Victor Alvarez

Proprietor

Born in Colombia, South America, near his family’s cattle and dairy operations, Victor pursued a successful medical career, and maintained his love of agriculture by establishing Miraflores Winery in 2003.

Victor has now retired from his pathology practice in Arizona. While the precision demanded of his medical specialty has influenced the winery’s focus on quality from grape to glass, Victor credits his winemaking team for its award-winning vintages.

Fernando Abarca

Winemaker

Fernando’s career in the Sierra Foothills began in the early 2000s. His early focus was on viticulture—immersing himself in the nuances of soil, rootstocks, and grape varieties. It was here that he embraced one of the most vital lessons of winemaking, imparted by his mentor Marco Cappelli: “Good grapes make good wines.”

Over the years, Fernando has absorbed countless lessons in the wine industry, but one truth remains constant: there is always something new to learn. Fernando knows that each challenge and obstacle presents an opportunity for growth, and he believes the key to producing exceptional wines lies in overcoming these hurdles with dedication and perseverance.

Marco Cappelli

Consulting Winemaker

Marco Cappelli is the consulting winemaker after serving as the winemaker at Miraflores for many years. Marco continues to evolve and perfect his winemaking talents on a daily basis.

With formal training at U.C. Davis, Marco acquired a Bachelors degree in Enology and set off for Europe for more practical training. Marco spent the next year in Italy, followed by six months in France. Marco’s formal education at UC Davis had given him a solid theoretical foundation in winemaking. While in Italy, Marco learned that wine is food, as important a part of the daily meal as bread and pasta. France taught him to recognize how soil, climate and human factors influence the character and personality of wine.

Marco now lives in Placerville and continues to consult for us.

Ashlee Cuneo

General Manager & Sommelier

Exploring unique and unusual flavors in food, wine, and new places was something Ashlee
always had a passion for. She attended the French Culinary Institute in Campbell, CA,
obtaining her Sommelier Level 2 Certification. She has worked in several areas of the wine
industry since 2011, including operating as the wine director and Sommelier for Michelin-star
rated restaurant, Chez TJ, in Mountain View, CA. along with working in sales and distribution
throughout the South Bay Area.

Ashlee has been with Miraflores Winery since 2015.