About Michael Mooney
Proprietor/Winemaker - Chateau Margene, Mooney Family, ROXO & El Pistolero
27 Years Crafting Critically Acclaimed Wines
Expertise
Viticulture & Winemaking Veteran with 27 harvests of hands-on experience across the Central Coasts premier regions.
Award-Winning Craft: Dozens of wines rated 94–99 points by Wine Enthusiast, SOMM Journal and The Tasting Panel Magazine.
Precision, innovation, and results-driven strategies.
WSET 3 - (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Highly knowledgable wine professional
Philosophy
“Great wine is born in the vineyard, perfected in the cellar, and proven in the glass. My approach? No shortcuts—just focused strategies, instinct, and relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Signature Achievements
Consistently produced 94+ Point Wines: A proven track record of crafting exceptional wines in the top tier of critically acclaimed California wineries.
Industry Recognition: Past board member of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Founding board member of the Paso Robles CAB Collective. Founding member of the Back Roads of Paso Robles. Founder of the Creston Wine Trail.
Paso Robles Influence: Instrumental in elevating the region’s reputation through bold, terroir-driven winemaking.
Why Choose Michael Mooney?
Strategy-Driven Results: A portfolio of wines that have consistently rated in the mid to high 90’s with Wine Enthusiast, The Tasting Panel Magazine, SOMM Journal.
From Soil to Shelf: Expertise spanning vineyard management, fermentation science, blending, and brand positioning.
Programmed Approach: Strategies that result in a wine program with stylistic consistency.
One of Paso Robles Winemaking Pioneers: Founded the 32nd winery in Paso Robles in 1997.
The Tasting Panel Magazine: “Chateau Margene may not be a big player, but it’s outreach in championing the region is significant” January/February 2024
Proven Track Record: Back to back 98 & 99 point scores with the Chateau Margene 2019 & 2020 CASK 4 (SOMM Journal & The Tasting Panel Magazine)
