Robert nida

Robert entered the wine industry on a whim during his Christmas break in 2007.  Little did he know that this would be the beginning of his career in the wine industry.  Upon completing his Bachelor of Science in Horticulture at Texas A&M University, he enrolled in the Vinifera Euromaster program.  He spent the next two years in France and Spain earning his Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology with an emphasis on warm climate viticulture and enology.  His thesis research focused on studying the application of high pressure technologies in over lees aging of red wines and repercussions in sensorial parameters.  After completing his degree, Robert worked in the South African and Oregon wine industries before returning to Texas in 2012 to be the winemaker for Compass Rose Cellars.  Here he helped to shape and develop the winery and its brand.  Robert later joined Kuhlman Cellars as assistant winemaker and vineyard manager.  In 2016 he left Kuhlman Cellars to join his wife, Lydia, in the adventure of starting Vine to Vino Consulting.  Robert worked the 2017 harvest in Napa, CA learning about the operations of a custom crush facility and expanding his knowledge in winery operations.

lydia nida

Lydia was born and raised in Plano, TX.  Following in the footsteps of her siblings she went to Texas A&M University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Entomology and Horticulture.  Immediately following her undergraduate studies she went on to get her Master of Science in Viticulture & Enology from Fresno State University in California.  Her thesis research focused on the interactive effects of mechanical canopy management in warm climate regions and has been published in HortScience and the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.  Having always had the intentions of returning to help build the Texas wine industry, Lydia began her viticulture career in 2012 as the first vineyard manager for Grape Creek Vineyards.  In 2015 she decided to take a break and traveled through Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Croatia working at several vineyards along the way through the WWOOF program.  After 4 months she returned with a fresh mind and began consulting for vineyards in the Texas Hill Country and High Plains, as well as maintaining the Viticulturist position at Lost Draw Vineyards for two growing seasons before starting Vine to Vino Consulting with her husband, Robert.  Lydia spent the 2017 harvest working with one of the top vineyard management companies in Napa, CA, Renteria Vineyard Management.  This experience allowed her to learn the operations of a successful vineyard management company, as well as new technology and practices being used in one of the premier winegrowing regions in the world. 

Vine to vino Consulting

On Leap Day 2016 Robert and Lydia got married in the Hill Country and by the end of the year they decided to start their own vineyard and winemaking consulting business, Vine to Vino Consulting.  Lydia specializes in vineyard consulting for winegrape growers and Robert specializes in winemaking consulting.  Together they hope to support the Texas wine industry by not only working with existing vineyards and wineries, but also welcoming newcomers and helping them integrate seamlessly into the Texas wine family.  Vine to Vino Consulting is a member of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association and the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.

Pebble rock cellars

In July of 2019 Robert and Lydia released their first wines under their own label, Pebble Rock Cellars.