Trevor Chlanda

Cellar Master

Trevor’s interest in wine began while he was pursuing a degree in Plant Science at Cornell University in the Finger Lakes region of New York, a region known for producing world class Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. While the access to over 150 wineries within a 30 minute drive was certainly a bonus feature, it was a class he happened upon his senior year – HADM 430, Introduction to Wine – that proved the most influential. While nearly 800 other students sniffed, swirled and swallowed six wines a week from varied locations around the globe, Trevor’s curiosity grew. Upon moving to North Carolina the following fall, he began work at a local wine shop on weekends, tasting (and selling) thousands of wines from around the world, developing a varied and international palate.

While in North Carolina, Trevor helped two friends he had met through the wine store to install a 2 acre vineyard at their farm. Weekly, he would travel the 45 minutes to their house to plant vines, consult on trellising techniques, prune vines, and talk wine over a delicious home cooked meal, and of course, a bottle of wine. At the same time, Trevor was also experimenting with home brewing with another group of friends, developing recipes and monitoring ferments, ultimately bottling 6 different lots including a delicious Chocolate Porter.

After leaving North Carolina, Trevor traveled to New Zealand to get his first taste of a large grape harvest, working as a vintage cellar hand at Delegat’s (Oyster Bay) winery in Marlborough. Five months and 14,000 tonnes later, he took the next three weeks off and traveled the wine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. Three grueling and extremely informative weeks of tasting later (42 wineries or so in that span), he made his way back to the states with an extensive and comprehensive knowledge of New Zealand Pinot Noir. After a short 3,000 mile drive from Massachusetts he arrived in California, ready to begin his first harvest at Williams Selyem. Following the harvest, he was asked to stay on as the new Cellar Master and is delighted by the opportunity to continue making such phenomenal wine.

Trevor is from Amherst, Massachusetts and in his free time enjoys watching the Boston Red Sox, gardening, reading, cooking, cheese making, wine tasting and brewing beer.  He also enjoys spending time with his Husky mix, Pinot Noir.