A Washington native, Tyler began his winemaking career like most of us do, from the very bottom. Having spent a number of years in the restaurant industry serving tables and tending bar, his interest in wine began to take off. It became clear to him that making wine was something he absolutely wanted to do. In 2005 he decided that if you're going to do something, take your time and do it right. He took a drive out to Pullman, WA to see what Washington State University had to offer. He came back four years later with a bachelor's degree in Viticulture and Enology.

 

After interning for the University at their Prosser Research Station, spending his days planting vines, grafting buds, and collecting data for research studies, he came back home to Western Washington. In 2009 he interned at DiStefano Winery in Woodinville, where he worked with winemakers Hillary Sjolund and Victor de la Luz. Upon finishing his internship, he was hired by winemaker John Bigelow at JM Cellars as the cellar master. A few years later he was promoted to assistant winemaker, a position he held for 12 years.