Ruakh

Ruakh

Paso Robles, CA
www.ruakhwines.com

Region: Paso Robles

Owner: Samantha Mogull Esquivel

Winemaker: Samantha Mogull Esquivel

About: In 2013, Samantha upturned her life and moved to San Luis Obispo to pursue a degree in enology from Cal Poly SLO. Choosing a life in wine was both uncertain and undeniable, a leap toward something she instinctively knew she was meant to pursue (even as others failed to understand). Since graduating, she has immersed herself into every facet of the industry, gaining hands-on experience under some of the Central Coast’s most acclaimed winemakers.
Her winemaking philosophy is rooted equally in science and intuition. Inspired by the rhythms of nature and the individuality of each vintage, she approaches winemaking as an ongoing conversation between craftsmanship and observation. Her wines emphasize texture, aromatic complexity, and balance with a special affinity for Petit Verdot. For her, wine is a living sensory experience, one capable of evoking memory, atmosphere, and human connection. These values continue to shape both her wines and the spaces she creates around them.

What is your favorite undiscovered grape? Petit Verdot! It’s dark, big, surprisingly floral and just silky and stunning.

What was your first experience with an undiscovered grape? I actually had it in a blend. I had never had something so big be so silky. It was eye opening to me and I fell hard.

What do you love most about the undiscovered grapes? I like that they don’t sit in the realm of my personal expectation. So much of my experience is rejecting things because they’re unfamiliar, not because they’re bad.