When I developed this season of California and Central Coast legends, I came across an article about sommelier and farmer Rajat Parr. It was written by Esther Mobley, the senior wine critic for the San Francisco Chronicle. She called him one of the wine industry’s biggest celebrities and California’s most influential sommelier—and she’s certainly not the only one. Rajat Parr is an absolute giant of the wine world, having worked as a sommelier for restaurateur Michael Mina for many years in San Francisco, and co-authoring two very important books: Secrets of the Sommeliers and The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste. So imagine my surprise when he instantly accepted my email request for an interview. Since moving away from the sommelier and restaurant world, he has taken up as a farmer and winemaker in Cambria at Phelan Farm, Stolo Vineyard, Domaine de la Cote, and Sandhi Wines. We talked about his upbringing in Calcutta, his original goal to become a chef, the way he risked it all to move to San Francisco, and his legendary and well-documented blind-tasting abilities.
Website: phelanfarm.com / sandhiwines.com / domainedelacote.com / stolofamilyvineyards.com
Instagram: @rajatparr
Nancy Ulloa, winemaker and owner, Ulloa Cellars, Paso Robles, California
Full of Life Flatbread, Clark Staub, chef and restaurateur, Los Alamos
Mike Gin and Andrew Gin, authors, ”The Mee Heng Low Gin Family Cookbook,” San Luis Obispo
Penni Monroe and Morgan Monroe, owners, Hush Harbor Bakery, Atascadero
Travis Watson, chef, Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara
Susan Feniger and Liz Lachman, celebrity chef and filmmaker, Los Angeles
Abe and Courtney Stevens, distillers and owners, Humboldt Distillery, Fortuna
Zachary Ahrenholtz, chef, Golden Gate Saloon & Holbrooke Hotel, Grass Valley
Ashley Chaney, food podcaster, ”Dear Food,” Los Angeles
Nicky Giusto, baker and miller, Central Milling, Petaluma
Gina + Mikey Giugni, winemakers, Lady of the Sunshine + Scar of the Sea Wines and Cider, Pismo Beach
Justin Trabue, winemaker and activist, Lumen Wines, Santa Maria
Simonne Mitchelson, winemaker and activist, Los Olivos
Jerime Ford, pitmaster, San Luis Obispo
Dylan Jones, Executive Director, One Cool Earth, Santa Maria
Anita Sahi, owner, Copia Vineyards & Winery, Paso Robles
Mara The Helper, entrepreneur, influencer and helper, Tokyo
Marbue Marke, winemaker and consultant, Napa Valley
Raymond Smith, winemaker and owner, Indigené Cellars, Paso Robles
Shanté Norwood, baker and owner, Té’Stees Cupcakes, Lompoc
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