GENERAL MANAGER

Debra Eagle brings 30 years of wine industry experience to her role at Alma Rosa, having directed marketing and sales for some of the country’s most important wineries, including the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery, the multi-million case Sutter Home Winery and the exclusive BOND. She is focused on the continued improvement of Alma Rosa’s vineyards and wines, as well as the expansion of the winery’s customer base and distribution in select markets across the country. Debra’s leadership has elevated Alma Rosa’s wine quality, vineyard practices, industry presence and consumer experiences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Mills College and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

WINEMAKER

Born and raised in war-torn Bosnia, Morris says that she still pinches herself every day that she gets to make wine in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Prior to joining Alma Rosa, Samra’s most impactful tutelage included working three harvests with one of Napa’s most respected consulting winemakers, Thomas Rivers Brown. Through this experience she came to appreciate site-specific farming, high-touch viticulture, and thoughtful cellar management. In 2019, Samra was recruited as assistant winemaker at Alma Rosa Winery in Santa Barbara County and was quickly promoted to winemaker in 2020. Since taking the reins as Alma Rosa’s winemaker, she has been recognized by critics for producing wines from the Sta. Rita Hills that offer a striking combination of energy and texture.

Samra holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food sciences from The University of Sarajevo. While her initial focus post-graduation was on fermentation sciences in relation to beer, she knew she wanted to work in wine, and as luck would have it, her American husband took an assignment at the Travis Airforce Base in 2012, just a stone’s throw from the Napa Valley. Her future is now, and the best is yet to come.

CONSULTING WINEMAKER

A fifth generation Northern Californian, winemaker Tony Biagi brings decades of experience to his role as consulting winemaker with Alma Rosa. Tony graduated in 1995 with a degree in fermentation science from the University of California, Davis, and has since become one of the most sought-after winemakers in California. Throughout his career, he worked as winemaker for iconic wineries including Duckhorn, PlumpJack Estate, CADE Estate and Sinegal Estate, before joining Hourglass as winemaker in 2012. He is currently the winemaker for Hourglass and To-Kalon Vineyard Co., and he has his own wine brand, Patria. Tony leads an active consultancy business, which includes working alongside Alma Rosa Winemaker Samra Morris. In 2020, Biagi was named “Winemaker of the Year” by renowned wine critic Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media.

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Megan Bravo brings 20 years of experience in the wine industry to her role at Alma Rosa. A native of Santa Barbara County, Megan is dedicated to promoting the Santa Barbara wine industry and elevating the tasting experiences at Alma Rosa’s downtown Solvang tasting room and historic Ranch House. In addition, she oversees Alma Rosa’s website, its robust wine club, and direct marketing. Megan has a bachelor’s degree in international studies from California State University Long Beach.

WINE CLUB & E-COMMERCE MANAGER

Monica joined the tasting room at Alma Rosa Winery in 2020 after deciding to relocate her family from San Francisco during the pandemic. She brings a decade of experience in luxury retail to her role at the winery, having worked at Louis Vuitton in San Francisco and at Celine in Harrods in London. Monica spent her earliest childhood years growing up in Germany and is fluent in German and Italian. After studying fashion in Italy and London, Monica returned to the United States to complete a degree in English and creative writing from Mills College. At Alma Rosa, Monica manages online sales for the winery and assists with wine-club management.

FOUNDER & WINERY AMBASSADOR

Richard Sanford was inducted into the Vintner’s Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contributions to the California wine industry. In the early 1970s, he identified a remarkable geographic anomaly: the transverse mountain ranges of California’s Central Coast where the valleys open to the west, allow cool maritime air to moderate the region, and would be ideal conditions for grape growing. He planted the first Pinot Noir vineyard in what is now the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in 1971—the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard—and launched his namesake winery. Since then, he planted what today are considered the “Grand Cru” vineyards of Santa Barbara County. In 1983, he planted the El Jabali Vineyard, which is today’s Alma Rosa’s estate vineyard. In 1997, he planted La Rinconada Vineyard, and in 2000 La Encantada Vineyard. In 2005, he and his wife Thekla launched Alma Rosa Winery. Bob and Barb Zorich purchased Alma Rosa Winery in 2014, and today, the Sanfords still live on the property in retirement.