A native of Australia, Matt Steel is well-versed in cool-climate grape varieties and right at home in the vineyards of the Central Coast, where he is General Manager, Viticulture and Winemaking for Sea Smoke.
“There are many parallels between California’s Central Coast and Australia’s coast, especially the great effects the maritime influence has on our grapes,” says Matt. “I want to incorporate this aspect into the wines in a way that is really expressive of the region.”
Matt’s interest in wine started as he worked alongside his father in the family wine shop. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science with a focus on Enology from the University of Adelaide in South Australia. He then built a strong foundation in winemaking as an apprentice at Petaluma Wines in Piccadilly. It was there that Matt developed his acute attention to detail in the vineyard and in the cellar.
Matt’s winemaking journey led him through the varied terrain of Victoria, specifically the vineyards of the famed Yarra Valley, Australia, where he served as Chief Winemaker for both still and sparkling wines at Domaine Chandon Australia. As the Winemaker and General Manager of Medhurst Wines, also in the Yarra Valley, Matt elevated the wine quality and built the winery’s reputation among wine connoisseurs. He then served as the General Manager at JUSTIN & Landmark Vineyards in Paso Robles. Prior to working at Sea Smoke, Matt oversaw winemaking at some of the most acclaimed brands in the GALLO portfolio: Talbott Vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Denner Wines & Vineyards in Paso Robles and The Language of Yes, a collaboration with Randall Grahm sourcing across the Central Coast.
Matt enjoys exploring the Central Coast through a variety of outdoor activities with his family and friends. He loves being a part of such an active community, where he can run, ride and hike in his spare time. Matt also loves cooking and making a mess in the kitchen while he experiments with flavors from all over the world.
Molly Lonborg is a Paso Robles winemaking veteran with a passion for organic farming and deep experience in crafting Rhône-style wines. Molly graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2009 with a B.S. degree in Earth Sciences and a concentration in Wine and Viticulture. After studying geology in New Zealand, she gained wine production skills at two Central Coast wineries. She then joined Halter Ranch in 2011 and rose through the ranks to the position of Associate Winemaker. In late 2019, Molly was named ‘Winemaker of the Month’ by Wine Business Monthly, which affirmed her as a rising star in California winemaking. She took the head winemaker position at Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery in 2020, where she honed her talents with Rhône varieties. As Senior Winemaker at Booker Vineyard since the spring of 2025, Molly oversees the daily winemaking operations at this iconic Willow Creek District Estate. Molly lives on a ranch in Paso Robles with her husband, Regenerative Vineyard Consultant Jordan Lonborg; their two children, daughter Alma and son Ziggy; and beloved dog Desmond. Along with wine, Molly enjoys camping, hiking, traveling, live music and growing organic crops.
Nicholas is EVP at the Thornhill companies. He has represented the companies on several boards and associations, including director of the Wine Institute and the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association.
In 2022 Nicholas was recognized by The Wine Enthusiast as their Wine Executive of the Year for their Wine Star Awards.
In 2025 the Millers were recognized by the California Association of Winegrape Growers with their most prestigious honor as Winegrowers of the year.
Joel Peterson is a seasoned marketing and communications leader with more than 20 years of experience in the wine and beer industries. As CEO of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA), he leads an organization representing over 200 wineries and 500 businesses, advancing initiatives that promote, protect, and elevate Paso Robles Wine Country.
After earning his degree from the University of Arizona, Peterson began his career in film production in Los Angeles before transitioning into the wine industry in 2003. He has held roles with L’Aventure, JUSTIN, and Hope Family Wines, later worked in public relations for wineries and regional associations, and helped lead marketing efforts at Firestone Walker.
Deeply committed to his community, Peterson has served 12 years on the Paso Robles School District Board and is a board member of the Central Coast Economic Forecast. He lives in Paso Robles with his wife Dagny, and their two daughters.
As the CEO of the Santa Barbara Vintners, Alison Laslett works to promote and protect the Santa Barbara Wine Region. The region boasts over a hundred wineries, more than 300 labels, and 70+ varieties of wine. Since joining the organization in 2017, the region has increased retail sales significantly, won the Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award for Region of the Year in 2021, and Alison was named one of the Top Women in Business by the Pacific Coast Times. In 2025, with the formation of the Wine Preserve, Santa Barbara County became the largest Wine Business Improvement District in the United States.
Alison advocates for the region both locally and state-wide, working with tourism and lobbying partners to advance the reputation and rights of the industry. New to wine when she joined the Vintners, Alison previously spent time in both established nonprofits and start-ups, working with significant funders, including Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.
Now, she enjoys her new-found knowledge of wine, working with colleagues across the state to continue to help the region thrive.
