learn about us

who we are

our team

John & Gillian Wagner

John and Gill Wagner live part time in Los Angeles and spend the rest of their time at Peake Ranch. John grew up in Ventura County working on his family’s lemon and avocado orchards. He attended UCLA and completed a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Physics. John pursued a career in finance, but always wanted to return to agriculture. He has completed the UC Davis Certificate in Winemaking. Gillian was born in England but has lived in the States for many years. Gill serves on several philanthropic boards, the most important relating to the unhoused in Los Angeles. John and Gill have two sons, Tom and Joe.

Their connection with the Santa Barbara wine world began when they fell in love with the beautiful countryside, the amazing hospitality of ‘wine’ people and, of course, the wonderful wine of the region. Their commitment was sealed when they purchased Peake Ranch and built a winery and a small house on the property.

WYNNE SARGEANT

Wynne Sargeant grew up in Sonoma County, in the town of Windsor, and fell in love with the wine culture there. Being raised by a teacher and counselor, her pursuit of winemaking was her own path, stemming from a passion for chemistry and cooking. After graduating in 2010 with a Wine and Viticulture degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she worked with both Stephen Ross Winery and Melville Winery. She joined the Peake Ranch team in 2018, inaugurating our new winery and tasting room with the 2019 harvest.

MICHAEL ANDERSON

Mike spent most of his life in vineyards, and viticulture is both a profession and an avocation. He grew up working in his family’s grape nursery leading to an early interest in viticulture. After finishing his education at UC Davis, Mike served as a researcher, author, and educator at his alma mater for 30+ years. He was also manager of the University’s legendary Oakville Station. During this time, John Wagner enrolled in Mike’s viticulture class, eventually leading to a friendship and Mike’s post-retirement job at Peake Ranch in 2017.

eric grant

After a long career in the financial industry on the East Coast, Eric Grant, and his wife, Kathy, relocated to California to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Having been good friends of John and Gillian Wagner for decades, they brought Eric into the Peake Ranch family as head of marketing. He has been marketing our wines since August 2016. His learning curve in the wine business has been steep, to say the least, and he is enjoying every minute of it.

Maria Nikolantonaki

Dr. Maria Nikolantonaki is the consulting enologist for Peake Ranch. She was born and raised in Crete, Greece, and received her undergraduate degree in Viticulture and Enology from Aristotle University (Thessaloniki, Greece). Further study in Bordeaux, France, earned her a MS and Ph.D. in wine chemistry. Her exposure to California wine began with her post-doctoral position with Pr. Andrew Waterhouse at UC-Davis. Since the fall of 2013, she has been a professor at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. She brings a deep knowledge of wine chemistry and academic rigor to Peake Ranch.

Max Hara

Following completion of a Master’s at UC Davis in Viticulture & Enology, Max first came to Peake Ranch to work with Mike Anderson and learn more about viticulture. Subsequently, he joined Wynne in the winery and now serves as assistant winemaker. His background in science brings a valuable component to winemaking at Peake Ranch.

RITA, THE VINEYARD DOG

In a long tradition of Peake Vineyard dogs, Rita was born in Mississippi. She felt her strengths were better suited to welcoming guests to our Tasting Room over plunging into cold water for a dead duck. In a show of commitment, she changed her name to “Rita” in recognition of the Sta. Rita Hills where she “works”.

Each year the Wagner Family supports a charity that is making a positive impact in the world. Our 2022 Vintage supports the independent shakespeare co.

“Independent Shakespeare Co. is a Los Angeles theater company that believes we are interconnected. Every day, we cultivate a place of belonging for people with curious minds and adventurous hearts because we are reminded that we are never alone when we share joy, sorrow, and laughter.

We celebrate individuality, smash expectations, and create art that reflects our lives and diverse communities. We reimagine classics with ingenuity and stage bold, contemporary work. Whether you find us in the great outdoors or within the walls of our intimate studio space, there’s a place here for you.

Since emerging in the late ’90s, Independent Shakespeare Co. (led by co-founders Melissa Chalsma and David Melville), has brought enduring stories to the stage with unapologetic originality. In 2010, nestled into the natural amphitheater at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park, we found an ideal home for LA’s Free Shakespeare in the Park. Tucked away from the noise of the city, the new location proved to be ideal for tens of thousands of local Angelenos and intrepid visitors. Every summer, 40,000 audience members engage in a shared experience—enjoying picnics, performances, workshops, salon talks, and dance parties—completely free of charge.

You are invited to join us for a summer performance outdoors at the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival or indoors year-round at our Studio. Learn more: www.iscla.org“

Photo credit to Grettel Cortes.