One of the pillars of Palmaz Vineyards is the family legacy we have created; three generations live and work on the property, enjoying the literal fruits of our labor.  And as the third generation grow up, they continue to become more interested in the business and finding their future place.

Although we are so excited for the continuation of Palmaz family members’ involvement, we have more exciting news to share.  For more than 20 years, Tina Mitchell as worked tirelessly to farm our vineyards and craft our wines.  For nearly 18 of those years, her son Doug Mitchell has been learning the ropes; working his way from intern to lab technician and finally to assistant winemaker.  Today, we are thrilled to announce that Doug has taken over as winemaker with this year’s harvest, allowing Tina to ease into a well-deserved retirement!

After working alongside each other for so many years, the Mitchell winemaking team has focused on quality and precision, where the foundation is set in the vineyard and seamlessly translated to the winery.  “Leading the vineyard operation is incredibly important. It’s where everything starts and having control over the vineyard’s health and management is essential to producing great wine. While we don’t have much control over the vintage, as Mother Nature dictates a lot, we do our best to mitigate challenges” Doug said.  Common goals of excellence for the entire team are shared, everyone working toward crafting the finest wines possible.

And while attention to detail and deep-rooted tradition is always a cornerstone of the winemaking philosophy, innovation is still a key part of the Palmaz culture.  Both Doug and Tina have played a key role in the development of many of the unique tools we use while maintaining their artistic expression.  “Data is a powerful tool in winemaking. The more information we have, the better decisions we can make, especially when it comes to vineyard management and fermentation techniques” Doug says, “Being able to look back at historical data helps us track patterns and anticipate challenges in future vintages. This data-driven approach, combined with [our] artistic expression, allows us to refine our techniques and move forward with confidence.”  

As we wrap up harvest on the new vintage, we’re all looking forward for what’s to come, particularly Doug in his new role.  “I look forward to every new vintage and the unique challenges it brings. Each vintage is different, and there’s always something new to learn. The process of adapting to what nature gives us while striving to make the best wine possible is something I’m always excited about.”  

We are too, Doug, and we raise a glass to you and Tina on a job well done and a position well earned.  On behalf of the family, Cheers!