Marilisa Allegrini is the president of the group that bears her name. She entered the wine sector in 1983 and has worked tirelessly to make Valpolicella known throughout the world, so much so that she earned the nickname, Lady Amarone. In the 2000s, she began a policy of expansion that was accomplished first with the acquisition of 100 hectares in Bolgheri and the establishment of Poggio Al Tesoro in 2001, followed by the acquisition of San Polo in Montalcino in 2007. In 2008, she achieved her childhood dream when she bought Villa Della Torre, one of the most precious and exquisite jewels of the Italian Renaissance. In 2017, she was the first Italian woman to appear solo on the cover of Wine Spectator, the world’s most important and influential wine magazine. From 2016 to 2019 she was a member of the Board of Directors of SACE and a member of the Board of Directors of the Consorzio del Brunello di Montalcino. She is still a member of the Board of the Verona Branch of the Bank of Italy, a member of the Board of Directors of the Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini DOC Bolgheri and a member of the Steering Committee of Fondazione Arena di Verona. In 2020, the president of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, appointed her Cavaliere del Lavoro (Order of Merit for Labor).

Pablo Álvarez Mezquíriz is the chief executive officer of TEMPOS Vega Sicilia. As the owner, alongside his siblings, of El Enebro, the Álvarez family’s equity company, he also currently serves as the chair of Europvin, an organization representing Europe’s premier wine portfolio.

A graduate in law from the Center of University Studies of Madrid, with a diploma in Corporate Legal Advice from the Madrid Business Institute, Álvarez held various positions at Eulen, including serving as a director from 1980 to 2009. He was appointed general manager of Bodegas Vega Sicilia in 1986 and subsequently became CEO in 1990, a role he continues to hold.

Over his three decades leading Vega Sicilia, Álvarez has transformed the winery into a globally renowned group of wines under the TEMPOS Vega Sicilia umbrella. He has significantly enhanced the quality of the wines, spearheaded the implementation of an international commercial strategy, and established four new wineries: Bodegas y Viñedos Alión (Ribera de Duero), Bodegas y Viñedos Pintia (DO Toro), Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macán (DOCa Rioja) and Bodegas Oremus (Tokaj, Hungary). A new project, Deiva, is currently being developed in the DO Rías Baixas region.

Known for his perfectionism, Pablo Álvarez often says: “The best wine is yet to be made.”

Born in 1969, Dominique Arangoïts pursued studies in agronomy at ENITA (now Bordeaux Sciences Agro Institute) in Bordeaux from 1989 to 1992, qualifying as an agricultural engineer. He then specialized in wine science at the Institute of Oenology of Bordeaux from 1992 to 1994.

His career began internationally as winemaker at the historic Tokaj Disznókő estate in Hungary, where he worked from 1993 to 1999. Since 2000, Dominique has been the winemaker and technical manager at Château Cos d’Estournel in Saint-Estèphe, where he continues to craft and oversee some of Bordeaux’s most renowned wines.

Michelle and Robin Baggett moved to Napa Valley in 2006 to found Alpha Omega. Robin began his wine career in 1988 as a grape grower, planting more than 750 acres of grapes, and in 1998 establishing Tolosa winery in San Luis Obispo. In the late 80s, Michelle began her multifaceted career in the development of hospitality brands before she created the name, brand and vision of this venture together, Alpha Omega.

Born and raised in Salinas, following five generations of Texas heritage, Robin attended Cal Poly on a baseball scholarship. In 1998, he was inducted into the Cal Poly Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2001, Cal Poly’s new baseball stadium was named after him. In 2024, he was inducted into the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame. His 40-year career as an attorney includes an eight-year stint as general counsel to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. A Georgia native, Michelle’s career designing 4 and 5 Star hotels landed her in Beverly Hills and then Honolulu as a senior designer for two of the world’s leading international hotel architectural firms. Her hospitality development background then led her to a position on Hawaiian Airlines’ marketing team and thereafter into a marketing and public relations firm in San Luis Obispo.

Robin is the sole managing partner of the Alpha Omega Collective which includes Alpha Omega and Tolosa wineries. He is past chair of the Napa Valley Vintners and remains on the board of directors. Robin is also chair of Festival Napa Valley, 1st vice president of the California Wine Institute, chair of the Land Trust of Napa County and serves on Cal Poly’s Athletic Director’s Council. Michelle is the chief brand officer of the Alpha Omega Collective brands and executive director of the Alpha Omega Foundation. She is also on the board of the Rutherford Dust Society and the St. Helena Hospital Foundation. The Baggetts were also chairs of Auction Napa Valley 2025 and actively support charities which focus on children’s well-being, medical technology and local community needs.

As co-owners of the beautiful Knights Bridge Winery in Sonoma County, California, Kelley and Jim Bailey share a commitment to excellence and to giving back. Together, they work tirelessly to generously support a wide range of philanthropic endeavors through their foundation.

Jim has had a diverse career, from investment and financial advisor to environmental entrepreneur to vintner. He formed Cambridge Associates in 1973 to provide investment and financial planning services to nonprofit, endowed institutions. His alma mater, Harvard University, was his first client, and for almost 50 years since, Cambridge Associates has been a leading voice in building institutional-quality portfolios for endowments, foundations, pensions and private clients. Jim also co-founded the Plymouth Rock Co., a New England auto and homeowners’ insurance company.

Combining his passion for wine with farming, Jim and a group of family and friends purchased a 100-acre parcel of land in 2006. Understanding that great wine starts in the vineyard, they adopted new, sustainable vineyard management techniques, replanted portions of the estate and hired a team of seasoned professionals who shared their ambition to produce the best wines possible.

A New York native, Kelley Bailey began her career in wine early on. Her introduction to the industry started in 1987 at Bridgehampton Winery on Long Island. After a few years, she moved to Northern California with another small winery, and in 1993 Kelley began working with Jackson Family Wines (JFW). In 2007, she became executive vice president of marketing, working closely with founders Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke to spearhead marketing strategy and brand development across the company portfolio. In 2011, she was named president of the Spire Collection, the company’s portfolio of luxury wines. In her role she managed all strategy and development including brand marketing, national sales, direct-to-consumer, hospitality and culinary. After nearly 30 years with Jackson Family Wines, Kelley retired and is now serving in an advisory role to the Banke-Jackson family and senior leadership at JFW.

With more than three decades of wine industry experience, Kelley brings exceptional vision and expertise to help shape the future of Knights Bridge Winery. In early 2020, Kelley and Jim embarked on a long-awaited project to build a winery on the estate where they are now making wine and welcoming visitors. The winery, designed by world-renowned architects Howard Backen and John Taft of Backen & Gillam, is the second-ever built in Knights Valley and its construction is the culmination of nearly a decade of thoughtful planning and designing.

The Baileys enjoy spending time with their five grandchildren on the beautiful Knights Bridge estate vineyard, instilling in them a love of the land.

Barbara Banke

“We are always looking for the next perfect wine or great vineyard. That prospect of making something spectacular, discovering something new motivates me.”

Jackson Family Wines Chairman & Proprietor Barbara R. Banke has spent four decades leading the family wine company she co-founded with her late husband, wine icon Jess Jackson. Since 2011, Banke has expanded the family business to enhance its world class collection of wine estates and vineyards with future generations in mind.

Banke takes a hands-on role developing the company’s strategic growth and investments to ensure long-term quality. Under Banke’s leadership, Jackson Family Wines has ventured into Oregon’s Willamette Valley, South Africa’s Western Cape, Canada’s Cowichan Valley and the UK’s Essex County, and focused on elevating their wine estates across the globe. She continues to oversee a broad range of initiatives that include the company’s mission to become climate positive by 2050.

When she is not sourcing new vineyard sites, Banke oversees Stonestreet Farm, the family’s Lexington, Kentucky-based breeding operation as well as its racing stable. Stonestreet Stables has raced “Horse of the Year” Curlin and Rachel Alexandra, as well as homebred Eclipse Award winners Good Magic and Cartier Award winning Lady Aurelia. A leading commercial breeder, Stonestreet Farm has bred the winners of more than 100 graded stakes.

A well-known philanthropist, Banke has led the family’s support of more than 200 nonprofit organizations in local communities where employees live and work. She is a passionate advocate for children’s and educational charities around the country. As the chair of the Sonoma County Wine Auction, Banke raised a record-breaking $3.4 million for the local community. Banke and the Jackson family also committed $4.1 million to the Jess S. Jackson Sustainable Winery Building at UC Davis, designed to train the next generation of winemakers in sustainable winemaking practices. Additionally, Banke supports charities where she races Thoroughbred horses and donates to equine scientific research.

Banke is a graduate of UCLA and Hastings Law School. A former land use and constitutional law attorney, she spent more than a decade arguing cases before the Courts of Appeal including the United States Supreme Court. She raised three children with her husband Jess (Katie, Julia and Christopher Jackson) who are each involved in Jackson Family Wines.

Chris Carpenter

Chris Carpenter is winemaker for many of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wineries, including Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota Vineyard Co., Mt. Brave and Caladan as well as Hickinbotham in South Australia’s McLaren Vale. Over the past two decades, Chris has earned a reputation for taming Napa Valley’s mountain tannins and creating legendary Cabernet Sauvignon. He works closely with the vineyard team to nurture and then manifest the unique character of each vineyard block in elegant wines with great depth, mountain character and historic pedigree. He believes in maximum attention in the vineyards and minimal intervention in the winery to create the purest expression of place.

Giampiero holds a master’s degree in economy and marketing from the Università di Firenze and took part in an international marketing program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He began his career in 1991 at Procter & Gamble, where he took on several marketing roles with growing responsibilities over a period of almost ten years. In 1998, he moved to the Centro Chimica S.R.L. company as a partner. In 2002 Giampiero joined Marchesi Frescobaldi Group as marketing director at the beginning and then taking over the responsibility of global marketing and sales director for four brands of the group. He has spent 16 years at Frescobaldi Group.

CEO of Biondi-Santi since November 2018, his mission is to further expand the value and the importance of the brand to reinforce its presence among the greatest wines of the world. On the one hand this will be accomplished through the continuous improvement of the quality of the wines, with the utmost respect of Biondi-Santi’s secular tradition and history; on the other hand, by strengthening the presence of Biondi-Santi in the best restaurants worldwide and in the most prestigious private wine collector cellars.

Giampiero was born in Quito, Ecuador, he is married and the father of one boy and two girls. He is a lover of outdoor sports such as skiing, tennis and golf as much as listening to music and traveling.

Winemaker Michael Browne electrified California as co-founder of Kosta Browne in 1997, gaining fame with the creation of singular, highly extracted Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley. In 2009 he launched CIRQ, inspired by his childhood circus-performing days. Driven by his passion for crafting exceptional wines from the Russian River Valley’s finest sites, he brings the same intense study, balance and finesse to CIRQ—blending only the highest quality fruit from the region’s prime vineyards. His newest project, CHEV, pays tribute to a time when artisans crafted by hand—unrestricted by region and inspired by exceptional vineyards both near and far—to create world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

In 2018, Michael and his wife, Sarah, fulfilled their dream of building a family winery, Browne Family Wines, where CIRQ and CHEV remain the sole focus. Sarah plays a pivotal role in shaping the guest experience. With a deep passion for hospitality, she ensures that every visitor to the winery develops an authentic connection with the brand. Together, Sarah and Micheal have created an estate that is as personal as it is breathtaking—a hilltop gem in the heart of the Russian River Valley, surrounded by sweeping 360-degree views.

Dr. Laura Catena is a fourth-generation Argentine vintner, physician and wine writer. Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Catena obtained a B.S. degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Harvard University and a medical doctor degree from Stanford. She is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata and of her own Luca Winery. For more than 25 years, she was a practicing part-time physician of emergency medicine in San Francisco. In addition, she is the founder of the Catena Institute of Wine, which has been dedicated to preserving Malbec and elevating Argentine wine since 1995.

Throughout her career, Catena has received numerous distinctions, including the 2022 “Woman of the Year” award, presented by The Drinks Business magazine. In March 2023, she was named “Old Vine Hero” by The Old Vine Conference and received the Meininger “Outstanding Achievement Award”. On July 12th, Catena Zapata was voted number one in the world at the World’s Best Vineyards 2023 award ceremony for over 125 VIPs held in La Rioja, Spain.

Under her management, the family’s Adrianna Vineyard was awarded ten 100-point scores from some of the world’s most influential wine critics. Recently, Catena Zapata received Argentina’s 2017 “Extraordinary Winery Award” from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate and Michelin Guide NY.

Laura is on the Executive Leadership Board of the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology and is also a board member of the Fulbright Commission in Argentina and WSET Honorary President 2023.

Candice is the niece of Florence and Daniel Cathiard. She grew up in France, where she was fortunate to witness the growth of Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux from a young age. Watching her aunt and uncle’s passion for winemaking left a lasting impression and sparked her own appreciation for the world of wine.

Her path led her from France to Spain, and eventually to Florida, where she built a career in hospitality with Marriott hotels. When the opportunity arose to join her family’s new venture in Napa Valley with the launch of Cathiard Vineyard, Candice embraced it fully. Today, she leads hospitality operations at Cathiard, overseeing direct-to-consumer sales and building meaningful relationships with clients and private collectors.

Established in 2014, The Setting Wines is a collection of luxury wines created by three friends; Jeff Cova and Noah McMahon, both of whom come from philanthropic backgrounds, and superstar winemaker Jesse Katz. Together, the trio covers every aspect of the business. Jeff Cova’s passion for exceptional experiences extends beyond winemaking, with over 20 years of experience in event management, fundraising and travel, He owns The Setting Inns in Napa, California, and Willamette Valley, Oregon—boutique hospitality properties that reflect the same warmth, elegance and attention to detail that define The Setting Wines. Noah McMahon has a background in viticulture and enology, which informs his approach to the production of high-quality wines. Noah is the founder and CEO of Anonymous Philanthropy, providing strategic advice and introductions to philanthropists, celebrities and companies.

As the first winemaker to make the Forbes “30 under 30” list, Jesse Katz’s experience spans 19 harvests at internationally acclaimed wineries such as Petrus, Robert Foley and Screaming Eagle. The Setting Wines is a culmination of relationships spanning decades, sourcing from some of the most prestigious vineyards in both Napa and Sonoma. He is recognized for his focus on small-lot, handcrafted wines that emphasize terroir and sustainable practices and is known for his contributions to the wine community, including mentorship and education.

Naoko Dalla Valle

Established as one of the New World’s most beloved wineries, Dalla Valle Vineyard’s story began in 1982 after its founder Kobe-Born Naoko Dalla Valle moved from West Indies to Napa Valley with her husband Gustav Dalla Valle. Their original intention of the move was not to make wine, but unknown to her at that time was that Gustav was born in a winemaking family in Italy and desired to be back in the wine business. After purchasing a small property on the hillside in Oakville they were inspired to start growing grapes and making wine. Through dedication and patience, the Dalla Valles completed their eponymous winery in 1986.

Known as one of Napa Valley’s most respected vintners, Naoko is a passionate farmer, a hands-on owner and a believer that great wines are made in the vineyard. She lives on the property, adding her three decades of winegrowing knowledge to every decision that shapes the vines and ensures the pinnacle of quality. Most recognized for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it is through Naoko’s stewardship that the Dalla Valle Vineyard’s star has risen and continues to set the standard for Napa wines.

In 2017, Naoko was joined at Dalla Valle by her daughter, Maya, a gifted winemaker who learned her craft working at some of the world’s most iconic wineries. “I have long admired the great multigenerational wineries of Europe, so having Maya join me at Dalla Valle was always a secret dream,” says Naoko. “As a mother, working beside my daughter to preserve the vision and values that have always defined Dalla Valle is truly inspiring.”

Maya Dalla Valle

Maya Dalla Valle is a second-generation winemaker, and Dalla Valle Vineyard’s wine director, whose great talent, impressive educational pedigree and unique trails and ideas are heralding a new era for the iconic brand.

Maya’s passion for wine is ingrained in her DNA. In 1986, her parents, Naoko and Gustav, made their first vintage of estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. The following year—the year she was born—they planted Maya’s Vineyard, a 5-acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon that has become one of the most revered winegrowing sites in America. In 1992, this remarkable vineyard yielded a wine that would go on to earn Dalla Valle’s first perfect 100-point score from legendary critic Robert Parker.

Growing up at Dalla Valle, Maya had the opportunity to spend time with and learn from celebrated winemakers like Heidi Barrett, Tony Soter and Mia Klein. These experiences richly influenced her formative years with a sense of place and purpose that has come to define her adult life. However, before joining the family business, Maya was committed to earning her place and making a name for herself.

To pursue a career as a winemaker, Maya earned a master’s degree in viticulture and enology from Cornell University, and a Master of Business and Science degree in vineyard and winery management from France’s prestigious Bordeaux Sciences Agro. Training with the best, Maya also gained invaluable hands-on winemaking experience at Ornellaia e Masseto, Bodegas Rolland, Petrus and Château Latour. Once she cultivated her skills to the caliber of Dalla Valle, Maya returned to Dalla Valle and joined the winery as director in 2017—making the estate a true multigenerational winery. In January 2021, Maya was named the estate’s winemaker.

“Dalla Valle is my home. It is also my family’s legacy,” says Maya. “I am so excited to be working alongside my mom. Dalla Valle is her life’s work, and what she has created is remarkable. I also know that the greatest wineries are judged in terms of decades and generations, and that our story is still being written. I am honored to be carrying our family’s legacy into a second generation.”

Founded by Dave Del Dotto in 1989, Del Dotto is known for its rich, luscious, silky smooth style of winemaking, with grapes sourced from seven specially hand selected vineyard sites in six appellations located primarily in Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast. An increasing rarity in the Napa Valley, the winery is family owned and operated, helmed by Desirée Del Dotto—chief operating officer, marketing director, co-owner and second-generation vintner. Desirée oversees operations that produce around 20,000 cases of wine per year from the family’s estate vineyards. Working with varietals as diverse as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, they create what they like to call “liquid art.”

While still a student at St. Helena High School, Desirée began her first job at the winery in the administrative offices. Over the course of the next 27 years, she invested her time and energy into all aspects of the operation, exhibiting her inherited entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to the family business. Winemaking is not only a calling for her, but also one that links to her Venetian roots: The family traces its heritage to 12th century Venice and honors their legacy with the design of the Del Dotto Estate in 2007.

Tom Gamble’s roots in Napa run deep: A third-generation farmer, he traces his family’s agricultural heritage back to 1916. He made the transition from grape grower to vintner in 2005 when he began bottling the first wine under his family’s name, and now cultivates 175 acres in Napa’s renowned AVAs, including Oakville, Mount Veeder, Rutherford and Yountville. Combining his family’s connection to the land with regenerative farming practices, Tom was an early adopter of high-density vine planting. His contribution to environmental stewardship includes leadership in the Napa Green Program and the Napa River Restoration Project. Today, in collaboration with Atelier Melka, Tom elevates Gamble Estates’ wines, focusing on precision, balance and the distinct character of his Napa Valley vineyards.

Production at Gamble Estates is in three tiers, beginning with the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and continuing to a series of appellation-focused wines (Yountville Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernets from Oakville and Rutherford and the Mount Veeder Red Blend). At the top of the range are the Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, from select blocks in the Family Home vineyard in Oakville. Critic Jeb Dunnuck compared the Reserve Sauvignon Blanc to White Bordeaux, while the Cabernets have been praised for their concentration, freshness, complexity, supple tannins and layers of ripe, fresh fruit.

Born into a large family of winemakers and cognac distillers, it was only natural that Aymeric de Gironde crossed the Atlantic Ocean and settled down in New York as an ambassador for the cognac brand, Hennessy. Upon his return to France eight years later, he joined the Champagne company, Krug, to develop the name across the European and American markets. In 2006, Bordeaux called on him, and it was alongside Christina Seely, managing director of AXA Millésimes, that he took charge of the commercial and marketing department. In 2012, Michel Reybier offered him to take over the management of Château Cos d’Estournel in Saint-Estèphe and to instill his values of excellence.

A few years later, invited by Madame Valette, he lunched at Château Troplong Mondot for the first time. Whilst there, he felt something unique, a combination of belonging and well-being. “One day, I will come back to work on this incredible property,” he said.

Nothing happens by chance. In 2017 the SCOR company, the new owner of Troplong Mondot, entrusted him with the management of the domain: vineyard, restaurant and accommodation. He brought in his personal ideas, proposing a new style to the property’s wine whilst respecting its heritage. He surrounded himself with a young and ambitious team so as to ensure the consistency and the development of the property’s reputation both in France and abroad. His philosophy is fully compatible with what constitutes the very essence of Troplong Mondot: a Saint-Émilion 1st Grand Cru Classé that elegantly differentiates itself from others thanks to the identity of its wine, its mastery of the vineyard and the way in which guests are welcomed to the property.

Grace and Ken Evenstad founded Domaine Serene in the Dundee Hills of Oregon in 1989 with a mission to produce world class Pinot Noir. The Evenstads had faith and confidence in Oregon early on, before there was a national market for domestic Pinot Noir.

Today, Domaine Serene produces wines from seven individual vineyard estates, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Each estate offers a diversity of soils, clones, rootstocks, microclimates, slopes and elevations that add distinguishing complexity and elegance to the wines. In total, the Evenstads own over 1,000 acres of land in the hills of Yamhill County, with 360 acres planted to vines.

In 2001, the Evenstads completed construction of their current state-of-the art, five-level, gravity flow Pinot Noir winery. In 2015, Grace and Ken acquired Château de la Crée, the respected wine estate located in the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the renowned Côte d’Or in Burgundy, France. They are the only Oregon-based vintners to own land and produce wines in Burgundy, France. Parcels are owned in 18 climats throughout the Côte de Beaune in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay and Maranges, 40% of which are Premier Cru.

In 2021, Grace Evenstad expanded her Burgundian vineyard holdings by taking control of the renowned Domaine Christian Confuron et fils estate. This 15-acre expansion increased Evenstad Estates’ vineyard footprint in the Côte d’Or by roughly 60%, adding vineyards in the Côte de Nuits to her current holdings in the Côte de Beaune. The estate is located mainly in Chambolle-Musigny and Nuits-Saint-Georges, including prestigious Grand Cru vineyard blocks in Bonnes Mares and Clos de Vougeot.

In 2017, Domaine Serene opened a new best-in-class hospitality center, the Clubhouse at Domaine Serene, that defined the landscape of fine wine hospitality in the Pacific Northwest.

In Spring 2018, they completed a new winery dedicated solely to the production of Chardonnay and sparkling wine, the first of its kind in Oregon. The wineries are located on the beautiful Winery Hill Estate in the world-class Dundee Hills AVA.

Having achieved his goal of making the world’s finest Pinot Noir many times over, Ken Evenstad died at the age of 77 in October 2020. Under the guidance of Grace Evenstad, his legacy lives on as Domaine Serene remains focused on excellence in a never-ending quest to produce world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Domaine Serene’s wines represent the achievement that is possible in Oregon, one of the finest regions in the world for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Recent Accolades:

• In 2018, Grace and Ken were recipients of the wine industry’s highest honor, Wine Spectator’s “Distinguished Service Award.” The award, given once a year, is a tribute to those that have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the wine industry. The Evenstads were the first and only couple to have ever received this honor together.
• Evenstad Estates wines were awarded an unprecedented 55 medals at the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, including 2 Platinum and 4 Gold Medals.
• Evenstad Estates wines secured 21 medals at the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards.
• In 2020, Domaine Serene was the most awarded winery at the Decanter World Wine Awards, securing 23 medals including one platinum medal, five gold medals, 17 silver medals and one bronze medal.
• In 2019, London’s renowned Decanter magazine awarded Domaine Serene five gold medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
• Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines” of 2016 named Domaine Serene’s 2014 Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay the best white wine in the world.
• In 2016, London’s Decanter magazine named Domaine Serene’s 2012 Winery Hill Pinot Noir the top Pinot Noir in the world at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
• Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines” of 2013 named Domaine Serene’s 2010 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir the #3 Ranked wine in the world, and #1 Pinot Noir of the year.

As a lifetime farmer, Jeff Gargiulo has always been passionate about the land and agriculture, and today that passion is focused on grape growing and fine wine making. Thirty years ago, he and his wife Valerie dreamed of one day building a premier wine estate. That dream took shape in the early 1980s when Jeff and Valerie and their young family traveled to Napa Valley to visit Valerie’s cousins, Belle and Barney Rhodes. Napa Valley icons, Belle and Barney Rhodes had been in the Napa Valley since the late 1960s growing grapes in Rutherford at Bella Oaks Vineyard. Jeff and Valerie were inspired by their cousin’s Napa Valley lifestyle and confident that with their help and Jeff’s agricultural knowledge they could achieve their dream and make some of the finest wines in the world. Twelve years later and with countless hours of coaching from Barney and Belle, Jeff and Valerie purchased their first vineyard in Oakville, Napa Valley, Money Road Ranch in 1992. Seven years later they purchased their second Oakville property, 575 OVX.

From the beginning, the Gargiulos were committed to creating a world class Cabernet Sauvignon wine estate. From his years spent farming, Jeff Gargiulo knew that if he didn’t start with the very best land, he could never expect to grow the best grapes. For this reason, the Gargiulos chose Oakville to establish their namesake winery. Then, like today, Oakville was considered to be amongst the preeminent places to grow Cabernet Sauvignon in the world. The very first vintage of Gargiulo Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was 2000, and since then Gargiulo Vineyards has quietly taken its place among the most highly regarded Cabernet Sauvignon producers in Napa Valley. Not ones to rest on their laurels, Jeff, Valerie, their daughter April and the entire Gargiulo Vineyards’ team continue to strive to make Gargiulo wines the most pure and breathtaking expressions of their two esteemed Oakville vineyards.

Deborah Harlan

Growing up in the hills of Berkeley, California, Deborah immersed herself in theater and music, pursuits that led to further studies at the University of California Los Angeles and an enduring passion for the arts. Concurrently, Deborah performed with the Young Americans, a non-profit group based in Southern California that was credited with being the first show choir in America, mixing choreography with choral singing. The group toured extensively throughout the United States, Far East and Australia.

Deborah continued on to a highly successful modeling and commercial-acting career in New York City before marrying Bill Harlan in 1986. Shortly thereafter, their two children, Will and Amanda, were born, and the first harvests at Harlan Estate were brought into the winery. Deborah now focuses much of her time and energy developing and nurturing relationships globally for the Harlan family domain (which comprises Harlan Estate, BOND, Promontory and The Mascot), sharing the story of the family’s 200-year vision and deepening the understanding among curious individuals around the world of this vision’s underlying philosophy.

Amanda Harlan

Born and raised in the Napa Valley, Amanda Harlan has been deeply immersed in the cultural, entrepreneurial and philanthropic life of the region. Around the dinner table, discussions regarding the purpose and importance of creating, as a family, something that would last for generations was ingrained in her. The family’s dedication to the community was another common theme. Auction Napa Valley, the area’s most impactful annual charitable endeavor, was held for 39 years at Meadowood Napa Valley, of which her father is Founding Partner. At six years of age, she discovered her passion for horses and dedicated herself to the discipline of dressage, becoming an accomplished equestrian and a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic team. After earning a degree in psychology from the University of Southern California, Amanda began her professional life at LVMH, where she broadened her knowledge of the international wine business. With a focus on the future as well as her family’s 200-year plan, Amanda worked harvest in the BOND cellar in 2014—an experience that marked the beginning of her commitment to the Harlan winegrowing domain. Today, Amanda brings a global perspective and a strong affinity for the community to her role as family director, developing the culture of and driving communications throughout the family’s businesses—particularly as the renewal of Meadowood Napa Valley begins, and The Napa Valley Reserve enters its third decade. Amanda currently sits on the board of Festival Napa Valley, Jameson Humane, The Equestrian Aid Foundation and The Napa Valley Wine Writers’ Symposium; she is also the founding partner and chair of The Invictus Fund, NV. Amanda and her newborn son, Maximilian, reside in Rutherford, at the heart of the Napa Valley, as well as in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, where they share their home with Amanda’s husband, Jason Maltas, and two stepdaughters, Juliet and Scarlett.

David Cilli

Born and raised in Tuscany, David Cilli developed a deep appreciation for the vineyards, wines and cuisine of the region from a young age.

An internship in a local cellar revealed his passion for making wine and ultimately inspired him to pursue a degree in viticulture and enology in Florence. He then began consulting with various wine cellars across Montalcino and Tuscany and learning about the commitment to purity by small local family producers. He admired the thread of patience and multi-generational approach to wine growing.

He went on to accept winemaking internships in Italy, Australia, France and Argentina. This is where David began to understand the different approaches to farming and winemaking, which have helped fortify his work with Promontory.

After David was introduced to Director of Winegrowing Cory Empting in 2012, the two found they shared similar philosophies. That harvest season, David started making wine with the Promontory team in Napa Valley.

In 2017 David was appointed winemaker of Promontory and remains focused on understanding the complexity of the site. He feels strongly about working with the Promontory vineyard and strives to express the character of the land in the purest way. David looks forward to the future and long-term potential of the site.

In his free time, he loves to cook and to cycle in the Napa Valley.

Early adventures to legendary vineyards and wineries around the world with his family and father, photographer Andy Katz, gave Colorado-native Jesse Katz a profound respect for the creativity and art of winemaking. It was through his father’s work that Jesse recognized and fell in love with the importance of terroir, balance and the beauty of a winemaker’s influence—setting him on a path he has perused ever since. Today, Jesse creates distinct and nuanced wines for his brands, Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards, while serving as a consulting winemaker for some of the world’s elite wine programs. Since his debut as a first-generation talent out of college, he has emerged as one of the most exciting—and accomplished—winemakers globally.

Jesse’s diverse experience spanning 25 harvests at wineries, along with a passion for travel, fueled his aspiration to learn from the best in the industry. After graduating from Fresno State’s Department of Viticulture and Enology, he spent time studying at Petrus in Bordeaux, Screaming Eagle and Robert Foley Vineyards in Napa Valley and Viña Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina. In 2010, Jesse became the youngest head winemaker in the U.S. at Lancaster Estate. During his five-year tenure there, he orchestrated the building of the new Roth winery, production facility and tasting room. Behind the scenes, he received 90+ scores on every wine scored by the Wine Advocate and secured Lancaster Estate’s inclusion on the list of Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines.” In 2013, Wine Enthusiast named Jesse one of its “40 Under 40 Tastemakers,” and he also earned the distinction of becoming the first winemaker on the Forbes “30 Under 30” list.

He is a consulting winemaker for some of the biggest names in entertainment—including Von Miller, Tony Hawk and Justin Timberlake. In 2017, Jesse’s wine collaboration with Shep Gordon, under The Setting Wines label, earned the designation as the most expensive 750ml bottle of wine in the world ever sold. He then broke his own record in 2021.

Jesse’s wines have garnered superlative recognition over the years from the top wine critics in the industry. The Aperture Chenin Blanc has earned the highest Wine Enthusiast rating for the varietal in the history of California. In 2021, his work with Devil Proof’s Farrow Ranch was recognized in Robert Parker’s the Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck. “I’d put this in the running for one of the greatest Malbecs ever produced,” noted Dunnuck, while Erin Brooks from the Wine Advocate has noted his wines are “The best example of 100% Malbec I’ve ever tasted.” Subsequently, Jesse has gained multiple 100-point scores not only for his Devil Proof brand, but also for Aperture. For instance, Aperture’s 2020 Del Rio Cabernet Sauvignon, scored by Jeb Dunnuck, stands as the only wine from the 2020 vintage to get 100 points and the first Cabernet Sauvignon in the history of the Alexander Valley region to get a perfect score. Jesse has also garnered 100-point scores for his consulting project with Valette and partnership in The Setting Wines.

Jesse finds joy in utilizing his craft to raise funds for charitable causes, nonprofits and charity events. Devil Proof, Aperture and The Setting Wines actively donate and participate in a large variety of charitable auctions, donating numerous cases of wine and custom winery experiences to causes they firmly believe in each year. Jesse has raised over $5.8MM for charities and foundations since starting his brand and has recently joined on the board of directors for the SommFoundation, an educational-based nonprofit benefiting professionals in the wine and spirits business.

Honored Vintners Shahpar and Darioush Khaledi’s deeply rooted belief in individualism and opportunity embodies the best aspects of the American Dream. The couple was born and raised in Iran, where Shahpar entered business school and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1972. Darioush was trained as a civil engineer; his fascination with wine was instilled at an early age by his father’s winemaking efforts and the cultural history of viticulture in Shiraz. He founded his successful construction company in Iran and first visited California on a sabbatical with Shahpar, moving there permanently in 1976.

Business ownership was a viable option to obtain a green card and permanent residency, so the couple bought a small supermarket while Shahpar received a master’s degree in business. Twenty years later, they operated the largest family-owned and privately held grocery chain in California with 41 locations. Darioush’s childhood fascination with wine had blossomed into a major adult interest, and the couple’s proximity to Napa exposed them to a wide range of wine personalities, including Robert Mondavi, who became a mentor.

In 1998, they purchased an abandoned property on Silverado Trail and began work on their own estate. By 2004, Darioush Winery had grown to a 22,000 square foot facility and was making collectible wines of its own. Shahpar Khaledi’s founding vision for Darioush combined her experience in fashion and boutique retail, cultivated over decades as founder and creative director of Echelon, an influential women’s boutique that offered niche European designers. Treating her clients and guests well is more than a cultural tradition for Shahpar, it is a way of life. Taarof is the Persian art of social etiquette, a way to make your guest feel more at home than home itself, and that welcoming philosophy has defined the Darioush experience of today.

Although the Darioush wines are best known to consumers for the seven grape varieties featured in their estate-grown Signature Series, the crown jewel of the range is the Darius II Cabernet Sauvignon. The time-honored artworks selected for each label span thousands of years of creativity. Reviewing the 2021 vintage in The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW awarded it a near-perfect 98 points and said, “the full-bodied palate is stacked with black fruit and savory layers, supported by beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful tension.”

The couple have become involved in a wide range of philanthropic activities as the operations of the winery are passed on to their daughter Sally, who dazzles visitors in the Persian-inspired building complete with antique artwork. We are proud to recognize Shahpar and Darioush Khaledi as our 2026 Honored Vintners during their eleventh year at the Naples Winter Wine Festival.

Named a Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old, Carlton McCoy was one of the youngest people to earn this prestigious title. Growing up in southeast Washington, D.C., Carlton McCoy’s upbringing was an unlikely springboard for his meteoric rise in the wine industry. After graduation in 2006, Carlton honed his skills in revered institutions including Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak in New York and Eric Zeibold’s CityZen at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C. ​

In 2011, Carlton joined the team at The Little Nell in Aspen, CO. After earning the Master Sommelier title in 2013, he was promoted to wine director, overseeing a staff of 150 and The Little Nell’s acclaimed 20,000-bottle wine cellar. Carlton became president and CEO of Heitz Cellar in December 2018. ​

Today, McCoy is the CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, which is the leading portfolio of historical fine wine estates and includes Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Burgess, Haynes Vineyard, Ink Grade and Trailside Vineyard in Napa Valley, Château Lascombes in Bordeaux and Demeine Estates. Under his vision, these wineries craft wines of elegance and balance, while expressing a true sense of place.

Carissa Mondavi is a fourth generation winegrower working with her family at Continuum Estate. Involved in every facet of her family business today, Carissa plays key roles guiding communications, marketing, hospitality and sales. While she grew up playing in the vineyards, her love for great wine began at the family table with her father’s passion for great wines of the world. Summer internships in the cellar and the vineyards deepened this love for the culture of wine and its connection to nature. Inspired every day by working together with their talented team and the vineyards and wines themselves, it is the culture of wine, and how it brings people together, she loves most. As her grandfather, Robert, used to say, “Interest is not enough, you have to be passionate!” Carissa is passionate about contributing to her family’s ongoing vision and commitment in wine today.

In 1987, Beth Weber Novak joined her mother, Mary Novak, becoming the first second-generation family member to become actively involved in guiding Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery. In the almost four decades since, Beth has played a key role in establishing Spottswoode as one of the world’s most highly regarded winegrowing sites, and as one of Napa Valley’s most iconic and respected wineries. She has also quietly built a reputation as a leader in the Napa Valley community, advocating on behalf of the wine industry, and the social and environmental causes about which she is deeply passionate.

Moving to Napa Valley with her parents in 1972, Beth grew up surrounded by the vineyards. Like her four siblings, Beth’s chores included tasks like suckering the vines and cleaning out the emitters. While her youth in Napa Valley may have planted the seed for her future, ironically, it was a year spent studying in Europe that made her begin thinking about a career in wine. After earning a degree in economics from UCLA, Beth joined a San Francisco-based wine brokerage representing such clients as Caymus, Joseph Phelps and Pine Ridge.

When Mary asked Beth to help out a little at the winery, it didn’t take long for a few days a week to become a permanent way of life. “Back then, we were on our third release, and we were still in the red,” says Beth. “Two things became immediately obvious to me: this was a full-time position, and I absolutely loved being a part of the winery!” One of Beth’s first major decisions was to acquire the historic adjacent Kraft property to expand the estate and establish a barrel room and offices in its beautiful buildings. Since then, Beth has played an integral role in the thoughtful evolution of Spottswoode. Early in her tenure, Beth has overseen the replanting of the estate in response to phylloxera, the vineyard’s pioneering CCOF organic certification in 1992 and the building of the Spottswoode Estate Winery in 1999.

In addition, Beth has been a strong and effective voice for the Napa Valley wine community. Reflecting the high regard she is held in by her peers, in 1998 Beth was elected the youngest president ever of the Napa Valley Vintners, the first woman to hold the position. Believers in leading by example, Beth and Mary worked with four women winemakers in a row at Spottswoode, before promoting current winemaker Aron Weinkauf to that position. Beth also spearheaded the restoration of Spring Creek, which defines the southern boundary of the estate vineyard. In 2010, Beth and Mary were honorary chairs of Auction Napa Valley, a hugely successful event that raised more than $8,500,000 for Napa Valley nonprofits, and in 2007, Spottswoode joined 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of Spottswoode’s gross revenues each year to nonprofits that support a healthier world.

Above all else, Beth sees herself as a steward of her family’s winegrowing estate, carrying on the legacy begun by Mary, who passed away in 2016. “Our family has a four-decade relationship with this land that now spans three generations. I grew up here, along with my four siblings, and now the third generation is enjoying the property. When you own a family winery like ours, the cellar is like a photo album: each vintage of our Spottswoode Estate Cabernet is a picture of a year in our family’s life, and a testament for our love of this place. This is why it has always been so important to us that our wines reflect who we are, and what we believe in, both in terms of the way we farm our vineyard and in the beautiful, balanced style of our wines.”

“From the very first moment, I knew she was the perfect fit. When we tasted Rare Millésime 2006 together, I noticed many similarities between this sunny vintage and Maud’s radiant side: intelligence, generosity, sincerity and a bold personality. She embodies values that are important to me, with sparkling, lively eyes, a ready smile, a noble heart, wine in her veins, a love for beautiful things, long-term vision, daring and deep RESPECT, in capital letters. I knew in that first hour I spent with Maud that it was the beginning of a chapter that would fundamentally change the life of Rare Champagne, which she would lead from then on.”

What better tribute to Maud Rabin than this one from Régis Camus, the most awarded cellar master of the century. Through her presence, the way she listens to others, her talent to transform an idea into a project and each project into an exceptional moment, she has created a style, an attitude, a passion and a true Art de vivre. She has helped transform Rare Champagne into a luxury house with the power of her charisma. In less than three years, she brought it back in touch with the reality of new consumers while opening the door to dreams, making each moment unique.

She could read and write at the age of four. She was raised by women and has her grandmother to thank for her ability to overcome obstacles (which she calls “puzzles”) with a smile, to “look at life with a lot of perspective because in every crisis, there are opportunities. It’s up to us to transform them.” Maud Rabin got her start in fashion in marketing and communications management, living in Paris, New York and Shanghai, then joined Rémy Cointreau, where she spent nearly a decade as image director for the Liqueurs and Spirits Division while supporting the digital transformation. She has been at the heart of Rare Champagne since 2018, breathing new life into the Champagne House, driven by the energy that never lets her give up on anything. A French synchronized swimming champion at the age of 10, she learned about discipline, effort and competition at a very young age. She listens to other people’s actions and to her own heart. In everything she does and achieves, she possesses an intuition that is both earthly and divine. For Maud, each new year is like choreography. It isn’t a matter of a formula, but rather of a plan, which is different every time, each one linked to the other and supported by a “global vision.”

A Scorpio with Leo rising, this Angers native has Latin, Breton and Native American origins, cosmopolitan roots that give her the ease to conquer international markets by innovating, daring and opening up conversations. “I thrive on every conversation, every encounter. Agility is key, and although I like to maintain the fundamentals, I enjoy seizing every possible opportunity. Nothing is ever static. For me, everything is always in motion.”

Like a conductor, Rare Champagne Director Maud Rabin makes sure that every note in the score is played in a virtuoso manner. From there, we see her charisma and her unique and cheerful way of leading a team with daring and creativity. Between charity sales and the crew of women she creates for humanitarian projects, Maud is bringing up her two daughters by passing on her values: being able to open up to the world as easily as breathing.

“My mission on this earth is to give life back to everything that is alive but suffering-people, brands, plants-by using beauty as therapy, taking special care to make things beautiful.” Her objective is “to lead by developing strategies that are always a winning combination, a win-win for everyone who is involved in any way. That’s how I think, how I act, and I remain convinced that when you do things with your heart, you’re never wrong. There is no recipe, no formula. It’s a matter of sensitivity. I was made to deliver wonders, so it’s like a duty.”

Bernardino Sani was born and raised in Siena, Italy. He earned his university degree from the University of Florence, completing his final thesis on viticulture at the INSAM INRAE Institute in Montpellier. His career began at the Col D’Orcia winery in Montalcino, followed by work alongside renowned consultant oenologist Paolo Vagaggini in Siena.

In 2006, Bernardino moved to the United States, initially working in Long Island before relocating to the Caribbean. He returned to Italy in 2012 to become CEO and winemaker at Argiano winery in Montalcino, where he led a comprehensive restoration of the estate.

Currently, he consults for a prestigious vineyard in Napa, California and previously advised the Krause family during their acquisition of the historic Vietti winery in Piedmont.

“Be careful what you ask for, because you might just get it!”

Together Shari and Garen learned about wine, first at meals with his parents where California or Italian wines were served (his dad was born in Italy), and later when Garen went to Stanford Business School. When Shari would fly up from L.A. to visit him, they would often spend a day in Napa Valley, where their dream began to one day have a vineyard and make wines of great quality. In 1968 they married, went to Vietnam, Japan, Washington, D.C., then New York City where their first child Brandon was born in 1971.

When it was time to move back to California in 1975, one of the key criteria for where to live was proximity to wine country, so they chose Lafayette, CA, only one hour from Napa Valley and 3 hours from ski country. 1979 proved to be an auspicious year for the Staglins, with the birth of their second child, Shannon. This year also marked their first major investment in a tech company, run by Garen. After many years of rapid growth, they were able to sell a portion of this business, creating capital to finally pursue their dream to purchase an ultra-premium vineyard in the Napa Valley.

By the end of 1985, the dream came true with their purchase of the historic 50-acre vineyard planted by André Tchelistcheff in 1964, who had come from Bordeaux with the first Cabernet clones. They have since purchased adjacent acreage, bringing the total acreage to 70. Using their contacts and background, Shari and Garen built a business and marketing plan that remains the foundation of Staglin Family Vineyard: family ownership, commitment to quality, a personal approach to selling direct to consumer and encouraging memorable experiences and giving back. Shannon grew up on the property. Both she and Brandon pursued their education, and both returned with new perspectives and experiences to rejoin the family business and nonprofit. Shari has remained CEO since 1985, Shannon is president and Brandon is a leader at One Mind, their nonprofit for mental health. Garen assists with financial aspects and public relations and chairs One Mind. They hope to cultivate these traditions for many generations to come as they pursue their motto of “great wines for great causes”

Shari and Garen both earned their bachelor’s degrees from UCLA in 1966. Garen later earned his MBA at Stanford in 1968 and Shari her MPA at NYU in 1975. In the late 1980s, Shari studied viticulture and oenology at U.C. Davis.

Together with donations of their wines and chairing charitable campaigns, they have raised more than $1.2 billion, making them one of the most philanthropic leaders in the wine industry.

Born in 1971, Alberto Tasca is the president and the CEO of one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious family-owned wineries, Tasca d’Almerita.

With his great love for Sicily and the precise goal to promote native Sicilian grape varieties and the most favorable wine-growing areas, Alberto has been investing in different territories across Sicily, optimizing their individual qualities: Regaleali Estate, the heart of the company and the family home since 1830, then Capofaro Estate, in the Aeolian Islands, Whitaker Estate on the island of Mozia, Sallier de La Tour Estate in Camporeale and Tascante Estate on Mount Etna. Narrating the culture of unique territories, their culinary traditions and their anthropological history has now become an integral part of the company’s activity.

In 2010, Alberto embraced a new project, “SOStain – Sustainability in Sicilian viticulture,” a protocol recognized by the Italian Ministry of the Environment. A constant commitment that has resulted in Tasca d’Almerita receiving the “European Winery of the Year” award from Wine Enthusiast magazine and the prestigious Green Emblem from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate.

In 2020 Alberto became president of the Foundation SOStain Sicily, which has the task of promoting sustainable viticulture in Sicily, to facilitate the sharing of best-practices aimed at respecting the ecosystem.
He is on the board of Sicilia Doc Consortium and he is also vice president for the Istituto del Vino Italiano di Qualità, Grandi Marchi, where he promotes the culture and quality of Italian wines.

At the helm of Sullivan Rutherford Estate since early 2018, Juan Pablo Torres Padilla is dedicated to establishing the most professional and passionate team to pursue a unique endeavor: crafting the next “first growth” wine from Napa Valley to the world.

Born in Mexico City, Juan Pablo (JP) moved to France to attend École Polytechnique in his early 20s, where he earned a master’s degree in engineering and economics. He later extended his education at MIT in Boston, earning a master’s degree in the fields of policy, business and technology. After graduation, he returned to Paris and served as a business development director for Alcatel-Lucent Mobile Broadcast, and later spent almost a decade working with Talis, a privately held investment fund that owns MASA Group, a French company that develops world-leading artificial intelligence software for military and public safety command-staff training. His duties within Talis ranged from investment analysis to international sales and later chairman & CEO of MASA Group.

A lifelong wine lover, Juan Pablo was introduced to his first sips of Burgundy and Bordeaux as a teenager by his maternal grandfather who, as a senior official in the Mexican government and academics, traveled extensively and developed a broad understanding and appreciation for the world of wine. Juan Pablo’s passion for wine flourished during his 15+ years living in Paris. He made hundreds of visits to Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux, occasionally working harvests in the vineyard or cellar, and came to know and learn from many producers including Leflaive in Burgundy, Henriot in Champagne and Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux.

A pivotal moment in his wine journey came in 2006, when he and his uncle, equally enthusiastic about wine, were hosted for a private visit to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) by its co-owner, Aubert de Villaine. It was there at the DRC, learning from its longtime owner about its history, experiencing the terroir and tasting the wines, where the two first thought about acquiring a winery with a goal of crafting some of the best wines in the world as a lifetime project.

Juan Pablo, with his uncle as a business partner, began searching for a vineyard to purchase in Burgundy or Bordeaux, but his attention quickly turned to the Napa Valley. Napa Valley’s combination of history, superior winemaking technology and infrastructure, pioneering spirit and leadership, and the American fervor for entrepreneurship, disruptive innovation and ambition resonated with him.

Juan Pablo spent more than two years in the Napa Valley meeting with countless individuals, and visiting over 120 wineries, before his family-owned group acquired the historic Sullivan Rutherford Estate in early 2018. Since then, he has initiated a series of milestones toward creating a true “first growth” in Napa Valley. He started by assembling a world-class winery team, and together they have been meticulously executing their strong long-term vision to further elevate a 50-plus year foundation of hard work and vision to create Napa’s next iconic wine—from precision viticulture, through state-of-the-art winemaking, to consummate hospitality.

Born in 1960, Jean Trimbach, twelfth generation, is the son of Bernard, the brother of Hubert Trimbach, eleventh generation. Bernard’s other son Pierre took over the winemaking in 1985 following his father. Educated in Colmar, Jean attended college in Strasbourg where he studied accounting and business for three years. Following university, Jean completed his year of military service with the Mountain Artillery based near Grenoble in the French Alps in 1983. During 1984, Jean Trimbach spent nine months in the United States perfecting his English and studying all aspects of the U.S. wine business, first working for six months with his importer, Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines Company in New York, followed by a three-month stint in California working the crush at Gundlach Bundschu in Sonoma and Sterling Vineyards in Napa. On his return to France, Jean also spent three months at Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux. Jean Trimbach finally joined the Trimbach company in 1985, and since that date he has been involved in the business, travelling extensively throughout the world.