2020 SPEAKERS
Jaime Araujo
Accendo Cellars | Trois Noix
Jaime Araujo started learning about wine at her family’s winery at the Eisele Vineyard in Napa, California before going on to study enology in Bordeaux (DUAD), London (WSET) and California (UC Davis). After working for Moët Hennessy in Austria, London and Paris, Jaime created and ran her own company, Terravina, which focused on high level strategy consulting and marketing solutions. Having lived in Europe for 24 years, Jaime came back to Napa to become a partner in her family’s new wine, Accendo Cellars in 2016. She is also the founder of her own wine brand, Trois Noix, also based in Napa Valley. She has an MBA from INSEAD in France and has taught at INSEEC, Sciences Politiques, HEC and George Washington University.
Blaine Ashley
The Fizz is Female
Blaine Ashley is the Founder of New York Champagne Week and ‘The FIZZ is Female’ - which shines a spotlight on leading ladies in the bubbly wine biz and celebrates sparkling wine made, owned and or led by female powerhouses from around the world. In 2016, Ashley’s focus on all things bubbly awarded her a nod in Wine Enthusiast magazine as a 40 under 40 Taste Maker where she was aptly dubbed ‘The Champagne Queen’. In addition to all this, Ashley continues to work with wine and artisanal spirit companies on developing creative brand awareness strategies and is set to launch her second Champagne label in fall 2020.
Tracy Bogue
Club Bubbly
Tracy Bogue, born into an entrepreneurial family with deep roots in the wine industry on the Central Coast of California, always had a passion for food, travel, and community. While studying Wine and Viticulture at Cal Poly SLO, Tracy worked at Laetitia Vineyards & Winery and fell in love with Bubbly. After graduating from Cal Poly with an Agribusiness Degree, Tracy moved to College Station, Texas to work for Messina Hof Winery. She then moved back to CA to pursue the sales side of wine, where she spent 18 years working as a broker and representative for several distributors. In 2016 Tracy created Club Bubbly—out of a love for all types of sparkling wine from all over the world.
Kristin Brabant
Kristin Brabant Coaching | Solopreneurs Circle | Called to Create
Kristin Brabant is an International Women’s Success Coach who has been working with female entrepreneurs and leaders in the corporate and non-profit sectors since 2011. As the founder of the Solopreneurs Circle & Called to Create online course, Kristin has supported hundreds of female professionals to shift out of chaotic overdrive and life-sucking roles, and into clear “Decade-Worthy Work” visions for their careers and the habits needed to enjoy their life’s work. She coaches clients privately, leads a monthly business training & coaching membership program for female entrepreneurs, and specializes in workshops and retreats that help leaders become inspired experts in their industry.
Nicole Burke
Moët Hennessy USA
Nicole is an accredited Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and completed Level III with merit through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. She began her career in San Francisco as the opening Wine Director at Epic Steakhouse and the James Beard-nominated restaurant group, Stock and Bones. Her wine programs were recognized by Wine Spectator, GQ Magazine and 7X7, and she has received accolades by the James Beard Foundation for her outstanding contribution. In 2018, Nicole broadened her efforts through Krug’s parent company, Moet Hennessy, and moved into a Business Development position for the Champagnes and Wine Portfolio, where she manages brands including Krug, Dom Perignon, Ruinart, Möet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.
Felicity Carter
Meininger's Wine Business International
Felicity Carter is editor-in-chief of Meininger's Wine Business International, the world's only global, English language wine business magazine. Published in Europe, it has subscribers in more than 35 countries. A regular wine judge, Felicity has judged in countries from Brussels to Georgia, and in 2015 formed part of the "Empowerment of Women in Wine" panel for Wines of Argentina. Felicity is a regular keynote speaker at wine events from Hong Kong to Verona and she is a member of the Magnum Club, a networking group for senior women in the international wine trade. Before taking her current position, she wrote for major Australian publications including The Sydney Morning Herald.
Jennifer Chin
Strategic Wine Solutions
Jennifer Chin is the Founder and Principal of Strategic Wine Solutions, a leading branding and marketing advisor to wineries, distributors and vendors in the premium alcohol sector. She is a strong believer in the end result – increased sales and return on investment for each client. By applying a holistic approach to brand building, her clients have seen significant growth in sales and have been featured in the following publications: Wine Spectator’s Annual Top 100 List, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Whisky Advocate, Food & Wine Magazine, Bloomberg, Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits Magazine, GQ and Paul Pacult’s The Spirit Journal.
Elaine Chukan Brown
Wakawaka Wine Reviews
Elaine Chukan Brown serves as the American Specialist for JancisRobinson.com, and as contributing writer to Wine & Spirits Magazine. She contributed to the 8th edition of the World Atlas of Wine, as well as the award-winning 4th edition of the Oxford Companion to Wine. In 2019, the Wine Industry Network named Brown one of the 9 Most Inspiring People in Wine, and she was named by the International Wine & Spirits Competition and VinItaly as one of the top five Wine Communicators of the Year in the world for the last two years in a row. Her writing has been featured in Decanter, World of Fine Wine, the Robb Report, and others, and recommended by Food & Wine, Imbibe, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and more. She has been a celebrated speaker for events worldwide. Prior to her career in wine, Elaine served as the Charles A Eastman Fellow at Dartmouth College, and a Tomlinson Fellow at McGill University, where she did doctoral work in philosophy. Prior to her academic career, Elaine owned her own commercial fishing business in Bristol Bay, Alaska.
Julia Coney
Wine Writer | Speaker | Educator
Julia Coney is a Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas-based wine writer, wine educator, speaker, and consultant. Her wine writing includes stories on wine, winemakers, and the intersection of race, wine, and language. She holds a WSET Level Two Certification in Wine and Spirits and is currently pursuing her Master Level Champagne Certification with the Wine Scholar Guild. Her work has been featured in VinePair, Wine Enthusiast, The Tasting Panel, Plate Magazine, Forbes.com, WineEnthusiast.com, Glamour, Essence, The Washington Post, and numerous print and digital publications. She has spoken at conferences such as wine2wine, Assemblage Symposium, Culinary Institute of America’s Summit for Sommeliers and Beverage Professionals, and Wonder Women of Wine.
Ashley Darling
Darling Wines | Napa Valley Yoga Center
With six years of teaching yoga and a lifelong study of movement as a former dancer, Ashley is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher who weaves Life Coaching into her offering as an extension of the practice off the mat. Her journey with limiting beliefs began after a “failed" startup and cross-country move, ultimately shaking her previously steady foundation. Ashley’s motto is, “Everyone deserves to shine radiantly from their zone of genius." Ashley and her husband, Tom, co-founded Darling Wines - a minimal-intervention family winery - in 2017 with two barrels of Syrah. Today their wine resides on credible restaurant lists including The French Laundry, The Restaurant at Meadowood, and Bouchon Bistro.
Traci Des Jardins
Culinary Advisor | Philanthropist | Restaurateur
A California native of a small, Central Valley agricultural community, Traci Des Jardins has been a part of the San Francisco food community for over 30 years, operating a diverse group of successful, award-winning restaurants. A dedicated philanthropist, she continually supports La Cocina, World Central Kitchen, No Kid Hungry, and Share Our Strength. Des Jardins is a two-time James Beard award-winner and has earned numerous industry accolades throughout her career. She serves as Culinary Advisor to Impossible Foods, assisting with their culinary development and often serves as a spokesperson for the brand. Des Jardins currently operates Public House in Oracle Park, The Commissary, and School Night—which opened in 2018 in collaboration with The Pearl.
Jennifer Estevez
OMvino
Jennifer Estevez is a CMS Advanced Sommelier based in Northern California. Jennifer fell in love with wine in 2010 while opening the Ritz-Carlton in Tucson, Arizona. From there she moved to the Bay Area to pursue her passion for wine and worked her way from server, to sommelier, to wine director, to consultant. As Jennifer delved deeper into the world of restaurant consulting, she realized her passion lay not only in wine, but also in business and entrepreneurship. In 2017, Jennifer started her current company OMvino—a marketing and business development company that works with food, beverage and lifestyle companies with a specialty in e-commerce start ups.
Tawnya Falkner
Le Grand Courtâge
Tawnya Falkner saw a gap in the sparkling wine category, and took a leap from real estate developer and designer in San Francisco to pursue Le Grand Courtâge - a producer of award-winning French sparkling wine and the newly launched still wine, Très Chic Rosé. Le Grand Courtâge has grown into a national brand that distributes in 44 states, has been poured on airlines, cruise lines, resorts and stadiums, and has appeared on The Today Show, Access Hollywood and more. An all-female team proudly manages Le Grand Courtâge, which often partners with women-owned brands and non-profit organizations that benefit women. Tawnya Falkner and Le Grand Courtâge are active in Women of the Vines and Spirit and Women’s Cocktail Collective.
Priyanka French
Signorello Estate
Originally from Mumbai, Priyanka French is one of the few female Indians to hold a Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology from University of California, Davis. She built her experience working at wineries in Napa as well as travelling through the regions of Burgundy, Cognac, Bordeaux and New Zealand. Prior to joining Signorello Estate as Winemaker, she worked at Dalla Valle Vineyards where she had a chance to clearly understand the importance of female led businesses and initiatives. Her winemaking style focusses on precision viticulture and restrained winemaking that allows fruit expression as dictated by the site. In her new role, she hopes to open avenues for diversity in the industry and always remain a supporter of female driven enterprises.
Leda Isabel Garside
¡Salud! Tuality Healthcare Foundation | RN, BSN, MBA
Ms. Garside is a bilingual, multicultural Latina professional. She works at OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center as ¡Salud! Services Clinical Services Manager & Cultural Liaison. The ¡Salud! Services is an outreach program of the Tuality Healthcare Foundation, providing health care services, education and patient navigation to vineyard workers and their families throughout the North Willamette Valley. Ms. Garside actively serves in community outreach committees, coalitions and boards, and is a founder of the Oregon Latino Health Coalition. Currently she is a board member of the Oregon Center for Nursing, Linfield College, Oregon Health Care Interpreters Association, and LIVE Sustainable Winegrowers. She is passionate about improving access to health care services for the underserved, underinsured and uninsured community members.
Mary-Frances Heck
Food & Wine | Author
Mary-Frances Heck is the Senior Food Editor of Food & Wine, where she oversees recipes for the brand and edits stories about food and cooking. She is the author of Sweet Potatoes and her writing and recipes have appeared in numerous cookbooks and publications including The Wall St. Journal, Eating Well, and Epicurious. She is the former test kitchen director of Bon Appetit and worked in the test kitchens of Lucky Peach and Saveur. Mary-Frances earned her bachelors in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY.
Jasmine Hirsch
Hirsch Vineyards
Jasmine Hirsch was born and raised in Northern California. She was baptized in champagne by her wine-loving parents David and Rebecca Hirsch, and spent her childhood at Hirsch Vineyards. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001, Jasmine spent five years working in Europe followed by two years in New York at JP Morgan. She escaped from corporate life to take over sales and marketing at Hirsch in 2008. In 2015 she became General Manager of the winery. The 2019 vintage marks her first vintage as the winemaker.
Sarah Hoffman
Maker Wine
Sarah is the co-founder of Maker Wine, a premium canned wine company that highlights the wines and stories of independent winemakers. She spent her early career in digital marketing, helping companies of all sizes grow. By day she worked in tech, by night she always had a side hustle in the food and beverage world; from running an underground supper club promoting local makers to traveling the world to write about craft beer. She slowly brought her work and passion closer together, becoming the food and beverage marketing lead at Eventbrite, where she helped breweries and wineries build their businesses through events. At Stanford Business School she teamed up with Kendra Kawala on the idea that would become Maker.
Maria Hunt
The Bubbly Girl
Maria Hunt is a lifestyle journalist and author specializing in wine and food culture, interior design, and wellness. She believes pork should be its own food group, bubbly is meant for sipping anytime, and the Sicilians got it right when they made ice cream a breakfast food. She’s the author of The Bubbly Bar: Champagne Sparkling Wine Cocktails for Every Occasion (Clarkson Potter, 2009). Her work has appeared in Architectural Digest, The New York Times, The Kitchn, Apartment Therapy, Christian Science Monitor, and Forbes Travel Guide, plus she’s the hostess of The Bubbly Girl.com. She’s based in Oakland, California.
Rita Jammet
La Caravelle
Rita and her husband André Jammet owned and operated the iconic New York French restaurant, La Caravelle. After closing La Caravelle restaurant in 2004, and pursuing her passion for Champagne, Rita started to market and distribute La Caravelle Champagne and Bordeaux—available in a growing number of distinguished hospitality, restaurant and retail establishments. Capitalizing on her 25+ years of hospitality experience and her extensive network of colleagues, Rita formed Bouquet Ventures Hospitality Consulting in 2004, undertaking various industry projects. Rita was just bestowed the Order of Agricultural Merit by France’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Rita was a principal architect of “The Days of Taste”, “Spoons Across America”, a wonderful program teaching young students about food in conjunction with AIWF and the James Beard Foundation.
Ana Keller
Keller Estate
As a biochemistry student, Ana knew she wanted to work with plants. After taking over the reins of Keller Estate in 1998, Ana worked to create wines that reflect a sense of place, while in harmony with the family's approach to elegant, age-worthy, and food-friendly wines. In 2013 Ana joined the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance's board and was instrumental in creating the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA), which was ultimately granted in 2018.
Stevie Kim
Vinitaly International
Stevie Kim, born in Korea and raised in the United States, attended the NYU – Leonard N. Stern School of Business, later obtained an MBA at Bocconi University, School of Economics and Management in Italy, and then went on to achieve a postgraduate specialization in Wealth Management at the University of Pennsylvania – The Wharton School. As Managing Director of Vinitaly International, Stevie has launched and now coordinates a series of new initiatives connected to the Vinitaly brand. Stevie is always seeking innovative ways to communicate and celebrate Italian wine – with a strong creative emphasis on social media, digital communication, and educational platforms. In 2017, Stevie produced the Italian Wine Podcast, the first podcast in English dedicated exclusively to Italian wine; and Italian Wine Unplugged Grape by Grape, a reference book unpacking the hundreds of Italian native grapes.
Erin Kirschenmann
Wine Business Monthly
Erin Kirschenmann is the managing editor for Wine Business Monthly and has been with the company since 2012. In addition to production responsibilities for the monthly trade magazine, she writes about business, technology, sales and marketing, and also oversees content for WBM's eight conferences. She speaks on industry trends at numerous conferences, including the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium and the World Bulk Wine Exhibition, and guest lectures on wine, media and public relations. Erin has served as a judge in the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles since 2016 and at the Central Coast Wine Competition. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Sonoma State University in communications with a journalism emphasis.
Paula Kornell
Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine
Reviving a Napa Valley tradition begun by her father, pioneering winemaker Hanns Kornell of Kornell Champagne Cellars, Paula Kornell is carrying on the family legacy in her own inimitable way with Paula Kornell Sparkling Wine. The launch of her own wine brand in partnership with Vintage Wine Estates brings Paula full circle. No longer the little girl who sold prunes, walnuts, and peacock feathers in front of the family tasting room, she is a consultant and community leader with 30-plus years of experience in the wine industry. As principal of Kornell Wine Company, she has consulted with esteemed wine brands and appellations throughout Napa and Sonoma Counties.
Theodora Lee
Theopolis Vineyards
Ms. Theodora Lee, a San Francisco law firm senior partner and trial lawyer, is the founder and owner of Theopolis Vineyards. Her passion for wine began upon her arrival to San Francisco from Texas in 1987, primarily due to the influence of her vineyard-owning law firm mentors. This led Ms. Lee to take several viticulture classes at UC Davis, and ultimately purchase sheep land in the Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley. In 2003, Ms. Lee planted her vineyard, established Theopolis Vineyards, and adopted her Greek name, Theo-patra—Queen of the Vineyards. Robert Parker bestowed upon wine made from the grapes harvested from Theopolis Vineyards a stellar rating of 94-96 points, a spectacular showing for the vintner's first harvest in 2006. Emboldened by the great fruit produced by the land, Ms. Lee decided to bottle her own wines in 2014. Theopolis wines continue to win many accolades from a variety of highly-acclaimed competitions and critics.
Pauline Lhote
Domaine Chandon
Pauline Lhote, raised in the Champagne region of France, was convinced at 14 years old that she wanted to be a winemaker – specifically a sparkling wine winemaker. With a National Diploma of Winemaking in Reims under her belt, Pauline set her sights on Chandon in the Napa Valley, the first French-owned sparkling wine house in California. A three-month internship turned into fifteen harvests at Chandon, and a promotion to Head Winemaker. She has been hailed as a female leader in the industry by the likes of Glamour, Marie Claire and Nylon, as well as “Rising Star“ by The Drinks Business, and acknowledged in Wine Enthusiast’s 2017 40 Under 40 and in Create & Cultivate’s 2019 100 List.
Kelly Mitchell
Skurnik Wines & Spirits | Kelly Mitchell Wine
Kelly Mitchell is an independent wine consultant and educator, recognized by the most elite wine buyers and sommeliers as a knowledgeable wine professional. Kelly is also a sales representative for Skurnik Wines & Spirits, an importer and distributor of fine wines and spirits. In 2016, she founded her consulting company, Kelly Mitchell Wine, to focus on the wine needs of consumers. Kelly consults as a wine educator on a variety of consumer driven wine topics, as a guest sommelier for wine tastings and events, and as a private consultant for wine enthusiasts and collectors. She is currently completing her WSET Level 3 Advanced and holds the WSET Level 2 Certificate in wine education from the International Wine Center.
Beth Novak Miliken
Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery
In 1987, Beth Novak Milliken joined her mother, Mary Novak, becoming the first second-generation family member to become actively involved in guiding Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery. In the more than three decades since, Beth has played a key role in establishing Spottswoode Estate Vineyard as one of the world’s great wine growing sites, and Spottswoode 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 she holds dear.
Allison Parc
Brenne Whisky | Samson & Surrey
Allison Parc is an award-winning entrepreneur and noted public speaker as the founder and president of Brenne Whisky and a partner at Samson & Surrey. She is one of the leading American entrepreneurs in the world whisky segment, having created Brenne from scratch in the heart of Cognac, France. In 2017 and 2018, Allison was named World Whisky Brand Ambassador, USA of the Year by Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky, becoming the first woman to receive the award. She is a respected speaker on the topics of entrepreneurship, sales, dramatic career changes, and thriving in male-dominated industries. Allison regularly appears on panels as a guest lecturer, and as a keynote speaker at multiple business-focused conferences and festivals.
Maia Parish
The Wine Suite | Tales of a Wine Mistress | Parish Media LLC
Maia Parish is the owner of wine events company, The Wine Suite, and creator of Tales of a Wine Mistress Live Show and Blog. Her award-winning events, Night in Wakanda, and tastings are featured at national festivals and trade-shows. She has been published in Wine Business News, Loam Baby Volume 6: Women in Wine Issue, The Somm Journal, and Denver Luxury Magazine. Maia is a Wine Judge for the Denver International Wine Competition and the Drink Pink Vino International Festival. Ms. Parish also owns and operates Parish Media LLC, which provides social media start-up creation and education, passive income opportunities, and event management. Maia is working on her CSW certificate with the Society of Wine Educator and plans to open a full-service Wine School in the future.
Jayne Portnoy
Pen2Paper Project
Fixer, Brand Maker, Yogi and writing enthusiast, Jayne Portnoy has achieved a career in the hospitality industry made of equal parts kismet and hustle. Combining her extensive career in growing people and brands with a decade of teaching yoga, the Pen2Paper Project was born. Designed to unite, invigorate and stimulate creativity as a remedy and art form that everyone can benefit from. Through workshops, gatherings and daily writing prompts, the Pen2Paper Project provides an opportunity for everyone to reap the returns achieved when putting pen to paper.
Jayme Powers
SIGH
A native Sonoman, Jayme Powers grew up in a quiet town that did not necessarily resemble the "wine country" we see today. Jayme began working at Schramsberg, where she gained a wealth of knowledge about sparkling wine. Taking a leap of faith in 2012 she opened SIGH, Sonoma's first "bubble bar." Her mission: teach people not only about California sparkling wines but also Champagne and other unique sparkling from around the world. Now in its eighth year, SIGH has expanded and continues to provide locals and tourists with the perfect glass of bubbles for every occasion.
Shalini Sekhar
Ottavino Wines
A former musician (she earned a Master’s Degree in Flute & Piccolo Performance), Shalini Sekhar shifted to a career in wine; marrying the same combination of art and science that fueled her passion for music. She has worked with several small clients to execute their visions for their boutique brands beginning with Copain Custom Crush (now Punchdown Cellars), then Bluxome Street Winery, and finally ROAR wines, where she made wine for Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Furthermore Pinot Noir, Neely Wine and several smaller brands. Shalini was awarded Winemaker of the Year at the San Francisco International Wine Competition for her work with Furthermore Pinot Noir, and was most recently included in the San Francisco Chronicle’s 2019 Winemakers to Watch.
Naomi Smith
Champagne Laurent-Perrier
Naomi Smith, the Western Regional Manager for Champagne Laurent-Perrier, manages all business, account relationships, distribution, brand activations and marketing in six states for the female-owned winery and one of the world’s best-selling Champagne brands. As a regular panelist at prominent festivals, including Pebble Beach Food & Wine and Big Sur Food & Wine, and a featured expert on TV and radio in San Francisco and Seattle, Naomi’s passion for wine is recognized by her peers and the community. Prior to joining Champagne Laurent-Perrier in 2016, Naomi spent more than 10 years in the wine industry representing prominent brands, importers, and distributors throughout the West Coast including Maisons Marques & Domaines, Noble Wines and Young’s Market.
Monique Soltani
Wine Oh TV
Monique Soltani is an award-winning journalist with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism and American Studies. Monique honed her reporting skills working at ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates across the country. Monique’s been featured in major publications such as The New York Times and the San Jose Mercury News. She has a certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and is an experienced wine judge. Monique hosts Wine Oh TV—a fun, fresh and informative syndicated wine, travel and lifestyle show—and has interviewed at least two hundred winemakers, dozens of top chefs, and A-list celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Nicole Kidman and Kate Hudson.
Kelli A. White
Pacific Union Company | Author | Speaker
Kelli A. White is the Director of Education for the Pacific Union Company in Napa Valley. Most recently, she was the Senior Staff Writer for the educational nonprofit GuildSomm, where her work earned her two of the coveted Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Awards. Prior to that, Kelli worked as a sommelier for nearly a decade between New York City and Napa Valley. In 2013, Food & Wine magazine named her one of the top sommeliers in the country. In 2015, she published her first book, the acclaimed Napa Valley, Then & Now, and she recently contributed to the latest edition of Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson’s World Atlas of Wine. She is a coveted speaker, has lectured on wine all over the world, and has appeared in the documentary Somm II: Into the Bottle as well as SommTV.
Geni Whitehouse
Brotemarkle, Davis & Co | Solve Services | Author
Geni divides her time between working as a winery consultant at Brotemarkle, Davis & Co in the Napa Valley and writing, speaking, and tweeting about what some might consider nerdy subjects. She is a co-founder of Solve Services, which provides remote bookkeeping services to companies in the wine industry. She has been named a Top 100 Influencer by Accounting Today, one of 25 Thought Leaders in Accounting, and one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Accounting by CPA Practice Advisor. She is a member of the TEDxNapaValley organizing committee and was the first speaker at their first TEDx event in 2011. Geni is also the author of “How to Make a Boring Subject Interesting: 52 ways even a nerd can be heard.”
Rory Williams
Frog’s Leap | Calder Wine Company | Tres Sabores
Growing up on his family’s ranch, Rory Williams was immediately pressed into service for the family business, first as head forklift rider before promotion to assistant barrel scrubber. During the course of receiving his B.A. in Liberal Arts at St. John’s College and studying oenology and flavor chemistry at Cornell University, Rory worked several harvests abroad in Italy, France, and Argentina. Discovering that he still loved wine, despite having been yelled at in languages he barely understood, he decided to return home to Napa to immerse himself in the family business. After returning home, Rory started his own winery, Calder Wine Company, before joining the vineyard team at Frog’s Leap in 2012. In addition to his work with Frog’s Leap and Calder, Rory has also returned to the original family ranch (now Tres Sabores Winery) where he farms the vines next to which he was raised.