Drawing on extensive experience from world-class wineries, Charlie aims to blend the finest techniques from each location into his winemaking practice, always seeking to innovate through experimentation.

Charlie has studied under the tutelage of many of Sonoma County’s wine luminaries, including:

Dan Goldfield (Dutton-Goldfield)
Bob Cabral (Williams Selyem)
Jeff Mangahas (Williams Selyem)
Andy Smith (DuMOL)

Though his career has been predominantly centered on Pinot Noir, Charlie relishes crafting a wide range of wine varieties, with a particular passion for conceptualizing new products.

Growing up in Ventura, CA, wine was not initially on Charlie’s radar. Seeking opportunities beyond his home state, he moved to Atlanta at 17 to attend Georgia Tech. After three years of studying Mechanical Engineering, he realized his true path lay elsewhere. This revelation brought him to Sonoma State University, where his oldest friend was playing baseball at the time. To fulfill upper-division elective requirements and for a bit of fun, he enrolled in Wine Business classes, which led to his first job in a small tasting room selling various Sonoma County wines.

In 2010, Charlie took a leap of faith and worked his first harvest at Bella Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, finding a sense of belonging. This sparked a journey in wine, taking him to Marlborough, New Zealand, where he worked at Vavasour Wines. Returning to the U.S. in 2011, he began his first stint at Williams Selyem. His winemaking travels continued to South Australia for a vintage at Bird in Hand Wines, followed by a fall season at DuMOL in Windsor in 2012. He returned to Williams Selyem for another year before joining Olivet Lane Vineyards in late 2013. By 2017, Charlie had taken over the winemaking program at Olivet Lane Vineyards, focusing on delicacy, finesse, balance, and brightness.

He is now proud to be part of the launch of North Avenue Cellars, a venture driven by a passion for creating wines that are heartfelt, inventive, and enjoyable.