Employees

VINEYARD CREW
	Jaime Courtroul Jaime cut his teeth in our vineyards in the mid 1990’s. The birth of his daughter, Kaya, prompted him and his wife Michelle to move back east to be closer to family. Eight years later, Jaime rejoins us to take the reins as our Production Manager. He oversees all aspects of vineyard installation and care in an organized, efficient manner. Jaime’s well-honed mechanical skills and eye towards perfection keep things in tip top shape.
	Chris Fenoglio As our Vineyard Manager, Chris orchestrates daily operations and directs crew members. Chris’ eagle eye observations and careful attention to a myriad of details keep things running smoothly and on track. An accomplished artist, Chris’ flair for wine label design allows him to combine his artistic passion with his vine and wine experience.
	Billy Palmer Regardless of what job Billy undertakes, he always uses his sharp mind and creative thoughts to accomplish the work in the best possible fashion. His optimism and cheerful demeanor are infectious. During the growing season, Billy is in charge of a complex disease control program. An avid diver, he finds time to teach classes at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
	Derek Norman The middle son of our office manager, Derek has grown up around our vineyards. Young and eager, he assists with installations as well as all pest control programs. Derek fills the role of equipment manager, with his extensive knowledge of tractors, trucks, and engines, large and small.
Office Crew
	Tammy Norman Tammy is our Office Manager who is, essentially, the pulse of DVC. She keeps us operating without missing a beat despite a plethora of responsibilities. Dispatching complex compliance requirements, managing the web site before you, handling personnel issues, letting the dogs in and out [endlessly], all fall within the purview of Tammy’s domain. She is the organization in our Organization.
	Sarah Puckett Sarah is our Administrative Assistant and the voice you’ll often encounter on the other end of the phone. When there are reams of paperwork to be dispatched, there’s nobody better suited to execute the reaming. Her staunch Southern background explains how she is able to blend a quiet demeanor with the all the fire and brimstone you can imagine. A mother of three, along with her mountain menagerie, Sarah stays as busy at home as she does at work.
Eternal Employees
	Mike McKeand Mike will forever be part of the DVC crew. When he was here he gave his heart and soul to growing grapes right. Nobody could drive a tractor like Mike. As his dad says, “Mike loved to drive anything on two wheels, even if it came with four.” When he wasn’t at work, he experienced life with a passion and zeal that few have ever been fortunate enough to experience. Tragically, Mike was lost performing one final heroic act, trying to save his girlfriend from drowning. Although she survived, Mike was not as fortunate. Every day, when we assemble for work, Mike’s spirit is still there with us—a little late on Mondays!
	Nate Mlyniec Nate worked with our vineyard crew during his summer breaks from high school for two consecutive years. Nate's quick wit and unique points of view made him a joy to work with. He was planning to attend UC Davis as a Food Science major and, upon graduating, return as the head chef at our future winery. A scholarship has been set up in his name for food science majors to pursue the dream that he was unable to. Information on contributions can be found at natescholarship@earthlink.net.