Adam Tolmach
The Ojai Vineyard was started by Adam Tolmach the owner and winemaker. Adam has gathered and eclectic group of collaborators through the years to enable him to further realize and share his vision of what great central coast wine can be.
Dieter Duran
In short order Dieter has become the master of the cellar. He brings his great work ethic and attention to detail to the intricate and detailed practices needed to achieve the clarity and expression that is at the center of Adam’s aesthetic.
Nick Franklin
Nick set down roots at The Ojai Vineyard following years of work in education and writing. Over several years he has become our house wordsmith and now our General Manager. He’s a sucker for maps, an adventurous home cook, and he loves turning people on to dry Riesling.
Jack Witte
Jack has spent the past seven years immersed in hands-on winemaking, working harvests from California’s Central Coast to Sonoma, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and New Zealand’s Marlborough region. Between winery jobs Jack spent time in New York City’s East Village helping run a boutique wine and spirits store where he was first properly introduced to the wines of Adam Tolmach and The Ojai Vineyard. Eager to learn from such a legendary winemaker, in 2023 he started as a harvest intern at The Ojai Vineyard. He now splits his time between cellar work, days spent in the vineyard, pouring at events, and working with our national wholesale partners to share the stories behind our unique wines.
Leah Coles
We met Leah Coles when she opened her wine store (Paradise Wines in Ventura) before going on to become a wine representative until we asked her to join us and sell ours. She was so good that we asked her to join our team, representing us across the nation as our Wholesale Director. She is disarmingly kind, relentless in the pursuit of her goals and always with service in mind.
Mikaela Arenal
Mikaela joined us after years of working in fine dining, honing her skills as a sommelier. In addition to managing our Tasting Room and training our staff, she’s a terrific hand on the crushpad when needed. When she’s off the clock, she loves hanging at the beach with her family, friends, and her dog Otis (who you might meet when you come in).
Julia Heath
If you aren’t following us on social media, you need to be! Julia is the mastermind behind our imagery and customer service, her excitement and personality will certainly make you smile.
