Bion Rice

Coming Up

Blending is the core discipline in Bion Rice’s work, and he names it plainly: “Blending is a deeply intuitive and experimental process.” That description gets to the trade itself—part technique, part read of the material, part judgment formed over time. The work asks for patience, attention, and restraint, because each component has to be understood on its own before it is brought into balance. In Rice’s hands, that process sets the signature.

Where They Are Now

At Artiste Winery and Tasting Studio in Los Olivos, United States, Bion Rice is the winemaker. He also serves as CEO and director of winemaking at Sunstone Vineyards & Winery in Santa Ynez, United States. In both roles, the work is defined by blending as an operating language, not a finishing step: decisions are made barrel by barrel, blend by blend, with precision carrying the load. The result is a practice that stays close to the material while still allowing for range.

Career - Founder — Artiste Winery and Tasting Studio, Santa Ynez, California (2002–present) - Chef/owner — Artiste Winery and Tasting Studio, Los Olivos, California - Winemaker — Artiste Winery and Tasting Studio, Santa Ynez, California (from 2002) Education: San Diego State University

Signature

BURN and Inspired are among Bion Rice’s signature wines. The names point to a portfolio built around distinct expression, but the throughline is craft: taking a set of possibilities and shaping them into a finished wine that carries one clear point of view. For Rice, signature comes from consistency in method and recognition in the glass, not from decoration.

In Their Words “Our workshops are interactive and educational, offering participants a hands-on experience in blending their own wines.” “I believe these wines represent the greatest expression of my winemaking career.” Taken together, the remarks describe a practice that is as much about teaching process as it is about making wine. The first frames blending as something learned by doing, with hands on the work rather than at a remove. The second places the finished wines at the center of the career, as the clearest measure of what the craft has produced.

Honors

No awards are cited for Bion Rice.

FAQ What is Bion Rice's current role? As of 2026, Bion Rice is Winemaker. Where did Bion Rice train or study? Bion Rice trained at San Diego State University. What is Bion Rice known for? The art of blending.