Sierra Madre Vineyard Owner Doug Circle announced today that Santa Maria Valley wine industry veteran Lane Tanner has been appointed to the position of Winemaker for the vineyard's eponymous brand. Tanner will be responsible for preserving the legacy of the site, and crafting wines for the estate's Sierra Madre Vineyard brand. She will inherit the winemaking reins from long-time friend and colleague Steve Rasmussen.

"I am very pleased to bring someone of Lane's caliber into the role, especially since she has experience with the vineyard going back almost thirty years," said Doug Circle, who purchased the vineyard in 2003. He is referring to Tanner having made wine from Sierra Madre Vineyard fruit for the Hitching Post brand and her own Lane Tanner label as early as 1984.

Further, Circle explained, "Steve and I are pleased to be passing the winemaking baton to Lane. This will allow Steve to focus on his other projects and businesses in San Luis Obispo."

"I've known Lane for many years," said Rasmussen, "and I welcome her back to Sierra Madre Vineyard." Rasmussen will continue to operate his growing mobile bottling line business as well as other winemaking projects.

The Sierra Madre Vineyard brand produces only estate-grown wines grown in Santa Maria Valley, namely Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. Originally planted in 1971, this certified sustainable vineyard also provides fruit to a number of other wineries.

"Sierra Madre Vineyard has always been my favorite vineyard, and I'm thrilled to be back working with this extraordinary piece of land," Ms. Tanner said. "This is my dream job."