Baron, Founder

Tequila, Champagne, great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir…that’s roughly the diet that Baron has been living on for the last 20+ years. It’s a tough life, but someone has to do it. Baron started collecting wine when he was 15 before he even liked the taste of wine. Needless to say, he got a lot of weird looks in his freshman dorm room when people saw wood boxes of Bordeaux under his bed. According to many at the time, he was considered a bit eccentric or “special.” When Baron turned 18, he got a job in a wine shop in Boston where he could taste, learn and make a little money. So started Baron’s obsession and a profession in wine.

“I’m not a winemaker. I never had the patience or time to learn, but I’m lucky to have Rob, one of the best winemakers I’ve ever worked with, as my partner in crime. This is a family affair. My three girls helped us stomp the Pinot grapes at harvest (start ‘em young, I say), and my daughter, Olivia, has been blind tasting with me since we crushed our first grapes for Marine Layer. She approves of the wines we’ve put into bottle so far, as do I. Marine Layer is our heart and soul, and the most fun we’ve had making wine to date.”

Rob, Winemaker

A Napa kid born and raised, Rob’s career in the wine industry began more than 20 years ago at the Domaine Carneros tasting room. He gained an appreciation for wine, not just the enjoyment of consumption, but the science and chemistry of the winemaking process that starts with the soil and farming of the land.

Over the years, Rob has been a part of making more than 30 varieties from exceptional vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, the Sierra Foothills up to Oregon, and both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Through working in these varied regions, Rob found a passion for making great cool-climate Pinot and Chardonnay. It was clear to Rob that the best expressions were being grown in the far reaches of coastal growing areas — sites that come with inherent risk.  Not shy of hard work or a challenge at hand, when Rob was presented the opportunity to make Marine Layer wines, he immediately felt infectious energy and enthusiasm.

Rob and Baron share several things in common – they both are fathers of beautiful daughters (five of them in total), a love of great Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Grower Champagne as well as a love to enjoy life without taking themselves too seriously.

Marissa, Director of DTC Sales & Marketing

Marissa is a SoCal Native who moved to the Bay Area in 2008 in search of greener pastures (both literally and figuratively). A culinary connoisseur since childhood, Marissa yearned for a career within the industry at a young age. Through her work in Sales and Marketing at Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, where she collaborated with restaurant chefs and wineries throughout the Bay Area, she found her true calling in wine.

In Spring 2019, Marissa earned her certificate in Wine Business Management from Sonoma State University and joined the team at Flowers Winery. There, she played a pivotal role in launching Flowers’ first-ever Tasting Room and spearheaded their inaugural membership and hospitality programs. In early 2021, she was introduced to Baron Ziegler and Rob Fischer. Inspired by their vision, passion, and dedication to crafting world-class Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Marissa joined the team in March 2021 to help bring the Marine Layer dream to life.

Marissa infuses her vibrant energy and meticulous attention to detail into personalizing and elevating the Marine Layer brand and guest experience.

Her perfect pairing: Hog Island Oysters, Larmandier-Bernier Champagne, and Judas Priest.

Bobby, Assistant Winemaker

Bobby is a Sonoma County native who brings a diverse perspective to Marine Layer Wines. His journey into the wine industry began in 2001 with a harvest internship as a sugar sampler. Following a decade in restaurants, Bobby’s passion for wine was reignited during a transformative trip to Italy. He pursued his formal education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, earning a degree in Wine and Viticulture.

Bobby’s dedication led him to a prestigious role at Kosta Browne, where he honed his skills crafting California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2021, Bobby joined the team at Marine Layer to oversee daily operations at our Healdsburg winery, collaborating closely with Rob to ensure unparalleled quality from grape to glass.

Beyond the cellar, Bobby enjoys grilling for the team during cellar lunches and expertly maneuvering forklifts in the parking lot. Off-duty, he unwinds with a chilled glass of Chablis and cherishes time with his beloved 15-pound rescue pup, Jolie.

Taylor, DTC Assistant Manager

Growing up on a vineyard in Healdsburg with a winemaker for a father, you might assume that Taylor always envisioned a career in the wine industry… but you would be mistaken. Early on, she made it abundantly clear to her dad that she disliked wine and always would. However, if you were to ask any of Taylor’s childhood friends, they would tell you a different story. On the playground, Taylor often demonstrated the “proper” way to taste wine to her peers at a very young age.

At 21, Taylor formally entered the wine world by joining the team at Williams Selyem. After getting her feet wet in the industry, she joined Marissa and the team at Flowers Winery to further refine her skills in all things Direct-to-Consumer. Following a brief stint in Oregon’s wine scene, Taylor moved back home to Sonoma County and joined the Marine Layer crew in February 2022. Through dedication and late-night dance parties, Taylor quickly became an integral part of the team.

Away from the tasting room, Taylor can be found indulging in sushi far too often and enjoying trash television with her cats, Carrie & Miso.

Zack, Sales Manager

Zack is Marine Layer’s jack-of-all-trades (err, Zack-of-all-trades). A graduate of Sonoma State University, Zack’s introduction to wine began at the Banshee Wines tasting room back in 2013. While looking for a summer job after graduating college, fate intervened, and he met Marine Layer founder Baron Ziegler. Zack jumped at the chance to join Baron’s team. It was then that Zack truly fell in love with wine — namely the dynamism, energy and cast of characters who make up the industry. With well-rounded expertise across multiple channels, Zack is Marine Layer’s sales extraordinaire.

Zack is a Marin County native and currently calls Petaluma home. Some of his favorite things include fresh wines, old souls, and cats. Always the class clown, best dressed, and most likely to get iced.