Two local winemakers are helping to catapult the Central Coast’s stellar cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay into the global spotlight.
Samra Morris, at Alma Rosa Winery in Buellton, and Molly Bohlman, at Niner Wine Estates in Paso Robles, have repeatedly clinched international top 100 lists for their respective portfolios and scored 90-plus-point ratings from critics. However, this year the duo reached new heights with a nomination for Wine Enthusiast’s Winemaker of the Year for Morris and a win for Winemaker of the Year at the San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Awards for Bohlman.
For superb sips
Alma Rosa’s tasting rooms are located at its estate ranch house at 7250 Santa Rosa Road in Buellton, with a secondary facility at 1623 Mission Drive, suite M, in Solvang. Learn more at almarosawinery.com and on Instagram and Facebook @almarosawinery. Contact Niner Wine Estates, located at 2400 Highway 46 West in Paso Robles, at ninerwine.com and on Instagram and Facebook @ninerwineestates.
Both women produce cool-climate gems from their respective coastal stomping grounds. Morris’ grapes hail primarily from Alma Rosa’s El Jabali estate vineyard in Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills while Bohlman sources fruit from Niner’s Jespersen Ranch estate vineyard in SLO County’s Edna Valley.
In nominating Morris for Winemaker of the Year in Wine Enthusiast’s 26th annual Wine Star Awards, the editors noted her “explorative, exciting pinot noirs that play with the region’s oceanside salinity and freshness.”
Morris is up against industry heavyweights from Australia, Italy, Argentina, and Healdsburg for the win, which will be announced by Nov. 13.
The Buellton-based winemaker, the country’s first from Bosnia, said she was overwhelmed when she learned of the nomination in September.
“I never imagined I would be recognized on an international stage like this as one of only five winemakers in the world receiving a nomination,” she said. “To win would be beyond anything I ever imagined for myself when I first came to the United States.”
“If it happens, I think it’s safe to say we’ll be opening some very special bottles of Champagne,” she continued, adding that the nomination is an honor for the entire Alma Rosa team and “a reflection of our collective hard work and passion.”
“We are incredibly proud, but not surprised, by Samra’s nomination,” chimed in Alma Rosa proprietor Bob Zorich, who splits his time between Houston and Santa Barbara. “From the moment she joined Alma Rosa in 2019, her vision, talent, and relentless pursuit of excellence have been unmistakable.
“She is like a natural athlete—her skillset and potential were evident right off the bat. She brings a rare combination of scientific precision, artistic intuition, and a deep respect for the land that is evident in every wine she creates.”
Morris, who was raised in war-torn Sarajevo, moved to California in 2012, and landed her first job in 2013 at Hestan Vineyards in Yountville.
Armed with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food science and food quality and control from the University of Sarajevo, Morris worked her way up from tasting room associate, quality control manager, and other industry roles at Napa Valley and Sonoma establishments to critically acclaimed winemaker at Alma Rosa.
More than 80 of her wines—primarily Burgundians and Rhônes—have earned 95-plus points from critics, with her 2021 Radian pinot noir achieving 98 points from James Suckling and 2021 Attente grenache-syrah blend landing a near-perfect 99 points from Jeb Dunnuck.
“What has always excited me most is that I get to make wines that reflect the Sta. Rita Hills,” Morris explained. “Whether pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah, or grenache, my goal is always to highlight the distinct character of the vineyard site and craft wines that are vibrant, balanced, and reflective of this region.”
In SLO County, Niner boasts two renowned winemakers overseeing distinct estate vineyards—Heart Hill in Paso and Jespersen Ranch in Edna Valley.
While Patrick Muran focuses primarily on Niner’s Bordeaux varieties at Heart Hill, Bohlman helms Jespersen Ranch’s Burgundian-heavy portfolio.
In addition to her pinot noir, which regularly earns up to 97-point scores from critics including Wine Enthusiast, Morris also produces chardonnay, Rhône varietals and blends, and albariño.
“As a winemaker, Molly is someone with deep experience, genuine love of the craft, and dedication to representing site,” said winery President Andy Niner, of Atascadero.
“Her wines are delicious and have put Jespersen Ranch on the map for us. We would not be where we are today if she didn’t decide to join the team 11 years ago.”
On the win for SLO County’s Winemaker of the Year, announced in July, Niner said, “I was super excited for her. “
“Molly is not out there playing the PR game,” he continued. “She is too focused on making really good wine. So, the fact that her peers decided to honor her is well-deserved.”
With more than 250 compelling wineries in SLO County, Bohlman says recognition by her colleagues is particularly gratifying.
“It is also rewarding that my risks and hard work over the years have paid off,” she continued. “Coming from a non-wine, non-farming background, somehow I chose the right career path at a young age.”
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and raised in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Bohlman’s 30-year career includes a Cal Poly fruit science degree and stints throughout California as viticulturist, lab technician, enologist, and winemaker. Before joining Niner and settling in San Luis Obispo, she was winemaker at Paul Hobbs Winery in Sebastopol.
She has also held leadership roles at the World of Pinot, Vintners Institute Guild, and many other industry organizations, as noted by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance in naming her the county’s top winemaker for 2025.
“I think all winemakers want to have creative freedom and the opportunity to make the type of wines they personally love to drink,” Bohlman said. “I’m lucky to have that situation at Niner. I enjoy making all of Niner’s Jespersen Ranch wines and put 14 different wines in bottle every year, so there is a lot of diversity.
“[However], my biggest passion lies with pinot noir. I love that I can make sparkling wines, rosé, or red wine from a single grape variety.”
Long term, Bohlman hopes to continue learning the nuances behind grape-growing and winemaking.
“There are so many small details that can elevate a wine from good to great, and winemakers only get one chance a year to make the right decisions,” she said. “Three decades in, I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface.” Δ
Flavor Writer Cherish Whyte applauds both winemakers’ achievements. She’ll be enjoying pinot pours at cwhyte@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Oct 16-26, 2025.