October 15, 2024 / Santa Barbara, CA – SAMsARA, renowned for its limited-production wines from Santa Barbara County’s iconic Sta. Rita Hills AVA, is excited to announce the hiring of Tristan Pitre as the new Director of Sales & Membership. With his expertise and passion, SAMsARA is poised to enter a new phase of excellence, further elevating its commitment to crafting exceptional wines and creating unforgettable experiences for its members and guests.
With over a dozen years of experience in wine management and fine dining, Pitre brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role with SAMsARA. An Advanced Sommelier certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers, Pitre has held key positions as both Sommelier and General Manager for a number of well-known fine dining establishments across the country, including the acclaimed Relais & Chateaux restaurant Demi in Minneapolis. For the past four years, Pitre served as the Wine Director for Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts in Santa Barbara, overseeing the wine programs for multiple venues, including the renowned Stonehouse Restaurant at the San Ysidro Ranch. There, he leveraged his leadership and hospitality skills to elevate the resorts’ wine programs and guest engagement by curating diverse wine selections, developing unique wine tasting experiences for guests, and creating new opportunities to maximize profitability.
“SAMsARA is a small winery where we’re always striving to improve, innovate, and learn with every season, and a big part of that includes ensuring we have the best team,” shares co-owner Joan Szkutak. “From our first time meeting Tristan at Stonehouse Restaurant years ago, we were immediately impressed by his passion for wine and his outstanding people skills. We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome him to our leadership team and have the utmost confidence in his ability to guide and inspire us as we expand the reach of our wines to our community and beyond.”
As Director of Sales & Membership at SAMsARA, Pitre will oversee multiple facets of winery operations and hospitality, including direct-to-consumer relationships through membership outreach and wine club management, leading tasting experiences in the Los Olivos and Goleta Tasting rooms, and increasing community engagement and connections with SAMsARA members across the country. He will also play a key role in the brand’s strategic planning, working closely with owners Joan and Dave Szkutak to align marketing and sales goals and collaborating with winemaker Matt Brady to create unique offerings and educational content, all while serving as the primary point of contact for guest experiences and events.
“I feel fortunate to have worked at San Ysidro Ranch, which allowed me to meet so many incredible people in the Santa Barbara wine community, including Matt and the Szkutaks,” says Pitre. “It didn’t take me long to realize that SAMsARA not only produces exceptional wines but also fosters a culture of passion and genuine connection with its community, and I am grateful to now be a part of it all. While this new role differs from my previous ones, I’m excited to utilize my experience and skills to build upon the strong foundation that’s already in place at SAMsARA, helping to expand our presence locally and nationally. I look forward to creating memorable experiences for our club members, out-of-towners, and the many familiar faces I have met in this region over the years.”
About SAMsARA
Since 2002, the family-owned SAMsARA Wine Co. has produced limited releases of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Grenache from carefully selected micro-sites within Sta. Rita Hill’s most distinctive vineyards. Led by a commitment to sustainability and using minimally invasive winemaking practices, the wines deliver complexity with finesse and elegance, showcasing the specialness of Sta. Rita Hills terroir. Tastings are offered at SAMsARA’s tasting room in downtown Los Olivos as well at its winery/tasting room in Goleta, near downtown Santa Barbara. To learn more, visit www.samsarawine.com.
