Owsley Brown III, President

Owsley began working in the wine industry in 1993 at Napa Valley’s Mayacamas Vineyards and two years later co-founded Chameleon Cellars, a Napa Valley boutique label.  In 2000 he was introduced to Biodynamic winegrowing at Mendocino’s Bonterra Ranch while working for the Brown-Forman Wine Estates Group. This experience cultivated Owsley’s great passion for Biodynamic wines and later inspired him to launch Magnanimus Wine Group, a company dedicated to producing authentic and distinct wines that reflect not only a sense of place, but also the highest standards of quality and environmental stewardship.

Steve Ryan, Winemaker

 Steve became intrigued by winemaking’s history and culture as an undergraduate working in a local wine shop. He enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s soil science program, emphasizing horticulture and soil fertility, and by the end of college was making regular visits to California’s wine country.  He later assumed winemaker positions at Sonoma County’s Marietta Cellars, Dry Creek, and Alderbrook before joining forces in 1993 with Helen Turley -- Robert Parker’s “Wine Goddess” -- at Martinelli Winery.  With Helen’s support he was able to push the envelope of natural, unfiltered winemaking, using indigenous fermentations, state-of-the-art technology, and very ripe fruit. Supported by excellent mentors and with full creative freedom, Steve began to make very unique wines, including the 98-point Jackass Hill Zinfandel. Several years later Steve met Owsley Brown, and together they established Magnanimus Wine Group to promote Mendocino County’s sustainable winegrowing history and, most importantly, to make exceptional wine.
steve@magnanimuswines.com

Josh Metz, Director of Sales & Marketing

As Sales and Marketing Director of Magnanimus Wine Group, Josh blends his interests in wine, geography and sustainable business. He has a broad base of wine industry experience having worked closely with Jim Fetzer and his family at Ceago Vinegarden, one of California's first certified Biodyanmic wineries, as well as prior consulting and academic work. Josh is particularly excited about sharing the many facets of the wine country with visitors to our area and engaging in spirited discussion about sustainability. Josh holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology from Humboldt State University.
josh@magnanimuswines.com

Paolo Caciorgna, Enologist

Paolo Caciorgna hails from San Gimignano, Italy, the medieval Tuscan town made famous for Vernaccia, one of the country’s oldest white grape varietals. After studying viticulture and enology in Siena, Paolo has emerged on the Italian scene as a winemaking luminary, consulting for over 25 Italian wineries and winning numerous accolades for wines like Cesani’s San Giovese Luenzo and Chianti Clasico Riserva ‘Le Fonti.’  A decade-long friendship and partnership was born when Owsley spent a year in Tuscany studying under Paolo. Magnanimus Wine Group is thoroughly blessed as the only American winery touched by Paolo’s graces.