Doug Margerum

Owner/Director of Winemaking

Doug started his food and wine explorations while traveling with his parents at age 14 in France. His passion for food and wine was enhanced as he worked in restaurants as a cook and server throughout his high school and college years. Coinciding with his graduation from UCSB in 1981, his family purchased Wine Cask in Santa Barbara – which quickly expanded to include a simple bistro adjacent to the existing wine store. In 1994 Wine Cask became one of 74 restaurants in the world to earn the Wine Spectator Grand Award. Doug sold Wine Cask in 2007 after deciding to devote his energies to wine making. MARGERUM WINE COMPANY was established in 2001. Doug’s philosophy is to return to wine making in its previous form of production – handcrafted and personal. In addition to Margerum & BARDEN wines, Doug is also the winemaker/consultant for Happy Canyon Vineyards and Paradise Springs of Santa Barbara.

Robert Daugherty

Head Winemaker

Robert’s understanding and interest in winemaking developed at an early age while working alongside his aunt and uncle, Diana and Rick Longoria, owners and winemakers of Longoria Wines, one of Santa Barbara County’s legendary wineries. Under their mentorship, he learned the art and appreciation of crafting elegant, handcrafted and food-friendly wines. After graduating college, Robert lived in Europe, where he further honed his passion and appreciation for global wines. Robert then moved to New Zealand for two harvests where he learned larger scale winemaking practices. Upon returning to California, he spent four years with Dierberg / Star Lane on their cellar and viticulture team. After working with fruit from the appellations of Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley, he then joined Winc as a start-up and helped significantly grow this business to its present size.

Carina Crowder

Assistant Winemaker

Carina’s journey into winemaking began with a profound appreciation for its blend of history, science and artistry, nurtured by her upbringing in an Italian household where food, wine, and conviviality were cherished. Fueled by this passion, she pursued a degree in Wine and Viticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Carina seized every opportunity to gain hands-on experience, working harvests in Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Napa. Eager to broaden her horizons beyond California, she ventured overseas, working in the Margaret River Region of Australia. It was after this time that she discovered Margerum Wine Company, and deeply resonated with their winemaking philosophy.

Fernando Lujan

CELLAR MASTER

Fernando Lujan is an experienced Cellar Master at Margerum Wine Company with over 23 years in the wine industry. He has developed extensive expertise in cellar operations, fermentation management, and hands-on production across all stages of winemaking. After arriving in the United States in the early 2000s, Fernando began working in vineyards before transitioning into cellar operations, launching a dedicated career in winemaking. Prior to joining Margerum Wine Company in 2023, he worked at Rideau Vineyard, Kita Wines, and Foley Family Wines, where he gained valuable experience and professional growth. His journey reflects dedication, resilience, and passion for his craft. He is grateful to winemaker Robert Daugherty and Douglas Margerum for the opportunity to be part of the Margerum Wine Company team.

Ryan Lamb

WAREHOUSE MANAGER

Ryan was born and raised in California’s Santa Ynez Valley and has built his career in the Central Coast wine industry. After more than a decade with Melville Winery, he joined Margerum Wine Company in April 2025 as Warehouse Manager, overseeing daily warehouse operations and logistics. Ryan lives in Lompoc with his family and enjoys spending time with his kids, fishing, traveling, hanging out with his dogs, and cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Remy Margerum

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Remy grew up around the family business, and his first jobs were stomping grapes, dumping bins, sampling fruit, and learning the ins and outs of how a small winery actually runs. He left to pursue dual degrees in Economics and Physics at UCSB, then spent nearly a decade outside wine, most of it at Nomad Goods, where as Director of Finance and later CFO he became known for building the data systems that let a fast-growing company scale, ultimately leading to an eight-figure acquisition. That combination of analytical rigor and hands-on familiarity with the cellar brought him back to Margerum as Chief Operating Officer. When he isn’t at the winery, Remy is usually sailing out of Santa Barbara Harbor or riding a road bike somewhere in the Santa Barbara hills.

Brooks Van Wingerden

Gerneral manager/director of sales

Raised in Santa Barbara, Brooks graduated from UCLA where she studied sociology and communications. While there, she worked for Sports Illustrated handling sales and marketing programs as well as market research for prominent advertisers. Upon graduation, Brooks worked at UBS Financial Services where she managed client relations and marketing programs for a high net worth wealth management team. After finishing her Certified Financial Planning degree at UCSB, she realized she wished to follow her passion for wine. Since joining Margerum Wine Company in 2010, she has used her financial background to quantify sales goals, manage the brand nationally for the company, and oversee the daily operations.

Christina Panameno

Chief Financial Officer

Armed with her degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Christina landed herself an executive assistant position to the CEO of a prominent investment company located in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district. Although she loved the experience that this afforded her, the beautiful central coast, a place where she is deeply rooted, was calling her back home. She set out in search of a career with a company that embodied the perfect ratio of hard work and good living and found a perfect fit with Margerum Wine Company.

Zoe Bennett

Wine Club and Website Manager

Zoe joined Margerum Wine Company in 2022, the same year she graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Originally from Ramona, California, home to a small but growing wine AVA in San Diego County, Zoe brings a genuine appreciation for wine and community to her role. She began her journey with Margerum as a Sales Associate, where she quickly fell in love with the wines and the relationships at the heart of the brand. Through her dedication to customer satisfaction and her love of connecting with people, Zoe worked her way into her current role as Wine Club and Website Manager. A true fan of Margerum wines, Zoe takes pride in nurturing meaningful relationships with members and is excited to continue growing and strengthening the wine club community.

Natalie Mowers

Sales ADMINISTRATOR

A Santa Barbara native, Natalie earned her B.S. in Statistics and Data Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Throughout her academic career, she gained experience in research, data analysis, and project coordination while working with interdisciplinary teams across the university. After years of working in hospitality while completing her degree, she developed a passion for creating exceptional customer experiences and supporting collaborative teams. Having always had an appreciation for food and wine, joining Margerum Wine Company immediately after graduation as Sales Administrative Coordinator was a natural fit. She looks forward to bringing her analytical skills and customer-focused mindset to the team while continuing to learn about the wine industry.

Alisia Beltran

OFFICE MANAGER

A proud Lompoc native, Alisia brings a diverse background in small business and marketing education, including professional networking through Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV).  She began her career in real estate, where she spent 12 years as a trusted and well-regarded Escrow Officer in the Lompoc and surrounding communities. She later transitioned into to the wine industry, landing at Margerum Wine Company, where she currently supports the CFO with administrative and accounting responsibilities.

She is proud to be part of the region’s evolving wine industry and brings a well-rounded perspective on financial administration, and the value of building strong professional relationships.

Lisa Rosner

DTC Sales and marketing manager

With an electric passion for food and wine, Lisa is driven by her love of creating special experiences and long-lasting memories. At any time, you will see her buzzing around the tasting room, visiting the new hot spots in town, or running the hills of the beautiful Santa Barbara landscape. Originally from San Clemente, California, Lisa was bit by the hospitality bug at a young age and never looked back. Even during her two years living in Qingdao, China, she found excitement in the culture, connecting to the community around her, so much so that she began writing monthly articles for the local food and travel magazine, Redstar. And wherever there is food, Lisa will make sure that there is a perfect wine to pair along with it! Since her move to Santa Barbara in 2019, Lisa has gained experience from the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Events by Rincon, University Club of Santa Barbara, and Hotel Californian. Now as the Margerum Sales and Marketing Manager, Lisa strives to expand the customer base through brand recognition, engaging events and create strong relationships for all food and wine lovers near and far!

David Jimenez

Chef

Chef David has been in the food industry for over 20 years, honing his craft in everything from bustling hotel kitchens to his own business. His passion for cooking shines through in every dish, combining creativity with precision in fast-paced environments. Dedicated to his craft, he thrives on curating unique flavors that leave a lasting impression. With a deep love for feeding people, he finds joy in their reactions to his thoughtfully crafted dishes. At Margerum Wine Company, he brings his expertise and passion to elevate the culinary experience.

Ben Merz

Co-Owner Coastal Vineyard Care

Ben joined Coastal Vineyard Care Associates after graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Viticulture and Agribusiness. Ben and his dedicated team at Coastal have played a pivotal role in the growth of Margerum Wines. They have been integral in farming Margerum’s Estate Vineyard and sourcing grapes from other reputable Santa Barbara County vineyards. Ben’s reputation as a respected viticulturist has fostered strong and lasting relationships with vineyard clients, winemakers, and industry professionals alike.

Juve Buenrostro

Margerum Estate Vineyard Manager

Juve leverages over two decades of experience in vineyard work and management in Santa Ynez Valley. His deep-rooted knowledge of the Margerum Estate vineyard and meticulous attention to detail makes him an invaluable asset to the Margerum Wine Company team. Juve ensures our grapes reach their fullest potential, embodying the unique terroir of Santa Ynez Valley and contributing to the creation of exceptional wines.