Winemaker

Paul Frankel

Discipline: Winemaker
Based in: Paso Robles, California, United States
Venue: Sculpterra Winery · Winery

i. Biography

Paul Frankel’s work at Sculpterra Winery in Paso Robles, California is governed by a simple rule: “I let the grapes do the talking.” That posture leaves the vineyard room to lead, but it also calls for close attention in the cellar, where place, timing, and precision still have to be managed with care.

Coming Up

Today, Paul Frankel is winemaker of Sculpterra Winery. The role places him inside the estate’s identity as both owner and maker, with each harvest adding another layer to the work. It reads as a steady accumulation of practice rather than a dramatic leap.

Where They Are Now

Ownership and winemaking sit together in Frankel’s current work, and he names the standard plainly: “I’m also a wine making control freak, and from each harvest, I tailor each new vintage to an exact style and taste.” The phrase points to a cellar practice built on control, selection, and intent, with each vintage shaped to a specific result. What he is after is definition, not flattening. “I want to make a Grenache tastes like a Grenache and a cab taste like a cab.” The line makes the method clear: varietal character should stay readable and distinct, and the cellar should sharpen that identity rather than blur it.

Career - Winemaker — Sculpterra Winery, Paso Robles, California

Signature

Paul's signature wines include 2011 Bentley Ironworks Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011 Paso Robles Ironworks Cabernet Sauvignon, 2024 Sculpterra Primitivo, and 2023 Sculpterra Figurine. Each name marks a different point in his portfolio, and together they sketch the range of a winemaker interested in Cabernet’s structure as well as the more distinctive contours of Primitivo and Figurine.

In Their Words “I’m also a wine making control freak, and from each harvest, I tailor each new vintage to an exact style and taste.” “I want to make a Grenache tastes like a Grenache and a cab taste like a cab.”

Honors

No awards are cited for Frankel.

FAQ What is Paul Frankel's current role? Paul Frankel is owner and winemaker at Sculpterra Winery in Paso Robles. Where did Paul Frankel work before? Before the current owner title, the dated role is winemaker at the same estate in 2012.