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 Vineyard 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.
	Peter Kirchner Peter assumed the winemaking duties for Microwinery after earning his Bachelors degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz. The experience he gained working in the vineyards while an undergraduate made for an easy transition, as the grapes he vinifies come from the very same vineyards he works. Equipped with the scientific background and practical experience, Peter understands the art behind the science, and the science behind the art. That, in turn, allows him to transform the grapes he tastes in the vineyard into the wine you get to taste in your glass.
	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.
	Devin Gneiting Devin is our resident outdoorsman, taking groups of people on backpacking adventures during the summer. Devin grew up in Los Angeles and went to college at UCSC.
	Patrick Bourque Patrick is a local Santa Cruz Mountains boy with an interest in playing guitar and shooting sporting clays. We're fortunate that he hasn't yet become famous enough with his band to quit his day job. Someday we'll be able to say we knew him when...
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.
	Michelle Courtroul Michelle is the Wine Program Coordinator for Microwinery and Office Assistant for DeVine Consultants. Michelle has years of vineyard experience under her belt along with a Bachelors degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz. In addition to coordinating the wine program, Michelle also manages our literary and educational programs.
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.