Winemaker

Ryan Deovlet

Discipline: Winemaker
Based in: Santa Ynez, California, United States
Venue: Refugio Ranch Vineyards · Winery

i. Biography

Ryan Deovlet works in wine with the discipline of someone shaped by cellar repetition, harvest timing, and the demands of making decisions that hold up in the glass. He is winemaker at Refugio Ranch Vineyards in Santa Ynez, California, and owner and winemaker of Deovlet Wines. The line through the work is straightforward: cellar labor, harvest seasons abroad, and the added responsibility of carrying wines under his own name.

The Path

Training at University of California, San Diego gave Ryan Deovlet an early route into the practical side of wine. In 2007, he entered the cellar as assistant winemaker at Red Car Wine Company, where the work centered on timing, texture, and the daily habits that shape a winemaker’s method. In 2008, he moved into harvest work under Paul Hobbs at Vina Cobos in Mendoza, Argentina (2008), a season that placed him in a different growing region and under a different set of conditions. Since 2008, he has also served as owner and winemaker of Deovlet Wines, building that label alongside his other work.

The Work Today

Ryan Deovlet’s present work sits between two fixed roles: winemaker at Refugio Ranch Vineyards and owner and winemaker at Deovlet Wines. One is tied to estate expression; the other to the broader identity of his own label. Together they point to a practice grounded in vineyard decisions, cellar follow-through, and the ability to carry a wine from concept to bottle.

Career - Owner and winemaker — Deovlet Wines (2008–present) - Assistant winemaker — Red Car Wine Company (from 2007) - Worked the harvest under Paul Hobbs — Vina Cobos, Mendoza, Argentina (2008) Education: University of California, San Diego

Signature

Ryan’s signature wines include Refugio Barbareño, Refugio Viognier, Refugio Escondrijo, Refugio Tiradora Sauvignon Blanc, and Refugio Ranch Ineseño Blend. Taken together, they show a winemaker working across both single bottlings and blends, with the Refugio Ranch names acting as the clearest markers of his cellar language.

Acclaim

His recognition tracks with the work itself: assistant winemaker at Red Car Wine Company, winemaker at Refugio Ranch Vineyards, and owner of Deovlet Wines. The credit here is cumulative, built from responsibility held over time rather than from a single turning point.

FAQ What is Ryan Deovlet's current role? As of 2026, Ryan Deovlet is Winemaker. Where did Ryan Deovlet train or study? Ryan Deovlet trained at University of California, San Diego.