Meet the Team

Zach, with a bottle and a glass of Ruby Ruby, sitting outside the tasting room at the picnic table under our catalpa tree.

Meet Zach

Zach’s first introduction to the culture of wine was an exchange trip to Alsace, France. Turns out it was the first step on the path to being here at Emeritus Vineyards for our 2022 harvest!

A summer wines lineup with Ruby Ruby in the center, surrounded by an arc of Don's Block, Wesley's Reserve, Hallberg Blanc, and a Hallberg Ranch mini bottle. They're set on one of the stone benches outside the Emeritus tasting room, with the tops of lavender plants in the background and, further, the Hallberg Ranch vineyard.

Team Emeritus’ Summer Favorites

With 4th of July around the corner and the warm summer nights letting us enjoy evenings outside, we wanted to share our favorite wines to enjoy this season of Reds, Whites, & BBQ.

Before coming to Sonoma County, Marc Goldman spent almost 45 years in the legal profession. Now a resident of Sebastopol, he always marveled at the beauty of Hallberg Ranch when driving past, so when a position opened at Emeritus he eagerly applied and has since become a valuable member of the team!

Meet Kelly

Kelly made her way to the Emeritus tasting room in 2017, and has grown into the position of spearheading our online phone sales. If you’ve placed an order over the phone, chances are it was with her!

Meet Marisa

Marisa has a spitfire sense of humor, wears many hats to help keep the winery running smoothly, and is one of many in the Avila family to work at Emeritus!

Meet Juan Avila

Juan has been in the Sonoma County Wine industry for 35 years, and during his 22 years with Emeritus has been an integral part in the growth and success of both Hallberg and Pinot Hill vineyards.

Mari Jones at the helm of the forklift during Harvest 2021

Meet Mari

As president of Emeritus, Mari Jones oversees all aspects of the winery and believes in a collaborative approach that empowers our team. But do you know what her favorite season in the vineyards is?

Emiliano Valerio Eufrancio at Hallberg Ranch

Meet Emiliano

Emiliano was recently awarded the October 2021 SCGGF Vineyard Employee Recognition Award for displaying incredible talent during our harvest season as a picker, vehicle operator, and shop mechanic jack of all trades!

Jessie, our Director of Magic, working from a soccer game.

Meet Jessie

While attending university, Jessie had her “a ha!” wine moment over a glass of Pinot Noir during a dinner with friends. Inspired, she began hosting wine dinners with friends and went on to a career in the wine industry.

Assistant winemaker Keith Hammond and his wife Amber

Meet Keith

Despite childhood aspirations of being a world traveler, our Assistant Winemaker Keith lives about 20 minutes from where he was raised, but loves Sonoma county and has been fortunate enough to travel to some pretty amazing places as well.

Winemaker David Lattin and others sorting the freshly picked grapes as they run along a conveyor belt, the end dripping with the free-run juice of accidentally crushed grapes.

Meet David

“Pinot Noir is the varietal I cut my teeth on, and it is still the one I love the most. Making a great Pinot Noir—one with nuance, elegance and a deep and meaningful sense of place—is incredibly difficult, and to me is the ultimate challenge.”

Emeritus vineyard crew member Rosendo Avila, with Hallberg Ranch vines in the background

Meet Rosendo

Rosendo, part of Team Emeritus since 1999, is a two-time Sonoma County Pruning Champion and leads our crew when it comes to pruning and training both young and newly grafted vines to produce top quality grapes.

The E-Files