Enrolling at UC Davis, Amanda studied enology and viticulture. She gained hands-on experience as a harvest cellar intern at Far Niente Winery in Oakville while still a student. Asked about her life-changing decision to launch a career in winemaking, she laughs, “I fell in love with the very idea of winemaking – the interconnection between agriculture, chemistry and artistry. And the fact that winegrowing regions are the most beautiful places in the world is certainly a plus!” Her ambitious spirit has been critical to her winemaking successes.

After Davis, Amanda spent the next three years working at wineries, in three of the world’s most recognized growing regions. She worked harvests at Chimney Rock and Robert Mondavi Wineries in Napa Valley, California; D’Arenberg Wines in McLaren Vale, South Australia; and Casa Lapostolle in Santa Cruz, Chile.

In 2002, Amanda returned to California to a post as Assistant Winemaker at the esteemed Paradigm Winery in Oakville. Working under the direction of winemaker Heidi Barrett, her responsibilities included production, cellar and lab duties, as well as vineyard sampling for this 5,000 case, ultra-premium winery.

With Barrett’s guidance, Cramer polished her skills on Bordeaux varieties. Inspired by the quality of the region and an opportunity to work with Central Coast winemaking pioneer Chuck Ortman, in 2004 Amanda moved to Paso Robles to assume the role of Winemaker at Niner Wine Estates. As many in the Niner team had previously discovered, the pull of the Central Coast can be magnetic. “Given the opportunity to help build a winery from the ground up in this attractive region that is on the rise, I simply couldn’t pass it up.” Having soaked up the knowledge and expertise of numerous winemakers, today Amanda contributes her own unique style to the Niner wines. She oversees all winemaking operations, and together with Ortman, crafts wines that demonstrate the diversity and elegance of Paso Robles in the glass.

A marathon competitor in her free time, Amanda lives with her husband in Paso Robles