Brian Bernstein is the co-founder and principal partner of Amalé Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging. Brian is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder where he received his BA in Communications and Italian.
During college, Brian spent a year abroad in Florence studying art history and Italian. After graduation Brian moved back to Italy to further his Italian studies and work in the restaurant industry for a year. Soon after returning, he begun his career in the wine industry focusing on wine packaging and oak products for the California wine market. Through his tenure in the oak and wine packaging business, Brian helped to grow and establish several major brands within the US market.
Starting off his career as a sales representative, Brian held roles expanding to product specific brand champion, oxygen management leadership and sales manager.
After eight years in wine packaging and oak sales, Brian wanted to take his experience and expertise to build something for himself and his family. He joined forces with Mike Williams to form two LLCs; Amalé Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging. Brian has a passion for service and solution focused business and feels these attributes are paramount in a successful business.
Mike Williams is the co-founder and principal partner of Amalé Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging. Mike is a graduate of California State University, Chico where he received a BA in Communications and Business.
After graduation, Mike launched his career in Napa, Oregon and California’s Central Coast where he began his specialization in wine packaging sales. Mike has worked with and been involved in introducing several major wine packaging manufactures and brands into the North American market, brands that are now household names within the industry. Throughout his career Mike has worked in roles as account manager, sales manager, director of sales, vice president and at the executive level. Mike is a wine packaging expert with a focus on wine bottle closures, barrels and oak alternatives.
After nineteen years of experience in wine packaging and oak, Mike decided branch out on his own and start his own company and formed two LLCs, Amalé Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging. Amalé Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging are service and solution focused companies with a passion for solving the packaging and oak needs of our customers.
Chuck Carlson’s winemaking career in Santa Barbara County spans more than 35 years, including the past twelve years as the proprietor of Carlson Wines, specializing in limited-edition wines including Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills along with Cabernet Franc and several aromatic white wines from the Santa Ynez Valley.
As a young winemaker with a newly minted enology degree from Fresno State University, Chuck first joined Zaca Mesa Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, where he helped create the winery’s groundbreaking Rhône varietal program. The “school of Zaca Mesa” has since become renowned for launching the careers of many notable Central Coast winemakers. For nearly 20 years, Chuck served as the winemaker at Curtis Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley, which was founded as one of California’s first wineries to specialize exclusively in Rhône varietals.
Chuck continues to reside in Arroyo Grande and will remain active in his “Carlson” wine brand. He is looking forward to working with the Left Coast Wine Packaging team to further promote all of the products that are represented throughout the Central Coasts winemaking community.
Steven Romeo is Director of Sales for Amale Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging. Steven is a graduate of California State University, Chico where he received a BS Biochemistry and continued with Graduate School at San Jose State University where he studied Human Performance & Cardiology.
Steven began his wine packaging sales career in 2010 selling top of the bottle products in Napa, Lodi and California’s Central Coast. Steven has worked on packaging with brands from Extreme Value all the way up to Icon Brands. Throughout his career Steven has worked in roles as account manager, sales manager, and a chemistry teacher! Steven is a wine packaging expert with a focus on wine bottle closures, barrels and oak alternatives.
After ten years of experience in wine packaging Steven was invited to head up sales at Amale Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging. Amale Oak Importers and Left Coast Wine Packaging are service and solution focused companies with a passion for solving the packaging and oak needs of our customers. In addition to a passion for wine Steven enjoys cooking, coaching football and playing guitar.