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Rajat Parr - Winemaking Consultant

Rajat ("Raj") Parr is internationally recognized for his passion for cool climate wine growing regions including our San Luis Obispo Coast AVA. His rich history and love for cool-climate, classic, French-inspired wines make Raj the perfect fit for Stolo Vineyards’ vision.

In conjunction with working with Stolo Vineyards, Raj produces wine under Sandhi, Domaine de la Cote, and Evening Land. He is currently working on another boutique vineyard project in cool-climate San Simeon CA.

In addition to his success as a winemaker and recipient of Wine Spectator's Grand Award, Raj is an accomplished wine grape grower, sommelier, and wine author. His most popular books are; 2018 The Sommelier's Atlas to Taste and 2010 Secrets of the Sommelier's.

Parr credits his uncle in England for first introducing him to great wines, which inspired him to begin his career as an apprentice to one of the industry’s most acclaimed master sommeliers, Larry Stone at Rubicon in San Francisco. While working closely with Stone, Raj gained extensive knowledge of great wines from around the world.

Sarah Snyder - Cellar Master

Perhaps the fact that the wine industry found Sarah in 2011 was inevitable. A curious student of Anthropology at the University of Colorado at Boulder that threw tapas parties in her college apartment, it’s no wonder a career path that draws together history, culture, geology, botany and conviviality was so alluring.

Tasting room work led to successive harvest seasons in the Santa Cruz Mountains and New Zealand. Hoping to expand her language for the global range of wine, Sarah attended the International Culinary Center in 2014 and graduated at the top of her class, and with her Certified Sommelier designation from the Guild of Master Sommeliers.

Over the next six years she honed her skills, working diverse restaurant floors, laboring with vineyard crews and in the cellar, traveling much of the winegrowing world to explore an extensive portfolio of wines. She had the opportunity to curate her own wine list and wine pairing menu at San Francisco's Michelin-starred Commonwealth Restaurant – a highlight of her career thus far.

Years spent with wines and vines have offered a deep education on unanticipated subjects; in many ways, the topic of wine has affected Sarah’s view of not just agriculture, but nature, the human experience and time, as well as our place within these planes. With an interest in low-intervention coastal wines, that are allowed to express their terroir, Sarah joined the winemaking team with Stolo Vineyards, in beautiful Cambria, in 2020.

Sarah spends her spare moments snowboarding and backpacking the Sierras, playing on the water, cooking fished and foraged foods over fire and dragging out her mornings over coffee with Ryland and her pup, Isla.

Lucas Pope - Vineyard Consultant

Lucas joined Stolo Vineyards in 2010 and his expertise has been fundamental
during planting and in managing the viticultural challenges we face in this extreme
coastal climate. Through his commitment to sustainable farming and innovative
growing practices we have been able to prove the true potential of our unique site.

Lucas has dedicated his career to ultra-premium vineyard management on the Central Coast since graduating from Cal Poly in Wine and Viticulture. His experience has ranged from founding a vineyard management company in the Santa Cruz Mountains to nearly a decade as Vineyard Manager at Halter Ranch. In 2017 his innovation and influence in the industry garnered Lucas the “Top 40 Under 40” from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Lucas is first vineyard manager to ever make this esteemed list.

Lucas is currently the Director of Vineyard Operations at Coastal Vineyard Services, managing top vineyards throughout the region, while also serving as Vice President of the Vineyard Team SIP Board of Directors.

Azael Beceril - Vineyard Manager

Azael has managed the day to day operations of Stolo Vineyards and property for over 15 years. Azael has dedicated himself to producing and managing our ultra-premium wine grape growing program with hands-on attentiveness. His knowledge of Stolo Vineyards is instrumental to maintaining our commitment to quality through strict sustainable farming practices.

Originally from Mexico City, Azeal is raising his family with us here in Cambria. As a full time resident on the estate you will ALWAYS see Azael with a smile on his face! Everyone at Stolo is so grateful to have him as a leader of the vineyard team.

Scott Wills - General Manager

At Stolo Scott focuses his energy on our consumer experience and operations management.

Scott has a passion for everything the Central Coast has to offer, where he is raising his family and contributing to the community and wine business in Cambria California. 

Scott began his career in publishing, going on to build and manage some of the nations most successful brands. 

For over ten years he has been a technology and wine industry professional in the San Luis Obispo/Paso Roble area, managing consumer engagement with Denner Vineyards and management for Emerson Brown Wines.

Maria Stolo-Bennetti  - Managing Partner

Maria has been involved in the wine industry for twenty years.  Her background encompasses direct and wholesale sales as well as marketing for boutique wineries primarily from the Napa and Sonoma regions. 

In 2004, Maria partnered with Don and Charlene Stolo to develop Stolo Vineyards’ estate label. All three partners saw the potential in the ultra-coastal vineyard location for premium cool climate growing.  Over the years, as the exposure continues to grow,  Maria’s focus for the label remains on quality and place.

She continues to champion the unique location of the vineyard through the establishment of the Pacific Coast Wine Trail as well as being a founding member in the development of a new coastal AVA in San Luis Obispo County.