Miriam Valdez is the Winemaker and General Manager at Granite Lion Cellars in Jamul, California. Originally from the Rhine River Valley in Germany, she began her career in wine sales in 2017 before earning her Winemaking Certificate from UC Davis in 2021. That same year, she stepped into the role of Assistant Winemaker and completed her first solo vintage in 2022. Her wines have since earned recognition at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and Toast of the Coast. Miriam is known for embracing novel approaches in the cellar and thrives on the challenges each vintage brings. While awards are meaningful, she finds the highest reward in earning the admiration of everyday wine drinkers—believing that true success lies in making wine that connects.