Farming
Sam Turner and Mark Oberschulte
It’s one of those clichés that is spot on: great wines come from great grapes. To get those prized berries, Rob has sought out the expertise of a team led by two men, Sam Turner and Mark Oberschulte, each of whom has more than a quarter-century of grape-growing experience. This choice has been vital to developing and nurturing Paratus into a superstar wine.
Turner’s company, Vista Vineyard Management, oversees more than 900 vineyard acres in Napa and Sonoma counties. His graduate degree in viticulture from UC Davis and leadership role in the Napa Valley Grapegrowers Association made him a natural as Rob’s choice to manage the development of Paratus Vineyards.
Oberschulte, who holds the day-to-day responsibilities for Paratus Vineyards, can count 32 harvests in his long history as a vineyard manager at such renowned mountain appellations as Diamond Mountain, Spring Mountain, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder. Oberschulte brings a much-appreciated acumen to Paratus in his specialty, mountain grapes.