It was not uncommon to find a bottle of wine or two on the table in the Tsegeletos household. A taste for wine and a knack for winemaking has run in the family since the 1930-s when Charlie's Great-Grandfather became a winemaker in Guerneville, CA.

​After graduating from UC Davis in 1979 with a degree in Agricultural Science and Management/Plant Science, Charlie became an apprentice at Pendleton Winery. From there he honed his craft at Hacienda Wine Cellars, D’Agostini Winery, and Glen Ellen Winery. Charlie joined Cline Cellars in 2002 and has since created legendary Zinfandels, distinctive Rhône-style wines, as well as classic California varietals.

Grapes guide Charlie’s style of winemaking. Charlie meticulously vets vineyard sites and chooses those that produce wines of exceptional flavor, balance, and structure. With Charlie's keen attention to detail and extraordinary palate he is able to craft blends that showcase the uniqueness of these vineyards and creates cohesive wines of character and flavor.
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Charlie lives on an old chicken ranch in the hills of Sonoma with his wife, daughter, and an assortment of animals. He is a highly regarded professional wine judge, the past president of the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Association, and an avid snow skier, motorcyclist and pilot.