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Team

Our team is dedicated to crafting the very best experiences for Malene fans. Whether that’s through a great bottle of wine or an afternoon at the MaleneScene, meet the team who makes it all happen.

Brianne EnglesAssociate Winemaker
Andrea de PaloDirector of Consumer Sales
Brooke SerafineHospitality Manager

Brianne Engles Associate Winemaker

Brianne grew up in the small seaside town of Pacific Grove, California and started working at a high-end restaurant at age of 15 years old where she was exposed early to the world of wine. She began her formal winemaking education as Cal Poly State University, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Wine and Viticulture. In addition to that, she holds the Level 3 Advanced Certification with The Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

In her 17 years in the winemaking industry, Brianne has chosen to work at several notable wineries including Two Hands in South Australia, Duckhorn and Quintessa in Napa Valley and Adelaida Cellars in Paso Robles. She currently holds the Associate Winemaker position with Malene Wines in Edna Valley, where she continues to expand her knowledge and expertise. With each wine she makes she strives to honor the terroir from which the grapes are grown and to capture the essence of Central Coast sunshine, soil, and the uniqueness of each particular vintage. On her days away from the winery, she can be found at a local Farmers Market, cooking for friends, hiking up a mountain or enjoying some beach time with her husband Mike.

Andrea de Palo Director of Consumer Sales

Andrea was born and raised in Marin County. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Systems Management and a minor in Agriculture Business and Wine and Viticulture. Shortly before graduation, Andrea began working at Chamisal Vineyards when it was still known as Domaine Alfred Winery and has worked in various capacities at the winery ever since. She has worked harvest and had numerous roles running the wine club, events, and tasting room over the years before assuming the title of Director of Consumer sales.

Andrea has spent more than a third of her life on the estate and it holds a very special and magical place in her heart, going so far as to feel like home. Andrea is proud to represent what she considers to be the best wines in the Edna Valley and couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. She thrives on creating memorable experiences for every guest that visits Chamisal Vineyards and building lifelong friendships with them while educating them about wine. Her goal is to make very guest feel like family and she is beloved throughout the valley for her welcoming personality and warm smile. Andrea lives in San Luis Obispo, where she has lived for more than 20 years, with her husband, Ilario, and her three children, Nicoló, Stella, and Sofia. When she’s not working, she loves to play golf, eat sushi, spend time at the beach, travel to Italy and entertain friends with homemade pizza fresh from her backyard pizza oven.

Brooke Serafine Hospitality Manager

Brooke is a Central Coast native and attended California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a minor in Wine & Viticulture. Since beginning a career in wine in 2005, she has nurtured and developed her direct-to-consumer skills. She spent the first years of her career in the Napa Valley where she gained hands-on experience in all aspects of hospitality in the wine industry. Upon returning to the Central Coast in 2009, she landed the job of her dreams at the one and only Chamisal Vineyards with a familiar face from her college years. “I never imagined working anywhere other than Chamisal Vineyards when I returned home in 2009. The wines spoke to me during my college years and beyond, but more importantly, the property felt like home. Knowing the history of the vineyards and wines, I knew that being associated with Chamisal Vineyards would forever change my world.”

After six years at Chamisal, Brooke took a 3-year hiatus to spend time with her two children and returned as Hospitality Manager for both Malene Wines and sister property, Chamisal Vineyards. As Hospitality Manager for both brands, Brooke can use her skills from her days as a wine club manager to create and cultivate tastings and events for all guests Brooke lives on the Central Coast with her husband Tyler and two children, Logan and Sydney. In addition to her passion for wine, Brooke can be found practicing yoga, dining with family and friends or getting involved in her children’s extracurricular activities.

Brianne Engles Associate Winemaker

Brianne grew up in the small seaside town of Pacific Grove, California and started working at a high-end restaurant at age of 15 years old where she was exposed early to the world of wine. She began her formal winemaking education as Cal Poly State University, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Wine and Viticulture. In addition to that, she holds the Level 3 Advanced Certification with The Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

In her 17 years in the winemaking industry, Brianne has chosen to work at several notable wineries including Two Hands in South Australia, Duckhorn and Quintessa in Napa Valley and Adelaida Cellars in Paso Robles. She currently holds the Associate Winemaker position with Malene Wines in Edna Valley, where she continues to expand her knowledge and expertise. With each wine she makes she strives to honor the terroir from which the grapes are grown and to capture the essence of Central Coast sunshine, soil, and the uniqueness of each particular vintage. On her days away from the winery, she can be found at a local Farmers Market, cooking for friends, hiking up a mountain or enjoying some beach time with her husband Mike.

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Andrea de Palo Director of Consumer Sales

Andrea was born and raised in Marin County. She graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Systems Management and a minor in Agriculture Business and Wine and Viticulture. Shortly before graduation, Andrea began working at Chamisal Vineyards when it was still known as Domaine Alfred Winery and has worked in various capacities at the winery ever since. She has worked harvest and had numerous roles running the wine club, events, and tasting room over the years before assuming the title of Director of Consumer sales.

Andrea has spent more than a third of her life on the estate and it holds a very special and magical place in her heart, going so far as to feel like home. Andrea is proud to represent what she considers to be the best wines in the Edna Valley and couldn’t imagine working anywhere else. She thrives on creating memorable experiences for every guest that visits Chamisal Vineyards and building lifelong friendships with them while educating them about wine. Her goal is to make very guest feel like family and she is beloved throughout the valley for her welcoming personality and warm smile. Andrea lives in San Luis Obispo, where she has lived for more than 20 years, with her husband, Ilario, and her three children, Nicoló, Stella, and Sofia. When she’s not working, she loves to play golf, eat sushi, spend time at the beach, travel to Italy and entertain friends with homemade pizza fresh from her backyard pizza oven.

Read More Read Less

Brooke Serafine Hospitality Manager

Brooke is a Central Coast native and attended California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a minor in Wine & Viticulture. Since beginning a career in wine in 2005, she has nurtured and developed her direct-to-consumer skills. She spent the first years of her career in the Napa Valley where she gained hands-on experience in all aspects of hospitality in the wine industry. Upon returning to the Central Coast in 2009, she landed the job of her dreams at the one and only Chamisal Vineyards with a familiar face from her college years. “I never imagined working anywhere other than Chamisal Vineyards when I returned home in 2009. The wines spoke to me during my college years and beyond, but more importantly, the property felt like home. Knowing the history of the vineyards and wines, I knew that being associated with Chamisal Vineyards would forever change my world.”

After six years at Chamisal, Brooke took a 3-year hiatus to spend time with her two children and returned as Hospitality Manager for both Malene Wines and sister property, Chamisal Vineyards. As Hospitality Manager for both brands, Brooke can use her skills from her days as a wine club manager to create and cultivate tastings and events for all guests Brooke lives on the Central Coast with her husband Tyler and two children, Logan and Sydney. In addition to her passion for wine, Brooke can be found practicing yoga, dining with family and friends or getting involved in her children’s extracurricular activities.

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