Photos by Ashton Worthington
40 Under 40 Tastemaker 2019 Kirk Wiles, 37
Founder/CEO, Paradise Springs Winery, Clifton, VA & Santa Barbara, CA
Bicoastal pioneer
Why not make wine on both coasts? That’s what Wiles was thinking when he launched Paradise Springs, the first bicoastal wine brand in America. After abandoning his pursuits in finance and marketing, he built a winery operation on family property in Virginia. Wiles then hired established Winemaker Doug Margerum in Santa Barbara as his consultant and opened a tasting room in the bustling Funk Zone neighborhood. He also enlisted actor Billy Zane to paint a label for his Pink Ash rosé, a bottling that benefits nearby Thomas Fire and mudslide victims. Wiles is chairman of the Virginia Wine Board and also serves on the boards of Wine America and the Virginia Wineries Association.
