The People

Mindy has had a life-long aspiration for wine and winemaking. After relocating to California’s Central Coast with her husband and their two sons in 2011, her proximity to wine country intensified this passion. After the untimely passing of a childhood friend, Mindy recognized that life is too precious to put off the pursuit of a dream – so she started Croma Vera in 2015.

Mindy’s appreciation for art and love of Spanish grape varieties led her to specialize in Albariño, Tempranillo, and Grenache (Garnacha) from California’s Central Coast. Her respect of nature and intense pursuit of quality ensure that each bottle of Croma Vera’s premium handcrafted wine reflects the true colors of the vineyard where it was grown.

Mindy took enology classes at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and made wine at a cooperative prior to Croma Vera. Mindy holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She previously worked as a commercial artist, graphic designer and Chief Creative Officer where she served on the management committee of a technology agency.

Jeremy is the Winemaker for Croma Vera, where he brings his characteristic combination of science and insightful expertise from 13 years of winemaking to Croma Vera’s wines. 

Jeremy was the Winemaker for Hearst Ranch Winery from its inception in 2009 to 2014, when he assumed the role of Director of Winemaking at The Workshop in San Luis Obispo. In addition to serving as Winemaker for Croma Vera, Jeremy is currently Director of Winemaking for Rabble Wines which produces the Rabble, Tooth & Nail, Stasis and Amor Fati brands.

After completing a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont, Jeremy moved to Santa Barbara, where he discovered wine and was drawn to the vineyards of the Central Coast. A meeting with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo professor Dr. Keith Patterson inspired Jeremy to enroll in the university’s Masters program in Crop Science with a focus in Viticulture. Leffert strove to perfect his viticultural knowledge and abilities under the mentorship of Dr. Patterson.

Jeremy has been an avid guitarist since childhood and lives in Templeton with his wife and two dogs.

Chris has over 13 years experience in the wine industry as well as 15 years in the restaurant business. He discovered his true interest in wine when he began working for the historic San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles. Here he not only honed his tasting skills but also worked directly with the winemaker in choosing wines for submission to major competitions and co-hosted wine education classes.

Chris left San Antonio Winery to co-found LA Wine Guide - an organization that hosted events to introduce winemakers and winery owners to new clientele through wine and food pairing dinners. In 2014 he became floor Sommelier and wine manager at Ciao Cristina, a popular Italian restaurant in Burbank, CA.

Since his recent relocation from Los Angeles, he is thrilled to be part of the Croma Vera team and relaxing into the SLO life!