Drawing on nearly 30 years in the wine industry, California native, Kevin Vecchiarelli believes that extraordinary wines capture the vineyard site and its unique characteristics. Identifying particular attributes that require each vineyard site to be farmed differently, tailored to express the perfect balance of canopy and yield with just the right amount of stress. His inspiration to further express terroir winemaking utilizes his analytical eye and artistry of blending to quench his passion for creating that perfect wine.
While pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kevin was recognized by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars for his groundbreaking research for isolating umami compounds found in wine. That deep dive into the chemical makeup of wine led him to the Napa Valley in 2000 to begin his career at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, followed by 17 years at Grgich Hills Estate as the Assistant Winemaker. Determined to craft wines that were precise and focused, Kevin was hired as Associate Winemaker for CIRQ/Browne Family Wines, yet soon after was given the opportunity of Winemaker and General Manager at Diamond Mountain Vineyard. Given a lot of freedom by our owners, Kevin is able to produce wines that truly express the terroir at the peak of Diamond Mountain.
Jason has been involved in management and investment consulting in Shanghai for the past 20 years. He has visited many famous wine regions in the world because of his love of wine, Jason’s passion for wine evolved and he knew he wanted to change his career path to join the wine industry. Jason moved to the Napa Valley with his family to become the Executive Director as well as providing financial and administrative work for the estate. Jason’s compassionate and welcoming personality makes him the part of the Diamond Mountain Vineyard.
After selling her restaurant in Northern California, Wendy made her way to Napa to fulfill her goal of joining the wine industry. Her dream was to work on the production side of wine, perhaps for a small family-owned winery at the top of a mountain. Initially she took a job as a harvest intern at an estate on the valley floor. She shoveled tanks of fermented fruit, stirred lees, cleaned lots of equipment and was eventually called to help in the tasting room.
Her background in hospitality made her a natural with guests.
For the last twenty years she has been working for those small, family-owned wineries she sought out, most recently having spent over twelve years at Celani Family Vineyards. Now as Director of Sales and Hospitality at Diamond Mountain Vineyard, she has found her way to that mountain top, and we are thrilled to be working with her.
She brings a warmth and enthusiasm to every interaction and looks forward to personally hosting you and your guests at the estate.
Growing up in a Winemaking family, Andy Perelli-Minetti has been marketing his family wines since childhood. As a youth he would ride the Amtrak up the coast of California with a duffle bag full of wine, handing them out as gifts to friends and family (he was 9 years old) with tremendous pride and joy.
Earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business with an emphasis in wine marketing from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and 25 years in customer relations and wine education, he is proud to join the team at Diamond Mountain Vineyard.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Heidi’s love of food and wine started at a young age growing up alongside her father who was a chef. She’s been in the hospitality and customer service industry for over 20 years and is WSET Level 3 certified. Her diverse background ranges from restaurants, shipping management and compliance to wine club management, but it was her passion to take customer service to the next level that made her the perfect addition to the Diamond Mountain Vineyard team. Developing all DTC operations, her knowledge and experience will ensure Diamond Mountain Vineyard wines get from our estate to our collector’s tables to enjoy.
Mario has been a part of Diamond Mountain Vineyard since the inaugural vintage in 1995. Starting as the groundskeeper, he was able to learn all the aspects of the vineyard and cellar over the past 25 years and is now proudly our Cellar Master. His experience and knowledge of the estate is irreplaceable. His enthusiasm combined with his willingness to help makes him a joy to be around. Mario lives on the property with his family and takes pride in the estate as if it were his own.
Antonio started working in the vineyards of Napa Valley at the turn of the century. He was quickly promoted from a field worker to a crew leader and then as he gained more responsibilities he was promoted to a vineyard supervisor that managed 300 acres among five ranches. Antonio never imagined the vines would spark a deep and lasting passion within himself.
In 2017, Antonio joined Diamond Mountain Vineyard. He knew immediately that this vineyard was special and ultimately would bring him immense satisfaction to collaborate with such a knowledgeable and experienced group of professionals.
“At Diamond Mountain Vineyard, my foremost priority is to work together with my team to produce the finest wines in the region.”
Starting at the estate in 2019, Ruben’s precision and passion is clear once you enter the gates of our 85 acres estate. The freedom he is given allows him to take the land and elevate it to something even more beautiful. He is inspired by the mountain views and all the nature surrounding him. The serenity and peace of working outdoors gives him the opportunity to create a mesmerizing landscape for all our collectors to enjoy when they visit the estate. Ruben insists on staying a one man show so every tree, plant and blade of grass is manicured by him to perfection.
