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Winemaking Team
The Terlatos use a collaborative winemaking approach that brings together several superbly trained and experienced winemakers. Meet the Sanford winemaking team.
Team - Trey Fletcher
Trey Fletcher
Senior WINEMAKER
Trey Fletcher’s focus since joining the Terlato family-owned Sanford in 2019 is to craft wines that are clear and true representations of this unique and extraordinary site. Trey employs a visionary, seamless and thoughtful approach to winegrowing which, for him, is the cornerstone to Sanford’s quality and future.
Trey’s experience includes work at some of California’s most highly acclaimed wineries, including Littorai, and Bien Nacido. A fifth generation Californian, he was introduced to wine at a young age and has worked in vineyards and cellars since he finished high school. He spent several years on a globe-trotting winemaking career following the harvest between Switzerland, New Zealand, Argentina and Northern California. Trey then went on to graduate in viticulture and enology from Fresno State University, with the desire of making wine in California. Trey has called Santa Barbara County his home for the past 11 years with his wife and two children.
Team - Laura Hughes
Laura Hughes
AssOCIATE Winemaker
Laura’s winemaking career began at Schramsberg Vineyards of Napa Valley, CA in 2008 as a Laboratory Intern. Two years later, she gained her Bachelors of Science in Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis and was awarded the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin Scholarship to work abroad in Burgundy, France in 2010. In the following years, Laura continued to work harvest internships abroad and at home. Through this exposure, Laura gained an appreciation for “terroir” and a passion for producing quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
This passion led Laura to Sanford Winery in 2012 where she started as the Enologist and was promoted to Assistant Winemaker in 2015 and Associate Winemaker in 2019.
Team - Auggie Rodriguez
Auggie Rodriguez
Cellar Master
Cellar Master Auggie Rodriguez has been a part of Sanford Winery from the very beginning. Auggie’s father was one of Sanford Winery's first employees hired to help plant the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in 1971. He worked on the estate for the next 20 years, retiring in 1991.
Auggie started working for Sanford in 1986 at the age of 16. Still in high school, he worked summers and weekends at the winery. Auggie attended the Culinary & Hotel School at Santa Barbara City College, while continuing to be part of the production team and managing the cellar for Sanford.
Since graduating from SBCC, he has continued to work in the cellar at Sanford in addition to working independently as a chef. After 30 years of working with Sanford, he still brings an incredible passion and energy for making wine from the vineyards that he grew up on.
Team - Erik Mallea
Erik Mallea
DIRECTOR OF VITICULTURE
Erik comes from a farming family, originally from northwestern Minnesota. He majored in Biology and Geology at Oberlin College before heading west to start working in vineyards and wineries. Erik worked for producers in Oregon, New Zealand, and California's Central Valley before coming to Santa Barbara County.
Erik started working with the Sanford estate vineyards in 2009 while completing his M.S. in Viticulture and Enology. He lives in Gaviota with his wife on her family's historic farm.