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Led by the example of honest, hardworking and dedicated owners who continue to have an active role in day-to-day operations, our team works together to grow high quality fruit all over the central coast, turn it into a wide selection of truly exceptional wines, and deliver it to the world around us with a smile. In addition to our owners, winemaker, and vineyard manager, Derby has a great team of folks who run our Downtown Tasting Room in Paso Robles – Come by and say hi to us anytime!
+Steve Vierra, Director of Vineyard Operations
+Sean Geoghegan, Winemaker
+Ray & Pam Derby, Proprietors
Steve Vierra, Director of Vineyard Operations
Steve Vierra started his viticultural career at Laura’s Vineyard in 1996 while an undergraduate student at Cal Poly. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in soil science, and joined the Vineyard Professional Services company. While there, he became a Certified Professional Soil Scientest and designed and installed a number of well-renouned Paso Robes vineyards. His vintage experience spans over 2 decades, including time in New Zealand, Chile and Australia. Steve came to Derby in 2010. Today, he oversees all the growing, harvesting and maintenance of our three vineyards, and plays a pivotal role in negotiating grape sale contracts with many local wineries each year.
“With Derby,” he says, “I have the challenging and rewarding opportunity to farm cool climate Pinot Noir in San Simeon, Rhône varietals in the Templeton Gap, and Bordeaux varietals in the Estrella district all in the same day.”
Steve Vierra can be contacted at [email protected].
Sean Geoghegan, Winemaker
Originally from Berkeley, Sean Geoghegan grew up in Sonoma, California. He studied Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis before going on to work at Mount Eden Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains where he embraced the Burgundian style of winemaking. While there Sean witnessed and participated in each stage of the winemaking process: Planting, pruning, harvesting, crushing, bottling and aging. In 2018 Sean and his wife moved south to Paso Robles, and Sean came to Derby Wine Estates. His experience working from vine to bottle fit right in at Derby, where we produce 100% Estate grown wines. Sean’s modern and elegant style of winemaking shows itself in Derby’s high quality blends and single varietals.
Some of his favorite wines that he makes at Derby include the Fifteen 10 White – a soft and sophisticated blend of white Rhone grapes, and the Derby Rose, a bright and fun summer wine.
Sean Geoghegan can be contacted at [email protected].
Ray & Pam Derby, Proprietors
Ray and Pam Derby retired to the central coast in the 1990’s and, having a long-time interest in the wine world, set out to start a small operation as grape farmers supplying local wineries with high quality, local fruit. After a number of years as farmers, however, they realized the unique advantage they had in growing Estate fruit in 3 different AVA’s across SLO county. After a bumper crop in 2005 left them with a much larger harvest than usual, they decided to start their own label: Derby Wine Estates.
Since then, the production side of the business has grown into a fully functioning boutique winery, with an annual case production of about 3,200 cases. The winery operates alongside our vineyard operations, which remain the Derby’s primary business function. Today the Derby’s are very involved in the Paso Robles community, and can often be found at various functions around town, or spending time talking with visitors at the winery.
Ray & Pam Derby can be contacted at [email protected].
