Todd Ricard

Winemaker, The Prisoner Wine Company

Todd Ricard grew up outside of the small town of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Driven by the need to see the world, Todd enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17 as a satellite controller. While stationed at Camp Roberts in San Luis Obispo County, his affinities for home brewing, cooking, and the local winemaking community would pave the way for a career in the wine industry.
After leaving the Army, Todd settled in the Central Coast town of San Luis Obispo and enrolled at California Polytechnic State University, where he earned a B.S. in Wine and Viticulture. He secured a winemaking internship at Le Cuvier Winery in Paso Robles, where he learned the ins and outs of the winemaking process as a cellar worker. After the internship, Todd accepted an assistant winemaker role at the winery and began to see the shape of his future in the business. "I realized how much care and work goes into crafting wines that truly represent a sense of place. That really struck a chord with me,” comments Todd.
Armed with a solid foundation in the industry, Todd joined the Wild Horse Winery team as a cellar worker and laboratory technician in 2010. Three years of hard work and dedication later, he was promoted to assistant winemaker, and then promoted again to senior winemaker in 2016. After briefly serving as winery manager at Castoro Cellars, Todd joined The Prisoner Wine Company as lead winemaker for SALDO. Today he is Director of Winemaking for The Prisoner and Blindfold.

Country born: U.S.A.

Education: B.A. Wine & Viticulture, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years