Karl Wittstrom
Owner
Karl Wittstrom
Owner
Karl Wittstrom oversees the daily management and operations of Ancient Peaks Winery. Karl is an entrepreneur, winegrower, rancher and longtime Paso Robles area resident who was raised amid his family’s ranching and farming business. Karl is a former director of the California Mid State Fair in Paso Robles, and he is a member of the California Cattlemen’s Association, California Farm Bureau and a past director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. He oversees his own family vineyard and co-owns Margarita Vineyard and Ancient Peaks Winery.
Doug Filipponi
Owner
Doug Filipponi
Owner
Doug Filipponi is a longtime local winegrower and Paso Robles native who oversees all vineyard operations for Ancient Peaks Winery. Doug was named “Wine Industry Person of The Year” by his wine industry peers at the 2006 California Mid State Fair in Paso Robles. He is also the president of Filipponi & Thompson Drilling, a past president of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, and a past chairman of the Paso Robles Wine Festival. Doug is co-owner of Margarita Vineyard and Ancient Peaks Winery.
Rob Rossi
Owner
Rob Rossi
Owner
Rob Rossi oversees strategic planning and development for Ancient Peaks Winery. Rob is a local entrepreneur and businessman with varied interests throughout the Central Coast. Rob is a newcomer to the wine industry, having introduced Robert Mondavi to Santa Margarita Ranch in 1999. Rob’s interests emphasize historic renovations and reuse projects, which have included the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo and Granada Theater in Santa Barbara. He co-owns Margarita Vineyard and Ancient Peaks Winery.
Mike Sinor
Founding Winemaker
Mike Sinor
Founding Winemaker
Mike Sinor is recognized as one of the Central Coast’s highest-rated winemakers. His winemaking career on the Central Coast spans more than 20 years. At Ancient Peaks Winery, Mike directs the quality and style of the wines, and he also oversees viticultural practices at the winery’s estate Margarita Vineyard. His first complete vintage with Ancient Peaks was 2006. “The opportunity to work with Margarita Vineyard is what really drew me to Ancient Peaks,” Mike says. “The growing conditions here are remarkable—and that’s something I’m driven to reflect in the wines of Ancient Peaks.”
Stewart Cameron
Winemaker
Stewart Cameron
Winemaker
Stewart Cameron oversees our daily winery operations and is involved in all facets of winemaking at Ancient Peaks along with Director of Winemaking Mike Sinor. After studying cellular and molecular biology in college, Stewart moved to San Luis Obispo. Here, found himself drawn to the wine industry. He caught the winemaking bug while working in a winery lab in Paso Robles, and he later joined Ancient Peaks in 2006. He worked his way up to the position of assistant winemaker and was promoted to winemaker in 2013, demonstrating an innate talent for winemaking along the way.
Barry J. White
Executive Vice President & General Manager
Barry J. White
Executive Vice President & General Manager
Barry’s responsibilities include general management, Direct-To-Consumer operations, and distribution channel expansion. He joined Ancient Peaks in 2024 following 3 years as General Manager at Barton Family Estate in Paso Robles and more than 20 years at Princess Cruises in various expanding management roles across many roles in Hospitality, Food & Beverage and Technology. Originally a native of Glasgow, Scotland, Barry now resides locally in Templeton with his wife Sharon and their daughters Kenna and Cami.
Kristin Muhly
VP of Sales & Marketing
Kristin Muhly
VP of Sales & Marketing
Kristin Muhly manages our national and international distributor relationships and oversees our national sales team. She also leads our winery’s marketing initiatives. Kristin was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. She earned her Ag Business and Wine & Viticulture degree at Cal Poly, and has worked in the wine industry ever since. Her experience includes stints at Justin Winery, Vines of Mendoza, Domaine Alfred and the Crimson Wine Group. She joined Ancient Peaks Winery in 2011. Kristin resides in Santa Margarita with her husband Taylor and their daughters, Maddie and Emma. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys hiking and horseback riding, as well as kicking back and barbecuing with friends and family.
Stephanie Metzler
Director of Sales and Education
Stephanie Metzler
Director of Sales and Education
Stephanie came to Ancient Peaks from the San Francisco Wine Exchange, where she worked as the west coast sales manager, serving as the primary interface with distributor partners. “Ancient Peaks is an innovative brand and my job is to match that innovation in our market approach,” she says. “My goal is to inspire and create momentum through every level of distribution, right down to the consumer. It all begins with great wines and strong relationships.” Stephanie lives in Sacramento with her husband Ryan and their cat Cheddar. When not traveling for work, Stephanie enjoys spending time outdoors. She is also an avid scuba diver.
Kyle Coots
Hospitality Manager
Kyle Coots
Hospitality Manager
As our Hospitality Manager, Kyle oversees the Ancient Peaks Tasting Room & Cafe. Kyle joined Ancient Peaks in 2018 with extensive experience in the food and beverage industry. After running his own restaurants in Placerville and San Luis Obispo, he felt drawn to the local wine experience and began his winery hospitality career in Paso Robles. “I really love working at Ancient Peaks as there is a true passion for family, the land and our guests,” he says. Kyle has lived in Santa Margarita for more than 15 years, where he enjoys spending time with his wife, Samadhy and their two children, Kyrie and Teio.
Melissa Walker
Wine Club Manager
Melissa Walker
Wine Club Manager
Melissa Walker oversees all aspects of our multifaceted wine club experience, including member relations, fulfillment and marketing. You could say that Melissa was destined to work at Ancient Peaks—she grew up in nearby Atascadero on a family ranch and vineyard. She first joined our winery in 2018 after graduating with a degree in Wine & Viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She worked her way up from her original internship to hold a variety of roles, including brand ambassador and Oyster Ridge event coordinator. In 2023, Melissa was promoted to Wine Club Manager, a position that draws upon her experience and relationships with our most valued customers.
Melodee Crank
Creative Director
Melodee Crank
Creative Director
Melodee came to Ancient Peaks with multifaceted experience as an event coordinator, photographer and graphic designer. She holds an associate of arts degree from the Art Institute of Dallas. She worked locally as an event and sales coordinator for Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and as a graphic designer for The Parable Group, before joining the renowned A. Blake Photography as an associate photographer. She lives in Paso Robles with her husband Jeff—who is a viticulturist—and their two daughters Josie and Anna. Her favorite pastimes include hiking local trails and kayaking with her family in Avila Beach.
Lindee Newman
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Lindee Newman
Sales & Marketing Coordinator
Lindee Newman has been with Ancient Peaks since 2020, starting in the tasting room and moving into guest services before joining the marketing department in 2021. In her current role, she supports national distribution, coordinate special industry visits, assists with graphic design, oversees merchandise in the tasting room and serves as the resident photographer, showcasing her versatility. Originally from Southern Oregon, Lindee has a background in Lighting Design and Technology, which she studied at her local university. She brings a unique blend of artistic and technical skills to her work, enhancing her approach to wine marketing with diverse talents.
Caroline Rossi
Marketing Strategist
Caroline Rossi
Marketing Strategist
Caroline Rossi is third generation to the Rossi family, Co-Owner Rob Rossi's granddaughter. She supports the development and execution of marketing and brand strategy. Caroline joined the Ancient Peaks team in 2021 after receiving her Bachelor's degree from Cal Poly in Hospitality. She has worked in the hospitality and events industry for several years which has given her great experience with managing marketing strategies for social media, coordinating, customer service skills, and more. Her love for the culinary arts pushed her to receive her culinary license which she loves to actively put to use in our Food & Wine pairing emails and posts. She loves spending time with her family and friends, going to concerts, and has been working on her golf skills.
Coral Brooks
Venue & Experience Coordinator
Coral Brooks
Venue & Experience Coordinator
Coral brooks originally came to Ancient Peaks in the beginning of 2021 to work in DTC with our wine club. After forging connections with many, she eventually moved into a role specifically working with members and guests alike to ensure they received the customer service that Ancient Peaks is known for - making them all feel welcomed as family! With the recent re-branding of our two beautiful barn venues on the ranch, Coral stepped into the role of Venue and Experience coordinator of SMR Events. Coral lives in beautiful Santa Margarita and enjoys working out, outdoor activities and spending time with her loved ones.