Our Winemakers

Robin Akhurst

Robin Akhurst’s road to Napa took him around the globe through eight consecutive and exhausting harvests, picking up an impressive list of mentors along the way.

After receiving a post-graduate degree in Viticulture and Enology from Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, Robin worked harvests in Marlborough, Burgundy, and Australia before returning to Napa Valley. In 2015, Robin joined the Vintage Wine Estate winemaking team for Clos Pegase and Swanson Vineyards, with the desire to craft wines that express the character and distinction of Napa Valley.

Blake Kuhn

Blake Kuhn is a native Californian, graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in biology and environmental sciences; and continued his wine education at UC Davis.

Starting in the wine industry as a grape sampler in the vineyard, Blake learned and worked his way up as a lab tech, assistant winemaker, and senior winemaker when he came to Clayhouse in 2011, returning to his Central Coast roots. Today, Blake is Regional Winemaking Director, Central Coast for Vintage Wine Estates. Blake is a committed environmentalist, leading sustainability efforts at the winery, including harvesting certified sustainable grapes, water reclamation from the winery for irrigation, waste management through composting, and using French oak barrels from government managed sustainable forests.

David O'Reilly

David O'Reilly founded Owen Roe winery in 1999 with the goal to produce elegant, balanced wines from two of the Pacific Northwest's most distinctive wine regions: Yakima Valley and Willamette Valley. A native of Ireland, the Owen Roe brand pays homage to David's Irish heritage. Owen Roe winery and tasting room is located amongst the picturesque Union Gap Vineyard in Wapato, Washington. David is proud to source the grapes for Owen Roe from vineyards farmed both meticulously and sustainably and has long term contracts with some of the most highly acclaimed sites in Washington State. To this day, David is still making frequent trips between the Yakima Valley and Willamette Valley as the Regional Director of Winemaking for the Pacific Northwest brands in the VWE portfolio.

Glenn Hugo

Glenn continues the Girard tradition of terroir-driven and minimalist intervention. He brings a practical artisanal approach to winemaking with a focus on wine as part of the culinary experience. Glenn's philosophy is simple: wine is to be shared with friends and family; it is a living and breathing expression that constantly evolves and instills memories. With this in mind, his focus gives him a keen sense of place within the region, and he is driven to allow Napa Valley shine through in every bottle.

Zeke Neeley

Winemaker Zeke Neeley first fell in love with Sonoma Valley when he came here as a small boy to visit his grandparents. It was a welcome escape from the foggy town of Daly City, south of San Francisco, where he grew up. After getting a degree in Biochemistry, he worked in the biotech industry on cancer research but his love for wine country led him to return to U.C. Davis to get a M.S. in Viticulture and Enology and pursue a career in winemaking. Now, with over 20 years experience, and the last 15 as head winemaker at both Napa and Sonoma wineries, making wine in Sonoma Valley feels like a homecoming.

Tami McKay

Winemaker Layer Cake & Cherry Pie

Tami has lent her winemaking skill and blending style to many of VWE’s top wines including Cosentino, Cigar, Cameron Hughes, Windsor Vineyards, Cherry Pie and Carneros Creek as Production and Brand Winemaker. She now lends her expertise to Layer Cake and Cherry Pie wines as chief Winemaker. Tami has dedicated herself to the creation of great wines with an emphasis on structure, balance. consistency and artistry. Her ability to achieve this reflects in the many awards and accolades she has received for her wines.

Eric Hickey

Eric Hickey began his relationship with the Laetitia Estate in 1988 when he was just 16 years old, working in the cellar with his dad, Dave Hickey, who was a production assistant for Maison Deutz at the time. Seizing the golden opportunity to apprentice with French winemakers, Eric joined the Maison Deutz team full-time after graduating from high school. From vintage to vintage, he gained a deep appreciation for the property's fruit, while also taking time to explore the Rhône, Burgundy and Bordeaux in France and participating in an extension program through U.C. Davis. In 2000, Eric was named Laetitia’s Head Winemaker, and has since taken on the role as Senior Winemaker and General Manager.

Russell Fish

Russ Fish, a Sonoma county native, gained the majority of his winemaking experience in Sonoma County wineries. After graduating from UC Davis with a Master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology, Russ worked at several wineries both small and large in Alexander Valley and Mendocino County. In July of 2012, Russ moved to Vintage Wine Estates as Associate winemaker for Ray’s Station Winery in Hopland and then Winemaker for Cartlidge and Browne. Russ believes in sourcing grapes from all over the bountiful North Coast region to make fruit forward balanced wines.

Meredith Leahy

Meredith heads the winemaking program at Viansa, one of the most popular visitor destinations and direct-to-consumer wine producers in the U.S., located on a scenic knoll at the entry to Sonoma and Napa wine country. Meredith’s winemaking specializes in popular and more undiscovered varietals. A chemist by education, Meredith turned her talents in the lab to becoming a winemaker. With almost 20 years’ experience in the wine industry, she is dedicated to a hands-on approach to crafting wines from vineyard to cellar to bottle.

Sava Boyadjiev

Head Cidermaker and Director of Production at ACE, Sava holds a degree from UC Davis California Department of Viticulture and Enology, but soon directed his winemaking expertise into crafting highest-quality hard cider at ACE Cider, California’s original cider mill. Popular in Europe for generations, today’s American consumer craves innovative alternatives to wine and spirits and have embraced the lower-alcohol and unique flavor profiles well-crafted ciders provide. As ACE Head Cidermaker and Director of Production, Sava’s mission is to cultivate and grow this fast-growing category.