Meet Sean

Winemaker, dad to the four bears, lover of classic cars.

Born in Kansas, Sean Minor was surrounded by agriculture, hard work, and the values responsible for the unwavering work ethic of Midwestern families. The practice of caring for the land and bringing the harvest to the dinner table has always been close to Sean’s heart, and winemaking celebrates this concept to its full extent.

His career in wine began after a formal education in finance from Arizona State University where he also met his wife, Nicole. They moved to California after graduation, where Sean began his fine wine career working for Napa Valley’s Beaulieu Vineyard. He knew right from the start the wine industry was the right place for him. He began taking classes at U.C. Davis in Viticultural and Enology in hopes of developing a further understanding of grape growing and wine production.

Sean and Nicole moved to the Pacific Northwest after being recruited by King Estate Winery (widely renown for producing Oregon’s largest and most highly regarded Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris) to manage the Estate. It was here that Sean met Will Bucklin, King Estate’s then winemaker, and developed an even stronger knowledge of winemaking. He learned firsthand the importance of site-specific viticulture and ended up leaving King Estate to lead Benton Lane Winery, rounding out his cool climate viticulture experience.

Sean, Nicole, and their three kids (the fourth yet to be born) returned to California in 2001 for the opportunity to manage Renwood Winery and enhance his experience growing and marketing some of the Golden State’s best Zinfandel and Syrah. Four years later, they founded Sean Minor Wines and, well, the rest is (our) history. 

When Sean’s not searching for the best fruit in California, you’ll find him enjoying a hard to beat golf course, poolside in a deep nap under the sun, or camping outdoors with the modern convenience of a cooler, some chilled Rosé and a fishing rod. He works hard and plays hard, and does it all for the love of his family.