Wine Industry Expert Consultant & Vineyard Owner
Groundstar Vineyard & Estate groundstarvineyard.com
Mindful Wine Co. mindfulwine.co

Chiara Shannon, MBA, DipWSET, is a wine industry consultant, educator, and co-owner of Groundstar Vineyard, a 25-acre Biodynamic vineyard located in the renowned Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County— an appellation celebrated for world-class Pinot Noir. With over 20 years of experience spanning roles from Head Sommelier to brand strategist, Chiara is a trusted voice in wine, known for her thoughtful approach, dynamic leadership, and holistic perspective on education and storytelling. Chiara is honored to serve as moderator for STARS of Pinot, bringing together trade and enthusiasts in appreciation of this expressive and beloved grape. Discover her work at www.mindfulwine.co and www.groundstarvineyard.com and follow her wine adventures on Instagram @mindfulwine.co, @theyogisommlier and @groundstarvineyard.

Nathan grew up in rural Minnesota in a family with a rich history of farming and craftsmanship, but wine was not a part of daily experience.  Concerned about the impact agricultural practices could have upon wetlands and wildlife habitat, he pursued studies in Marine Biology.  It was while at college that Carlson began to work in restaurants and developed an intense interest in learning about the wines of the world.

After college, Nathan moved to Santa Barbara where he worked in several wine-focused restaurants.  A chance meeting led to a part-time position at Richard Sanford’s eponymous winery, a pioneer of Pinot Noir in what would soon become the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.  The camaraderie of the local wine industry, deep agricultural traditions, and sense of possibility convinced Nathan to leave restaurants to pursue wine as a career.

“Winemaking combines elements of agriculture, economics, culture, history and business in a way that few disciplines do.  Science has an important place, but there is ample room for craft.  I thrive on the sense of accomplishment at the end of every day of hard work, and on the cycle of the season,” he explains.

COE Founder and owner Bill Swanson explains that “the person you hire for the Winemaker position should be someone you want to share a glass of wine with yourself. My wife Cheryl and I trust and value Nathan so much that he has total artistic and skilled control over the vines and the wine making process. We know that his stewardship ensures that the wine he produces always meets the Center of Effort standards.” 

Carlson’s career has led him to make wine throughout the Central Coast, Sonoma and Napa Valley. After several years of apprenticeship, developing practical skills in the cellar and vineyard, Nathan completed coursework for working winemakers through UC Davis.  After a brief stint in Oregon, he was drawn back to the Edna Valley, where prior to his role at COE, he worked as winemaker for a number of well-respected brands. Having perfected his craft and gained great respect in the industry, Carlson has maintained involvement in production-scale research, led winemaking panels, participated in industry technical groups, and developed friendships with like-minded winemakers worldwide.

Nathan came to Center of Effort just as the new vision of the Swansons was getting underway. He first purchased Chardonnay from the vineyard as a client and was eventually invited to join as Winemaker and General Manager two years later, in 2010.  Understanding the intricate complexity of the business, he has spent the past ten years learning the vineyards intimately, identifying techniques specific to the site and assembling the right farming, equipment and people to execute the work that needs to be accomplished on a daily basis. It is important to Nathan that sustainable agriculture has been part of COE from the start, which goes back to his early life and concern about the effect that farming has on the environment.

“At Center of Effort, we make authentic wines that tell a story of our place and our people.  I’m proud that we share that story and our wines with genuine hospitality and connection,” says Carlson.

Nathan and his partner Kristin live about 20 miles from the winery in Atascadero, and love to travel as much as possible.  They enjoy time at home with their pets, as well as hobbies that include baking sourdough bread, cooking, canning, cycling, and gardening.

Mike, a Southern Oregon native, began his career in the software industry before launchingWine.com— branded initially as eVineyard — in Portland at the age of 29. A true pioneer in online wine retail, he helped transformWine.cominto the industry’s leading digital retailer over the last 27 years. 

Since its inception, the company has served approximately 3.5 million customers and achieved over $355 million in revenue in 2021. In recognition of his contributions to the wine industry, Mike was named a 2022 Market Watch Leader by Wine Spectator. In 2019,Wine.comwas honored as “Retailer of the Year” at Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Wine Star Awards.

His success stems from a keen understanding of consumer behavior, a mastery of digital marketing and technology infrastructure and the ability to navigate complex alcohol regulations—skills that have enabled him to serve hundreds of thousands of customers each year. These capabilities, combined with his entrepreneurial spirit, make him an outstanding fit for our company.

Nid Tessé(Winemaker & Owner)

Marie-Laure Ammons was born and raised in Chameyrat, a village in the rural Limousin region of France. Surrounded by an agricultural community, she and her family were truly farm to table, enjoying meals featuring the vegetables they cultivated, the meat they raised, and fruit from their orchard. Thus, she seemed destined to become involved in agriculture in the form of the wine industry. After earning winemaking diplomas at Ecole Viticole of Libourne Bordeaux and Beaune Dijon, she initiated her professional career working in Bordeaux, Burgundy, and other winegrowing regions of southern France.

Marie-Laure broadened her French winemaking experience by moving to California in 1998, working with Pierre Seillan at Stonestreet in the Alexander Valley and then with Mike Sullivan at Hartford Court in the Russian River Valley. Returning to France, she worked four harvests at Dulong Négociant in Bordeaux.

In 2003, she joined Philippe Melka’s team at Atelier Melka Consulting, and was soon convinced that the energy of the group and the potential for making quality wine made Napa Valley the place to be. She remained with Atelier Melka for 18 years, including as head winemaker at Oakville East from 2010 to 2023.

Marie-Laure founded Nid Tessé (French for woven nest), a name that reflects her connection both to France and the U.S. She released her first vintage in 2019 and currently is crafting highly-regarded Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. She noted that, “After two internships in Burgundy, I fell in love with the Chardonnay grape. This noble grape, well made, it reflects a terroir, and the spectrum of flavors is wide. Its evolution overtime in bottle is unique.” Her winemaking philosophy, with minimal intervention to respect the character of site, is driven by her experience in various French domains. “The focus is on: Sense of Place; Sophistication; [and] Freshness + Structure.”

Her husband Frederick shares Marie-Laure’s passion for wine and is also a winemaker. They are both involved in various consulting activities and maintain close professional and family ties with France.