Melissa Paris, a native of West Covina in Southern California, was a professional musical theatre dancer when she discovered an interest in wine. This led her to enroll at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, where she completed a B.S. degree, majoring in Wine and Viticulture with a concentration in Enology. Continuing her education through hands-on experience, Melissa completed internships in California, Australia, and New Zealand over a period of some five years, honing her skills in laboratory procedures, learning diverse techniques for winemaking, and benefitting from a variety of viewpoints on the process.

She joined Alpha Omega Winery in 2020 as the assistant winemaker, and her role there rapidly expanded. Among her responsibilities were managing all aspects of quality control, including lab operations, overseeing technical winemaking to optimize flow in production activities, and making component and final blending decisions for all Alpha Omega wines. Melissa also led the adoption of in-house advanced lab technology, ensured rigorous quality-control procedures, and developed protocols for cellar and bottling operations. In recognition of her talents, she was promoted to associate winemaker in 2023 and to winemaker in July, 2024, the first woman to hold this title at Alpha Omega.

With the goal of continuing to improve her winemaking skills and expertise, Melissa participates in an all-female wine-tasting group and earned a Global Wine Executive MBA from Sonoma State University in 2025.

When she’s not at the winery, Melissa enjoys spending time hiking, catching a baseball game, and unwinding with a good cup of tea. She recently picked up needlepoint, finding joy in the creativity and calm it brings after busy days in the cellar.