Winemaker (Winemaker Emerita)

Signe Zoller began her winemaking career in 1984, after earning a Master’s degree in Enology from the University of California, Davis. A pioneer in the wine industry, Signe has created a name for herself, not only because she is a female winemaker in a predominantly male trade, but also because her innovation and drive have established her as one of the notable winemakers in California.

Her extensive knowledge of winemaking started at Kendall-Jackson winery in the 1980s when it was only a six-person operation. From there, Signe moved on to lead the winemaking at Meridian Vineyard with founding winemaker Chuck Ortman. She also held senior winemaking positions at Cambria Winery in Paso Robles.

Although Signe found contributing to the success of the wineries she worked for to be fulfilling, she wanted to further her winemaking experience by sharing with others the gratification and reward of crafting luxury wine. She discovered that many wine aficionados and wine trade professionals envisioned making custom small lots of premium wine but had limited choices in how to go about doing it. It was for this reason that she began consulting to help people to create wines that reflect the individual needs and preferences of the client. Her clients included Barr Estate Winery, Ramos Torres Winery, Leprino Ranch, Twin Coyotes, Valissimo Vineyards, Love Bird Wines, and 3in.

Signe has worked in most of California’s wine regions. She has received numerous awards for her wines, including Best of Show awards at the California State Fair, the Long Beach, and the Monterey Wine competitions. In addition, both the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and the Central Coast Winegrowers Association have named her “Winemaker of the Year.”

Signe gives back to the wine industry through forums and membership on the California Polytechnic University Wine and Viticulture Advisory Committee. She professionally judges wine competitions, including the prestigious Orange County Wine Competition, and she is a past President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association.