Individuals
Proof Wine Collective is a conglomeration of its parts. From winemakers to graphic designers, we are a multi-faceted group that brings diverse experience to our efforts. We are:
Josh McFadden
Creative Director & Founder
josh@proofwinecollective.com
Josh McFadden likes wine, so much so that he has built a life surrounded by it. His rare and varied background in the American wine industry includes work in cellars and vineyards; as a wine educator; a wine buyer; wine shop clerk; and finally, in 2008 as the founder of Proof Wine Collective. His education consists of almost one full month of university experience; countless hours working with some of the best winemakers and vineyard managers in California; and a history of immersing himself in the subjects he cares about passionately. Besides wine, Josh has a strong predilection for all things creative; design, art history, philosophy, food lampooning & adoration, Goodwill spelunking, and playing devil’s advocate in any manner of conversation. He is the Creative Director at Proof.
Russell From
Winemaker, Herman Story Wines
thirsty@hermanstorywines.com
hermanstorywines.com
Russell P. From is the bombastic talent behind Herman Story Wines. Working as a cellar rat for several years, and eventually becoming cellar master at Central Coast Wine Services, Russell started his own label less than a decade ago. In that time he has become one of the most sought-after winemakers in America and a favorite producer of Wine Spectator and Robert Parker, alike. He is a California native and has established an unique vision for Rhone-style wines, sourced from a list of the best vineyards on the Central Coast.
Curt Schalchlin
Winemaker, Sans Liege Wines & Groundwork Wines
info@sansliege.com
sansliege.com
@sansliege
Curt Schalchlin had an uncommon start in the wine industry. A native of Los Angeles, Curt’s introduction to wine came from working at Trader Joe’s, before moving to the Central Coast to work in the cellar for several top producers. Slowly gaining knowledge and confidence in his winemaking skills, Curt launched San Liege Wines and in a few short years, he has seen the label acquire enviable press from Robert Parker and Wine Spectator. Recently Curt launched another project, Groundwork, and continues to pursue his individualistic style between the two labels.
Anthony Bozzano
Folkway Wines
anthony@folkwaywine.com
folkwaywine.com
Anthony Bozzano was raised in an Italian-American farming family and holds a degree in Agriculture Business with a minor in Viticulture. He got his start in wine with an internship in Italy, working for the Frescobaldi Family at the Castello di Nipozzano in Chianti Rufina, outside Florence. After returning to California, Anthony became Wine & Spirits Manager at Pebble Beach Market where he socialized with aficionados and drank Silver Oak out of keg cups on one of the world’s most expensive golf courses. During his time at Pebble Beach he passed his Level 1 Sommelier exam. Soon Anthony found himself back in San Luis Obispo county after taking a job assisting with sales and marketing for Bien Nacido Vineyard. Now, in addition to his day job, he assists in the day-to-day operation of Folkway with his brother, Lino.
Philip Muzzy
Business Development
philip@proofwinecollective.com
@snacktivities
Philip Muzzy’s travels in the wine industry have seen him working in wine clerk capacities in Michigan and Oregon, working harvest on the Central Coast of California and tasting through some of the world’s renown wine regions. Prior to working in the wine industry, Philip spent time as an acoustical designer, taking recordings of ambient environments, often in cold, Midwestern, snowy climes. The California coast is a more hospitable home for him, where he handles business development and project planning for Proof.
Alyssa Boisson
Art Director
alyssa@proofwinecollective.com
@niftylyss
Equal parts lyrical wordsmith and black-belt level design junkie; Alyssa Boisson acts as Proof’s Art Director. With an abnormal love for “press checks” (making sure everything the off-site printer is producing looks just right) her eye for detail is admired by everyone that collaborates with her. Alyssa began her working life at a diverse array of creative establishments including an art museum, a magazine, a custom publishing group and an independent weekly newspaper. After studying Journalism, Graphic Communication, and English at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo she joined Proof Wine Collective in 2009. She dreams about traveling to far away places, researching obscure calligraphy, hustling swap meet vendors, and sampling any type of food that would scare her parents.
Lino Bozzano
Folkway Wine
lino@folkwaywine.com
folkwaywine.com
Lino grew up in the Central Valley and has farming in his blood, joining his brother, parents and several other family members in the agriculture industry. Lino graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in crop science and as a vineyard manager has spent time working on sites throughout the Central Coast. Currently he is vineyard manager for Laetitia Vineyards in Arroyo Grande and the Santa Barbara Highlands, as well as a member of the innovative and influential organization, California Ag Leadership. He and his brother Anthony control Folkway and keep busy running the label in addition to their full-time jobs in the wine industry.
Andrew Jones
Winemaker & Proprietor, Field Recordings & Fiction Wines
andrew@fieldrecordingswine.com
fieldrecordingswine.com
Andrew Jones grew up in Ventura County, CA and attended Cal Poly SLO on a football scholarship. After a car accident ended his football career, he adjusted his focus to the wine and viticulture program at Poly. While in school he worked for both Gallo of Sonoma and Bonny Doon Vineyards before graduating with a degree in Agribusiness with a minor in Viticulture. Upon graduation he started working with Sunridge Nurseries, the largest grapevine nursery in California. Andrew represents the nursery along the Central Coast, in the San Joaquin Valley and in the Pacific Northwest. During 9 seasons with the nursery, so far, he's managed the planting of over 10 million grapevines. In 2006, at the age of 26, he started his own brand to showcase some of the vineyards he works with in planting and development, and he eventually formed Field Recordings in Fall of 2009 and Fiction in early 2011. Andrew has been married for 2 years to his wife Sara, and they have a beautiful son named Dillon.
Sarah Berger
Designer
sarah@proofwinecollective.com
@MsBergerNfries
Sarah grew up in the frozen tundras of Toronto, Canada and Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2005, she set her eye on the beautiful Central Coast of California, and hasn’t looked back. In the past 6 years she’s studied architecture, art, design and photography at Cal Poly while working a variety of restaurant, retail and dirt digging jobs. Sarah joined Proof as an intern in fall of 2011. She looks forward to using her multi-faceted background to help her with a variety of wine inspired projects with the collective. In her free time, you can find her taking photos and adventuring with her dog Birkie.