Amanda Ingram of Complicated & Graymore

Complicated winemaker Amanda Ingram approaches wine like a blank canvas, appreciating the infinite possibilities that come with each harvest. Tapping into her winemaking experience across 14 years and two hemispheres, Amanda guides Complicated’s Monterey fruit into bright, balanced, food-friendly wines that let Monterey County’s terroir shine.

Amanda found her calling in wine through an educational wine-pairing and tasting group. Encouraged by fellow tasting group members who took notice of her perceptive palate, she traded her finance career for a harvest internship in Paso Robles. The grit of harvest drew her in and she set out to earn her second Bachelor of Science degree from Fresno state – this time in Enology. Amanda graduated magna cum laude in two and a half years and took her talents to New Zealand for a Southern Hemisphere harvest.

Amanda returned to Paso Robles in 2011, where she oversaw production of some exquisite central coast fruit as an assistant winemaker. She then shifted to a large Fresno-based winery for seven years, ascending from laboratory supervisor to winemaker. A winemaker swap during her tenure took her back to South Australia for a second Southern Hemisphere harvest. Amanda subsequently ventured into a winemaker position in Texas wine country before California beckoned her back home.

In March 2020, Amanda joined Trinchero Family Estates where she quickly got to work blending the 2019 Complicated vintage. Her fresh and dynamic perspective is evident in the brand’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Red Blend offerings – each unbound by tradition and driven by the spirit of Monterey County.