Charles Baudelaire, prominent French poet, once wrote, "Beauty is the sole ambition, the exclusive goal of Taste." Taste is what Warren Rich has framed his life around. Warren Rich, owner and winemaker of Little Ashby Vineyards, is a modern Renaissance man. Educated in the school of chemistry, a confident lawyer with his own practice, a sophisticated winemaker, a loving dog owner—you name it, this man has it covered."

I’ve always been a wine lover—I always loved Italian wine—and I was always interested in chemistry," says Rich.Warren Rich began his search for wine property back in 1992, traveling throughout California’s Napa Valley to Oregon, where he initially thought he’d begin his winemaking career. But his wife, Lynne, encouraged the purchase of land belonging to an old estate in Talbot County. Warren and Lynne first planted their vineyard in 1992 before their house was even renovated.

There are two things I’m concerned about as a winemaker, that every winemaker is really concerned about—humidity and temperature," Rich explained, "Here on the Eastern Shore, in Talbot County, there’s a great microclimate for the production and persistence of grapes. " If Rich’s attention to detail and demand for sophistication and specificity doesn’t attract you to his vineyard, his wine will. "I think that wine deserves an educated palette and a great nose," Rich said, "and I produce wine for that educated palette."

Rich developed his superior tastes during his travels throughout Italy and Europe. While he was developing his law career, he worked in Italy with a few friends, experimenting during his time away from the office with cooking and tasting wines from the local vineyards.

"That’s around the time that I really began to develop my appreciation for Italian wine, and between cooking with really fresh ingredients, and sampling different wines, I knew that I wanted to try and make my own," Rich said. So after coming back to the States, Rich continued to work in environmental law, but pursued winemaking at UC-Davis, where he took a short course to learn more about owning and maintaining a winery.

Rich wasn’t always focused on becoming a winemaker. Before his experiences in Italy and with law, he intended to go on to medical school, but decided that family was more of a priority. Instead of working long hours, and having to relocate, Rich chose to stay with Lynne and his children and find their own place to live and create wine. "Warren has impeccable—almost immaculate—taste," His wife, Lynne commented, "He knows how to make a superb, dry wine."