Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards have announced that Andy Alba, who has held the position of Winemaker since 2009, has assumed additional responsibilities giving him overall leadership and direction of winemaking and vineyard management. With his additional responsibilities, Alba will oversee all aspects of wine production at the company’s three estate vineyards.

Alba has been a part of the Dierberg /Star Lane since their inaugural vintage in 2001. Alba will oversee Assistant Winemaker, Chris Carter, vineyard managers, and the balance of the wine production staff. Alba will also be supported by Coastal Vineyard Care Associates, a third-party vineyard consultant that has assisted Dierberg / Star Lane since the start of the year.

Jim Dierberg, president and founder of Dierberg / Star Lane said about Alba, “We are very excited that Andy will be assuming full responsibility for our vineyards and all aspects of winemaking. Andy has invaluable knowledge about our vineyards and our wines from having been a part of the winemaking team since inception. I am confident that Andy’s leadership will take Dierberg and Star Lane wines to new heights.”

A San Diego native, Alba studied biology at UCSD, and remains intrigued by the natural chemical process. Alba began his career developing diabetes drugs at a Southern California biotech company. His interest in chemistry, coupled with a sense of wanderlust, brought him to the Central Coast in 1998 to perform wine analytics. The Dierbergs made their wine at the co-op facility where Alba was employed during the construction of their Star Lane winery facility. In 2001 Alba became intimately involved in producing their wines and understood the style they hoped to achieve. When asked to describe his winemaking style, Alba responds, “I try to produce wines that are natural, not overly manipulated, that reveal the essence of their birthplace. That’s how I know I’ve done my job.” In 2005, when the Dierbergs were ready to move their wines into the Star Lane winery facility, Alba moved with them. “I was a stowaway in the barrels,” he says with a smile.