I began my career in the hospitality industry 14 years ago. Dreaming of, among other things, opening my own restaurant, I received a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M. Since graduating, I have held numerous positions in the tourism and restaurant industry, with a focus on wine. While working for Texas Hills Vineyard in Johnson City, I became an enthusiast for Texas Hill Country wines. As a native Texan with many relatives in the West Coast wine regions, I am so excited about what is happening in this part of our Great State. My favorite days in the spring and summer are spent on my mother and stepfather’s porch in Wimberley, sipping wine. It was on one such day that the idea for Clifford’s Original Wine Bar was born. I enjoy educating folks by telling the story of each grape.

After managing a marina on the Gulf Coast, I moved to Wimberley, to relax and enjoy life as a retiree. Little did I know that my love of wine would lead me back into full-time employment after only three years! I was raised in California, where I gained an appreciation of the great wines of the area. In recent years, my brother, who still lives in Santa Cruz, has introduced Rodney and me to many new wines, while traveling with him through Amador, El Dorado, Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino visiting his favorite places. I bring to the table an appreciation of the history and geography of the world of wine.

I, too, retired three years ago from a remodeling firm in Houston, and it is this background in architecture that gave me the inspiration to change an old house into our comfortable wine bar. As with many other adventures, my love of wine grew when I met and married Kathy. Traveling with Kathy and her brother through California’s wine regions has given me a great enthusiasm about wine and an eagerness to learn more. I enjoy meeting the people involved in the production of wine, and will share with you the stories of the people I’ve met.