A native Californian, Coby Parker-Garcia was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. Growing up working in the family garden he realized his love for agriculture. After extensive trips to Europe and South America he knew the wine industry was his true calling. During his college days at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo he studied Agribusiness Marketing with a minor in Wine and Viticulture. While at Cal Poly, he worked on the campus vineyard learning the ins and outs of growing grapes. Not only did he spend time in the vineyard but also took an internship with a local winery. There his love for winemaking grew and pushed his passion for wine even further.
In 2004 the opportunity to work for Claiborne & Churchill came up. He took the responsibility as assistant winemaker. Under the guidence of Clay Thompson, he learned traditional European winemaking techniques that emphasized minimal manipulation of both fruit and wine. Wanting to continue his education further he took classes at the University of California Davis. This gave him insight to new an improved winemaking techniques. By 2007 Coby was promoted head winemaker for Claiborne & Churchill. Today he oversees the entire wine production, their estate vineyards, and works closely with numerous vineyard managers along the Central Coast.
Besides working for Claiborne & Churchill, Coby helpes his wife's family vineyard in the Russian River, AVA.
Tom literally spent his first year in the vineyard, before his parents Bill and Nancy moved from their house in the canyon to a more c”onvenient location in Edna Valley. Tom would visit the vineyard regularly throughout his childhood, helping out during harvest and doing odd jobs for his father. He later attended St. Mary’s College of California in the Bay Area, where he studied history and excelled as a member of the crew rowing team. After graduation, he returned to the Central Coast—and to the vineyard, of course. He ascended to the position of winemaker in 2009. “This is where I am at home,” he says. “I’m like my father. I like working outside and getting dirty, and taking a hands-on approach to the winemaking. I am looking forward to trying new things while maintaining the family traditions that we have here.