Larry Gomez, 47, is the winemaker for Lockwood Vineyard, producers of fine wine in the San Lucas AVA of Monterey County since 1989 and home to one of the largest premium estate vineyards in the world boasting 1850 single continuous acres.

Gomez holds a Masters Degree in Agricultural Chemistry with a focus in Enology from Fresno State and a Bachelors Degree in Fruit Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Around the time of Gomez’s graduation in 1987, he was sent to make wine in India and had a stint as a brandy maker, he also spent time with a research winery in Fresno doing ultra-filtration and alcohol reduction of wine (lowering the alcohol level) then came to Lockwood in 1991 as the Assistant Winemaker.

In 1998, Gomez left for an opportunity to become the Red Wine Maker at J.Lohr in Paso Robles and soon was promoted to Assistant Winemaker and General Manager. Gomez then headed to Wild Horse Winery and Vineyards in Templeton as the Production Manager from 2002-2003.

In 2004, Lockwood Vineyard partners Butch Lindley, Phil Johnson, and R. Paul Toeppen offered Gomez an opportunity to return and become Head Winemaker. They knew Gomez would really showcase the fruit and distinctive wine style that was hidden in the soil and terroir with the “Lockwood Shaly Loam,” a well drained calcareous “chalk rock,” which for so many years had been masked by oak.

“The fresh distinctive fruit coming from Lockwood Vineyard has remained the same, Gomez said, “We are backing away from oak and un-masking the grapes to really show off this vineyard and the unique terroir.”

Gomez resides in Paso Robles and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, in addition to frequenting the San Francisco Giants games.