The Team

Owners

Winemaker

Winery

Hospitality

Property

4-Legged Friends

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Bill & Liz Armstrong

Owners | Vitners

Geologists, Bill and Liz Armstrong, share a similar spirit, one that is dedicated to the purity of science and endless exploration. Bill is a self-diagnosed “cork dork” who is a huge believer in the fun and “truth” that is wine. One day Bill woke up and realized he wanted to be more than just a wine lover; he wanted to also be a wine producer, and thus set about on a deliberate (and quite fun) search for the perfect plot of land. Land that would produce wine he and Liz would love to make, drink, and share with family and friends. While studying oenology in his spare time, Bill’s palate quickly took a liking to wines from the Rhone region in France, particularly the Southern Rhone. These wines reflected their unique sense of place, were frickin’ delicious, and had a fun/happy factor that was totally up Bill’s alley.

So, with a specific wine style in mind and a Geology degree in his back pocket, Bill embarked on a quest for the ultimate American terroir that would produce world-class wine. In 2004, this mission led Bill and Liz to a small pocket of land on California’s Central Coast between Paso Robles and the Pacific Ocean. The unique soils, weather, hilliness, and extreme temperature swings found at Paderewski Vineyard were exactly what they were searching for. What they were not expecting was how much the Paso culture totally jived with their personalities; the entrepreneurial, collaborative spirit along with the rodeo, All-American vibe had Bill and Liz feeling at home from day one. With the later purchases of Catapult and York Mountain, Bill and Liz’s Epoch journey expanded, and they look forward to many years of crafting delicious wines, making people happy, preserving Epoch’s rich history, and most importantly, having a blast while doing it!

Jordan Fiorentini

Vice President of Winemaking & Vineyards

Jordan Fiorentini, Epoch Estate Wine’s Winemaker since 2010, is renowned for her exceptional winemaking skills and contributions to the world of wine. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Engineering from Dartmouth College before heading to Napa Valley in the fall of 1999 for what was supposed to be a fun, one-time harvest experience. She quickly caught the winemaking bug out west and decided to attend UC Davis, where she earned a master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology in 2003. After graduation, Fiorentini worked at several prestigious wineries in Tuscany, Napa, and Sonoma before finding her home at Epoch.

As VP of Winemaking and Vineyards at Epoch, Jordan leads her team of five to meticulously grow and craft wines that consistently score 95 to 100 points from a wide variety of renowned critics; many of these wines have graced the annual top 100 lists of international wine publications. At the core of her winemaking philosophy is the goal to purely reflect the winegrowing site and vintage in her wines, which she achieves through organic and biodynamic farming practices and block-specific winegrowing and winemaking.

Beyond the bottle, Jordan is committed to the success of the wine industry overall. For over almost two decades, she has mentored aspiring winemakers, guiding several to go onto careers at other top-tier wineries. At Epoch, she also collaborates with esteemed wine producers nationwide who purchase and make wine from Epoch’s three estate vineyard sites. This commitment to the winemaking community and her exceptional winemaking skills were celebrated when she was awarded Winemaker of the Year of SLO County in 2021.

Adding an artistic touch to her winemaking, Jordan creates Vinpressions, visual tasting notes that aim to graphically communicate the texture of her wines alongside their flavor and aroma profiles. This creative endeavor seamlessly complements her dedication to quality, sustainability, and community. Her commitment and passion can be tasted in her wines that are beloved by critics and enthusiasts alike.