Creators Group

Richard Schmidt, Owner / Winemaker and Vineyard manager

For the winemaker and owner, Richard Schmidt, the dream of creating wine was enough to satisfy… At first.

But, winemaking was not his first passion. He studied mechanical engineering and biochemistry at Cal Poly and then attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. 32 years later, he still works in medicine as a reproductive endocrinologist. While helping to create life in the medical field, Dr. Schmidt discovered a new excitement for farming and giving life to wine. After finding the perfect piece of land to begin his new dream, the first vines were planted in 2008 consisting of the 6 Bordeaux varietals. The vineyard continues to grow as more varietals have been added since 2012 and onwards. Moose Mountain Vineyards now has nearly 20 red varietals growing on its sun-kissed hillside.

Moose Mountain Vineyards is named after an incredible rescue dog, Moose. Not only has Moose become the trademark, but he has also been the winemaker’s greatest companion through life’s most challenging times. Moose’s confident yet gentle demeanor has a presence that is understated and unapologetic, yet real and connected, a refreshing change!

Richard Schmidt can be contacted at [email protected].

Tedi Schmidt, General manager and Assistant Winemaker

Tedi is one of the youngest winemakers most valued in California with a big potential.

She was raised in California where she grew up with her three older siblings. Both of her parents are doctors and have a love for wine which helped Tedi discover her own passion. She has expanded her knowledge of wine through travel in the United States and other wine regions. Planting the first vines for MMV at the age of 10 really allowed her own passion for wine to flourish by giving her an introduction and appreciation for wine. She went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study Wine and Viticulture and graduated in 2021.

Tedi has taken on a management role and now oversees the operation of the winery and is also involved in the winemaking process by collaborating with the other winemakers to create excellent wines.

Tedi Schmidt can be contacted at [email protected].

Ulises Bentancor, Sales Manager and Assistant Winemaker

All the way from Uruguay, Ulises Bentancor was eager to learn more about the most beloved varietal of his country, Tannat, while continuing to feed his passion.

He was raised in Uruguay surrounded by beautiful wine country. He took the initiative to get his degree in Enology just after completing his other in International Relations. Before landing here, Uli explored various wine regions both in and outside of the United States. Through his travels, he gained a wealth of knowledge about various stylistic approaches to winemaking.

Uli’s passion for truly understanding the unique qualities and characteristics of vineyards brought him to Moose Mountain Vineyards where he collaborates with the other winemakers to create exciting wines and take on new projects. He has also taken on the role of our sales manager, happily conversing with customers and growing our brand.

Ulises Bentancor can be contacted at [email protected].

Ramon Martins, Production and Vineyard Hand

Ramon has been working for the family for 2 years.

Some of you may have met Ramon in the past few years if you visit Moose Mountain Vineyards. Ramon was born in Brazil and grew up with a love for the outdoors. Before moving into his current position, Ramon helped to expand our beautiful vineyards at MMV. The precision and care Ramon puts into the land are impeccable. As production increased, Ramon stepped into his current role as a production and vineyard hand. He understands the importance of maintaining a vineyard and making magnificent wine.

Moose, Owner and Namesake

The main person of the ESTATE.

Moose Mountain Vineyards is named after an incredible rescue dog, Moose. Not only has Moose become the trademark, but he has also been the winemaker’s greatest companion through life’s most challenging times. Moose’s confident yet gentle demeanor has a presence that is understated and unapologetic, yet real and connected, a refreshing change!