses the production of all of the group’s labels. As the winemaking crew enters the 2021 harvest season, the team has also launched the new and exclusive Gleason Family Vineyards label, a selection of reserved bottlings showcasing the estate properties’ best and most unique lots for each vintage, including a 2020 Pétillant Naturel of Sangiovese and a 2020 Sauvignon Blanc.
“The exuberance and grace that Max and Kat exhibit as our winemaking team is tremendous. We’re able to work in lock step to continue building the vision of Roblar and Refugio wines, and it’s truly a joy,” said Matthew Bieszard, Gleason Family Vineyards General Manager.
As the new winemaking team, Marshak and Neenan are processing 16 different varietals sourced from the portfolio’s estate vineyards, plus a small amount of fruit purchased from Sta. Rita Hills vineyards. The Roblar and Refugio estate vineyards produce about 170 tons of fruit annually, and the operation’s overall case count totals approximately 12,000 cases.
Marshak’s interest in the science of fermentation began with small-scale home-brewing and winemaking experiments which were side passions to his early careers in construction, commercial fishing, and writing for fly fishing and hunting magazines. Marshak’s segue to the wine and hospitality realm began while he was tending bar in New York City, where he was able to interact with winemakers and wine brands. He secured the opportunity to learn directly from some of California’s best winemakers in 2012 when he landed on the Central Coast as an intern at Santa Ynez Valley’s Fess Parker Winery.
The following year, Marshak joined JONATA wineries as an intern, which turned into the fulltime position of enologist for all three of the winery’s well-known brands: JONATA, The Hilt, and The Paring.
“I was so lucky to have the opportunity to form my winemaking career under the mentorship of winemaker Matt Dees, alongside JONATA’s assistant winemaker, Drew Pickering, and to work with vineyards and brands of uncompromising quality,” Marshak commented.
In 2014, he started his own wine label, Marshak Wine Company, sourcing highly-curated Santa Barbara County fruit for very small volumes of “lovingly crafted” wines. Marshak joined Gleason Family Vineyards in 2020 as head winemaker for all of the portfolio’s brands.
Marshak is assisted in the Gleason Family Vineyards winery facility by one of Santa Barbara County’s woman winemakers, Kat Neenan (née Gaffney). Neenan’s winemaking career similarly started in the hospitality world, while she was working in a destination resort’s five-star dining room where she learned about fine dining and Old World wines. She began studying to become a sommelier, and experienced her first wine harvest in 2011 in San Luis Obispo’s Edna Valley AVA.
Now ten years into her winemaking career, the majority of Neenan’s training has occurred on California’s Central Coast. She has also worked harvests in Oregon and in the Marlborough region of New Zealand, and has had the privilege of working with many skilled winemakers who have helped her to hone her craft.
Roblar Winery and Vineyards, where the portfolio’s winery operation is located, is at 3010 Roblar Avenue (at the intersection of Roblar Avenue and Highway 154), Santa Ynez, CA, 93460. To reach Roblar directly, please call 805.686.2603. Roblar is open daily for wine tasting experiences and bottle purchases, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Advance tasting reservations are requested. Chef Cham’s new “Bites Menus” are offered Friday through Sunday, and house-made, to-go style sandwiches and salads are available in Roblar’s “bodega” the remainder of the week.
More information about Roblar Winery and Vineyards, including Roblar’s food and wine Experiences and the hospitality team, is available at www.RoblarWinery.com.
Questions, media requests for interviews, visits, and/or photos, may be directed to Anna Ferguson-Sparks, Stiletto Marketing, at 1.877.327.2656 or restaurants@stilettomarketing.com.
About the Gleason Family Vineyards Portfolio
The Gleason Family Vineyards (www.GleasonFamilyVineyards.com) hospitality portfolio is an independent, family-owned and operated group of brands which includes Roblar Winery and Vineyards, Refugio Ranch Vineyards, and Royal Oaks Wines.
The Gleason family’s carefully-selected and meticulously farmed Santa Ynez Valley estate vineyards produce a variety of grapes from Sauvignon Blanc to Roussanne, Grenache to Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon to Syrah, all destined for expertly-crafted wines from the seasoned team of winemaker, Max Marshak, and assistant winemaker, Kat Neenan. Joining the Roblar Winery and Vineyards and Refugio Ranch Vineyards labels, is the new and exclusive Gleason Family Vineyards label, a selection of reserved bottlings showcasing the estate properties’ best and most unique lots for each vintage.
Roblar Winery and Vineyards (www.RoblarWinery.com), 40 acres of grand oak-studded grounds located at the crossroads of the Santa Barbara County towns of Santa Ynez and Los Olivos, offers immersive wine country itineraries for afternoons, overnights, and private events. The property boasts a 5,000-square-foot tasting room and multiple outdoor seating and event areas, and includes the luxe Roblar Farm ranch home, complete with an infinity pool overlooking vineyard views. Celebrate special occasions with an intimate chef’s dinner in the state-of-the-art winery, on the one-acre, organic Roblar Farm, or at the estate’s black-and-white, indoor-outdoor event venue, the Tuxedo Barn. @RoblarWinery
The Los Olivos, CA tasting room for Refugio Ranch Vineyards (www.RefugioRanch.com), built c.1912, served as the warehouse for Pinal-Dome Refining Co. (later Union Oil), where tank cars from the Pacific Coast Railway were filled. The historical, early-1900s warehouse has been preserved, and now features two wine tasting bars, a VIP lounge, and an expansive outdoor deck, one of the largest tasting locations in Los Olivos. The 415-acre Refugio Ranch estate may be toured by appointment, awarding guests with wine tasting by the property’s Upper Pond, with views of the Santa Ynez Valley and San Rafael Mountains. @RefugioRanch
