Bo Barrett
Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena is part of California’s winemaking history; he has played a role at the family winery since it took ownership in 1972, and was part of the famed “Judgement of Paris” vintage. Bo started in the vineyard but took over winemaking duties in 1982 after earning his degree in viticulture and enology at Fresno State, continuing his father’s legacy in the cellar. In 2013 he handed the reins to Matt Crafton so that he could move into a leadership role as CEO. Today, he is in charge of strategic planning for winery and vineyard operations, spearheading the storied winery’s path to the future. Sustainability plays a huge part in his long-term plan, something he’s been working on for decades. Chateau Montelena has been powered completely by solar energy since 2007, and trucks and tractors were made electric early on.
Carole Meredith
Carole Meredith is well-known for her research into grape genetics during her 23-year tenure as a professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. She famously used DNA profiling methods to determine the origins of some of the world’s most important, and oldest, winegrape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Zinfandel. In 1986, she and her husband, Steve Lagier, purchased a piece of property on Mount Veeder and produced critically acclaimed and universally lauded wines. In 2022 when the couple was ready to retire, they continued to buck trends and set precedent by doing the unthinkable: They sold their vineyard to winemaker Aaron Potts for $0. They simply wanted to continue to live on the land and have the vineyard farmed by someone who would respect the spot and treat the vines well.
Roger Nabedian
For more than three decades, Roger Nabedian was a key player at Gallo, the world’s largest wine company. He is the mastermind behind some of the company’s most high-profile premium winery and vineyard acquisitions in the last 15 years, including Rombauer Vineyards and J Vineyards in Sonoma, Hahn Family Estates in the Central Coast, Louis M. Martini, William Hill Estate and The Ranch Winery in Napa, as well as Stagecoach Vineyard. As the head of the premium wine division, he ensured Gallo’s place and stability across the all price tiers and spearheaded the company’s consumer products insight group as well as the marketing services group. Though Nabedian officially retired in January 2024, he remains on the board as a director, further guiding the company.