Photos: Winemaker Greg Brewer of Melville Vineyards

Winemaker Greg Brewer shows off grapes at Melville Vineyards, near Lompoc. Brewer has created 17 vintages at the winery so far. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 11, 2014 6:07 PM PT

Greg Brewer, the longtime winemaker for Melville Vineyards (and co-founder of Brewer-Clifton), has a clear passion for wine, especially its evolution from vineyard to cellar.

Bottles of Pinot Noir tempt in the tasting room at Melville Vineyards. Brewer likens his palette of Pinots to musicians in an orchestra, and he loves playing with the blend. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Brewer with wine barrels. The winemaker likes to compare his crafting techniques to assembling an orchestra. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Grapes picked the night before wait to be processed. They are picked in a certain order so Brewer can ascertain which grapes go into which fermenter. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)