Auggie Rodriguez
CELLAR MASTER
Cellar Master Auggie Rodriguez has been a part of Sanford Winery from the very beginning. Agguie’s father was one of the first employees hired by Michael Benedict & Richard Sanford 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, not yet knowing that it would become a lifelong passion. 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. In 2004, Auggie was named Cellar Master for Sanford. 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.