Susan Mahler, widely known as “SAM,” had an adventure-fueled, free-range 70s style youth, which embedded a strong sense of independence in her. She grew up camping in the great Northwoods and biked and skied cross country on the “Rails to Trails” prairie paths and State Parks of Illinois. At age 18, her love of the outdoors led her to Snowmass, Colorado, where she developed her cooking skills while working at two exceptional restaurants and gained a love of downhill skiing.

In 1986, SAM completed an AS degree in the field of aviation, with the goal of becoming a commercial pilot, but left this career to earn a B.A. degree in Earth and Planetary Science at UC Berkeley in 1992, which was followed by a five-year stint as a senior research associate at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She then went on to complete an M.S. degree in Remote Sensing from Berkeley in 2000.

SAM then took yet another significant detour in her career path in 2000: building on her love for and background in science, she moved into the wine industry. She was a co-owner and President of Four Vines Winery in Paso Robles until 2009 when it was purchased by Purple Wine Company. SAM then co-founded Cypher Winery, where she is now the sole proprietor and winemaker. Cypher produces Rhône and Bordeaux blends and single varietal wines.