Lupe has a long tenure of nurturing the valley’s embryonic vineyard production. He started with Norm McKibben and Tom Waliser in 1991 planting the first blocks that were Pepper Bridge North and are now part of the larger Pepper Bridge Vineyard. Soon to follow in the mid-90s were plantings at Blue Mountain Vineyard and Seven Hills Vineyard. He has been instrumental in the conversion of hundreds of acres of cherries, apples and wheat fields into some of the world’s finest vineyards. Lupe has trained hundreds of vineyard technicians and more than a few vineyard managers.
