40 Under 40 Tastemaker

Director of Viticulture, Institute for Enology & Viticulture, Walla Walla Community College

Cultivating the growers

Perez joined Walla Walla Community College’s staff a year ago, but he was already well-versed in the region’s grape-growing. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Enology and a master’s in Horticulture from Washington State, pursuing research on virus identification, water management and late season grape dehydration. Perez is also a key member of the College Cellars winemaking program, mentoring the next generation of Washington vintners.