Booker Vineyard winemaker-farmer Eric Jensen, Paso Robles, California

Eric Jensen is the man behind Booker Wines, My Favorite Neighbor and Harvey & Harriet Wines, Eric grew up in southern California, and went on to be a real estate developer and concert promoter before heading for the hills of Paso Robles. Eric spent his formative years as a winemaker in the company of Paso Robles pillars like Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery and Justin Smith of Saxum. He and Booker Wines have wound up on just about every best-of list out there, from Wine Spectator to Forbes to Food & Wine and many others. We talked about Eric’s work with Must! Charities, a powerful nonprofit that benefits the communities where wine is made, as well as the space at Booker’s tasting room in Paso Robles.

Websites: bookerwines.com; mustcharities.org

Instagram: @bookerwines; @must.charities