Sean Magruder

Content Partner/Wine Educator

Our Content Partner and Sandhi Wine Educator Sean was fascinated with geography and storytelling at an early age. Born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at Arizona State University but found a passion for craft beverages working in the local coffee scene. That caffeine-fueled experience proved transformative, literally and figuratively opening his eyes to a world enriched by sensory analysis and place-driven food and drink. After moving to the California Central Coast in 2018, Sean's wine career began in a tasting room near San Luis Obispo. Pouring wine steps from the beach wasn't a tall order, and before long it grabbed his full attention. He earned the WSET-3 Award in Wines in 2019 and the following year began writing copy for SLO-based Stephen Ross Wine Cellars. 2021 and 2022 found him working as a floor sommelier at Satellite Santa Barbara while expanding his writing portfolio. Both years Sean also assisted Provignage's winery team in California, where he particularly enjoyed working with Syrah, a wine that caught his attention after a brief internship with SLO Coast Syrah pioneer Sinor-LaVallee in 2019. Today, he enjoys reading a good piece of non-fiction, playing the piano, and exploring the natural beauty of Santa Barbara County, where the unique geography, geology, wines and spirit of the extreme Central Coast continue to inspire him.