
A little about us…
Gary Irvin
Winemaker/Owner
l came to the Central Coast in 2006 in search of greener pastures. Spending my first few years in the surf industry I also got to know the Golden State locale all along the coastline. After spending some time in the Five cities I developed an appreciation for farming and learned how to work in one of the oldest industries in the United States.
Farming not only provided me with the fulfillment of crop production, it also landed me a spot at a spectacular producer located in Paso Robles. Sales was always one of my strong suits but after spending 8 years in the wine industry nothing felt more challenging than developing something of my own. One of the best decisions I made to date was investing in myself and creating Primitive Wines.
Now I get to cultivate wines in my own style, which can probably be best described as “jump then look” because winemaking is all about finding new ways to problem solve and making memories along the way. Primitive Wines is my expression of an approachable wine style with the personal connection of us getting to make new memories together.
Stephanie Marin
Partner in Wine
Stephanie Marin, originally from Texas, moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to pursue her passion for feature films. With a successful career as a development executive and film producer, Stephanie worked in development for the company that produced BLACK SWAN, IDES OF MARCH, and WOMAN IN BLACK, as well as TV productions for ABC and Amazon.
In addition to her film career, Stephanie has helped run a popular coffeeshop and music venue in Dallas, Opening Bell Coffee, which helped launch the careers of artists like Leon Bridges and Maren Morris. Her experience in small business management and financial planning proved invaluable during the challenges of the Covid pandemic.
In 2020, Stephanie met Gary and immediately saw the opportunity to combine her storytelling skills and business acumen with his winemaking vision, leading her to join Primitive Wines.