Oakwild Ranch Toboni Vineyards (Consulting Winemaker)

Starlite Vineyards (Consulting Winemaker)

Leslie Sisneros spent two years at the University of California, San Diego, before receiving a B.S. degree in Plant Science/Viticulture from the University of California, Davis. She then participated in a thirteen-month-long global agricultural work program, after which she married and started her family.

She joined Kendall Jackson Winery in 1993 when it acquired the Vinwood Cellars winery in Geyserville, CA. She rose to assistant winemaker in charge of operations and flavor winemaker for Pinot Noir, gaining a wealth of experience during 13 years with a number of winemakers, ultimately earning the title of “Pinot Noir Princess.” Prior to Vinwood, she worked at the Rodney Strong, Chateau St. Jean, Haywood, and John Culbertson Wineries.

At Kendall Jackson, she crafted four tiers of Pinot Noir, with production ranging from 48 to 120,000 cases. She focused on the cool climate vineyards and terroirs of the Russian River and Anderson Valleys, and Monterey and Santa Maria Counties. Her mission was to work with the most intensely flavored clones to provide elegance and structure for the ultimate Pinot Noir.

From 2005 to 2012, Leslie was the winemaker at Arista Winery in Healdsburg, where she crafted Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer. She was the winemaker and co-owner of Murder Ridge Winery from 2015 to 2018. Leslie currently is the consulting winemaker for Starlite Vineyards and Oakwild Ranch (Toboni Vineyard).

A native of Southern California, today she lives in Sonoma County with her husband and three children. She enjoys living in the country and getting her hands dirty. Leslie’s mission is to work with the most intensely flavored clones to provide elegance and structure.