Chris began his career in the wine industry at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he earned a BA in Agricultural Business with an emphasis on Wine Marketing. Shortly after, he worked in retail and in restaurants as a sommelier, where he developed his palate and started on a journey that’s taken him around the globe in pursuit of his art.

Working at some of the most respected wineries in the world, he gained hands-on experience in every aspect of winemaking. Vintages at Robert Biale in Napa and Kim Crawford in New Zealand provided a solid foundation in the cellar. A harvest in the Barossa Valley at Torbreck provided insight into the world of Rhône varietals. A couple of harvests at Williams-Selyem Winery introduced him to the temperamental Pinot Noir grape. More recently, Chris spent four vintages studying under Helen Turley while at Marcassin.

Over the last two decades, Chris has been involved with every facet of the wine industry. He is grateful for the opportunities he's had over the years to work so many talented people. They have been instrumental in in his career, and have helped to shape him as a winemaker. Today, Chris combines his passion and knowledge to grow and produce the wines for Skinner Vineyards, where he joins the family in carrying on their 150-year-old legacy of quality without compromise.