Our Team

The People Behind Silver River

Behind Silver River Vineyards is a family of growers, educators, makers, and lifelong learners who believe meaningful work begins with care.

Our motto is simple: Stay curious, keep an open mind, and carry a lifelong willingness to learn.

Led by Cal Poly faculty turned sustainable farmers and winemakers, we bring diverse experience, a shared respect for the unpredictability of nature, and a deep commitment to learning from the soil, the vines, and the community around us.

Our work is rooted in stewardship, collaboration, and the belief that farming well means caring for the long term health of the land we are privileged to farm.

Together, we are building more than a winery. We are creating a place where thoughtful farming, honest wines, approachable education, art, science, craftsmanship, and fresh ideas grow side by side.

Three people standing on a gravel path outdoors in front of a vineyard, smiling at the camera on a sunny day.
A woman and man sitting on a trailer with potted plants, having a conversation outdoors under a clear blue sky.

Meet Nicole:
Operations Manager and Next Generation Winemaker

A woman with long dark hair wearing a gray cap and black jacket holding a glass of red wine in a room with wine barrels stacked on racks in the background.

Nicole Flores brings fresh energy, scientific precision, and a deep hands on commitment to Silver River Vineyards. As Operations Manager, she is involved in nearly every part of the winery and vineyard, from daily logistics and guest experience to cellar work, harvest planning, and the careful decisions that shape each vintage.

With a background in biotechnology, a master’s degree from Northwestern University, and continuing study through the UC Davis Winemaking Certificate Program, Nicole brings an analytical eye to winemaking while staying grounded in the sensory, practical, and intuitive nature of the craft.

Her approach reflects a new generation of winemakers: curious, thoughtful, precise, and open to learning from both science and the land. At Silver River, Nicole helps carry the winery forward with creativity, patience, and respect for the vineyard.

A woman filling a large metal vat with beer from a keg at an outdoor event during the evening, with trees and a sunset in the background.
Inside a winery or wine tasting room with barrels, string lights hanging from ceiling, and a man and woman working with wine equipment.
Three people outdoors at sunset, one woman taking a selfie in the foreground, two men in the background near a large plastic container, with a green building, barrels, and trees
A person sitting on a red Kubota tractor with a front loader attachment, working on a dirt path in a vineyard or farm area under a clear blue sky.

Meet Charlie: Assistant to the Winemaker

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A woman kneeling next to a large wooden planter with white flowers, in a garden or nursery, while a golden retriever dog is lying on the gravel nearby with its eyes closed.

Every good winemaker needs a loyal sidekick, and at Silver River Vineyards, that role belongs to Charlie, our beloved vineyard dog. Equal parts greeter, guardian, and vineyard scout, Charlie is never far from Nicole’s side as she tends the vines, checks the cellar, or welcomes visitors.

Charlie brings a calming presence and cheerful energy to the daily rhythm of vineyard life. Whether he is inspecting freshly picked clusters, keeping watch over the rows, or guiding guests to their tasting spot, he is part of the Silver River experience.

In his own quiet way, Charlie reminds us to enjoy the journey, one vintage and vineyard stroll at a time.

A woman with a cap and sunglasses kneels in a vineyard with a tan dog on a leash. The woman holds the leash, and both are near the rows of grapevines under a clear blue sky.

Meet Rudy: Boots on the Ground

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From leading teams in multinational corporations and cutting edge aerospace companies to teaching through Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing approach, Rudy Schalk brings technical depth, practical problem solving, and hands on persistence to the daily work of the vineyard.

At Silver River, Rudy is involved in the work that keeps the vineyard moving forward: irrigation repairs, tractor work, equipment maintenance, harvest logistics, infrastructure, and the countless small decisions that shape a working farm.

He is also exploring the use of AI and emerging technologies in agriculture, using the vineyard as a real world test bed for thoughtful innovation. For Rudy, technology is most useful when it helps people observe better, farm smarter, and care for the land more effectively.

His philosophy is simple: no task is too small, every detail matters, and the best learning often happens with boots on the ground and eyes on the vines.

A person operating a small orange tractor with a front loader attachment on a rocky, dirt terrain on a sunny day.
A man working outdoors at night, wearing headphones and safety glasses, using a power drill on a wooden sign that reads 'Silver River Vineyard 8658 Magdalen Dr.' surrounded by tools and equipment.

Meet Vidya: Sustainability, Education, and Wine Curiosity

Dr. Vidya Schalk brings decades of experience in plant sciences, biochemistry, sustainability, and education to Silver River Vineyards. A faculty member at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she has taught courses in materials science, chemistry, and energy systems, and served as the university’s first Sustainability Faculty Fellow.

At Silver River, Vidya is focused on making sustainability part of the DNA of vineyard operations, from soil health and water management to packaging, recycling, and thoughtful practices that align with our values. As a research scientist, educator, and Master Gardener, she brings both scientific rigor and hands on observation to the work of caring for the land.

She also brings her teaching background into the tasting experience, helping make wine education approachable, engaging, and grounded in curiosity rather than intimidation. For Vidya, wine is not just something to taste, but something to understand through farming, science, sensory experience, and the story behind each vintage.

Her lifelong passion for history, archaeology, and art also shapes how she sees the vineyard: as a place where land, culture, science, and imagination meet.

A smiling woman with glasses and earrings taking a selfie with a man in a maroon shirt, surrounded by vibrant flowers including purple and white irises and pink roses.
A vintage white and red Ford tractor parked underneath a large green tree with a partly cloudy sky in the background. There are patio furniture and a large planter on the right side.
Close-up of ripe dark purple grapes hanging on the vine with green leaves in the background.
Vineyard with rows of grapevines during sunset.

Our Vineyard

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Our Team

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Winemaking