Robert Karlsen was born in Healdsburg California and raised around the wine industry in Napa, Sonoma, and the Central Coast. He started at a young age accompanying his father, a well-known winemaker, Dan Karlsen, around the wineries and vineyards. Growing up, Rob would help his dad do various tasks around the winery including anything from general cellar work to picking grapes.

In 2006, Rob took his first official job in the wine industry as a general cellar worker for Graff Family Vineyards. Here Rob learned the fundamentals of the winemaking process. In 2007 Dan started Karlsen Family Wines, his family’s personal label. Rob was asked to come aboard and this is where he learned every aspect of the wine industry. Here he discovered his love and passion for the winemaking craft and tradition.

At Karlsen Family Wines, Rob is the winemaker, vineyard manager, sales/events/marketing, and winegrower. Rob currently runs day-to-day operations for his family’s small brand. In 2008, the family winery started taking on custom winemaking accounts. Once this happened, Rob oversaw all the customers’ accounts. Through the last 15 years Rob has become very versatile in the wine industry preparing him for almost any task at hand.

Throughout the years Rob has worked for many wineries including various custom winemaking facilities, Divum Wines, Poppy and Talbott. At Talbott, Rob was the assistant winemaker and was crucial in creating world class Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.

Rob has always loved the wines and growing region of Monterey and the Central Coast. He has dedicated his career to producing fine wine and developing intriguing flavors that are driven from unique sites.

Rob’s current endeavor is the winemaking reigns at American Vintners. As a second-generation winegrower, Rob brings focus and devotion to the craft. Together Rob and American Vintners drive to produce innovative products and wines that showcase their passion for the industry. Rob has created over 100 different wine brands for American Vintners from California’s wine growing regions of Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Lodi as well as many other areas throughout California. He is known for his innovation having created Bourbon Barrel aged wines, high ABV and low ABV wines as well as custom programs for numerous restaurants and retailers across the USA and American Vintners many holiday and novelty products.

When Rob is not in the vineyard or winery, he is spending quality outdoor time with his Wife and 2 boys. They enjoy hunting, fishing, dirt bike riding, camping, and soaking up the sun rays across the beaches and oceans of the central coast.