Wine Tasting at Stew Leonard's

Join them for a tasting with the Winemaking Director of Sonoma Cutrer. 

Michael "Mick" Schroeter Winemaking Director, Sonoma-Cutrer Michael "Mick" Schroeter’s decorated and storied wine background makes him superbly qualified to serve as only the third head winemaker in the long history of Sonoma-Cutrer, following the retirement of Terry Adams. It’s Mick’s expertise and globe-trotting wine background that eventually brought him to Sonoma-Cutrer in his new role as Winemaking Director.

Winemaking is often a trade passed down from generation to generation and Mick Schroeter is no exception. Starting out on his own as an enologist at Kaiser Stuhl winery in Australia, Mick wanted to blaze his own trail and had no intentions of following in his father and uncle’s footsteps at the Penfold Winery. Then in 1982, as fate would have it, Penfold bought Kaiser Stuhl and reunited Mick with his family in the business.

Although Mick was already well-versed in winemaking, Penfold allowed him to continue his pursuit of total enlightenment, sponsoring his winemaking education at the famed Roseworthy College, and providing him a scholarship to visit and study Chilean wine country, followed by a 6-month tour around the world with his wife and a stop in California to work the wine harvest.

Mick rose rapidly through the Penfold system and had the privilege to be part of the red winemaking team, and work on Penfold’s legendary Grange Hermitage, a Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon blend. From there, Mick accepted an invitation from Geyser Peak Winery in California to take over as Vice President of Winemaking and for 17 years was in charge of vineyard assessment, harvest scheduling, winemaking direction, budgeting and brand ambassadorship.

It is this long track record of success and illustrious career in Australia and California, along with twice being named winemaker of the year that has given Mick the encompassing experience to succeed Terry Adams as winemaker at Sonoma-Cutrer. He not only fully understands the huge shoes he is stepping into, but is excited and eager to carry on the legacy of success with his own personal touch.

Schroeter now lives with his wife, Linda, in Sonoma County, California, along with their children, Matilda, Sadie, and Charlie.