Patrick Silviera

Born from the origins of Paso Robles, CA, Iron + Sand is a nostalgic nod to the natural draw of the historic hot springs, Iron Spring and Sand Spring, that propelled Paso Robles into a bustling destination known as California’s oldest watering place. Iron and sand are also important elements in the wine’s classic Paso terroir, as the sturdy iron trellising supports the bearing vines and the alluvial, well-drained sandy soils are the perfect match for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Patrick Silveira Photo

Patrick Silveira

Viticulturist

Viticulturist Patrick Silveira is one of the many reasons Iron + Sand is distinctly Paso. This Paso native brings more than 20 years of Central Coast grape-growing experience and a lifetime of agricultural knowledge to the brand’s signature Cabernet Sauvignon.

Patrick’s Paso roots run deeply. His family farm was homesteaded in 1864—decades before the first commercial winery was founded and the city was incorporated, and more than a century before the Paso Robles AVA was established. Patrick’s career in agriculture began there in 1979. After working as a farm hand and gaining a deep understanding of the region over the course of many years, Patrick earned his bachelor’s degree in crop science and agricultural management from California Polytechnic State University—San Luis Obispo. Upon graduation in 1990, Patrick moved to Maui and quickly ascended from agriculturist to crop control supervisor within Maui’s sugar cane and coffee industries. Drawn by the Central Coast’s burgeoning wine industry in 1999, Patrick returned to his hometown and took up residence just 15 minutes from his family’s homestead.

Since returning to Paso Robles, Patrick has spent years building relationships with the region’s most respected and esteemed grape growers, setting the stage for the Iron + Sand brand. Once the only winery employee in the region, Patrick now manages a team at the recently established Trinchero Central Coast winery and oversees a range of operations spanning vineyard sourcing to harvesting in this renowned Central Coast appellation.

Patrick’s contributions to the Iron + Sand brand began with the Cabernet Sauvignon’s inaugural 2017 vintage. His innate understanding of vineyards—from the traditionally warmer Estrella River Ranch vineyard to the quintessentially cooler Steffano II vineyard—shapes each vintage and brings the wines to their full potential. The result is a balanced Cabernet Sauvignon characterized by an authentic sense of place that could have only come from a true native.

When not working closely with his network of growers or walking the vineyards with his dogs, Patrick can be found back where it all started— on his family’s farm, overseeing the homestead’s hay, vegetable seed and wine grape crops.