Graduating from Van High School and then from the University of Texas at Tyler as a Faulconer Scholar, Michael McClendon is an enologist and winemaker. His career has taken him all over the world from Chile to New Zealand. He has had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals such as Lisa Van de Water, Ken Fuglesang, and Pierre de Wet. Michael has worked in the wine industry for over a decade and was named a Young Turk of Texas wine. In 2017 Michael co-founded Sages Vintage Custom Crush Winery in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Sages Vintage was established to serve the needs of the Texas Wine Industry. Sage’s Vintage couples experience and expertise to bring proven industry talent within reach of their clients. The internationally experienced production team offers services to wineries both large and small and have garnered their clients a number of awards. McClendon, has been featured in the Tyler Loop, Edible Houston, and an image of him is even a part of the permanent collection in the Tyler Museum of Art. The self-proclaimed “Empresario”, Michael continues to redefine the conversation on Texas Wine