Consulting Winemaker & Wine Industry Leader
Jon Priest
For more than 35 years, I have built my career around vineyard-driven winemaking, operational leadership, and the pursuit of quality from vine to bottle.I've led premium wine production and winery operations across Napa Valley, Oregon, Sonoma County, New Zealand and Santa Barbara County.My experience spans winemaking, team leadership, vineyard collaboration, smoke taint mitigation, and luxury wine brand development.
CURRENT ROLE
OVER 25 YEARS OF
WINEMAKING LEADERSHIP
Since 2005, I have served as Senior Winemaker and General Manager of Etude Wines in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, overseeing winemaking, winery operations, capital planning and budgeting, personnel, facilities, and long-term strategic initiatives. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to producing wines that express site, variety, and vintage with authenticity and precision.
WINES & VARIETALS
FROM PINOT NOIR TO SPARKLING WINE
My experience spans luxury and broad-market wine production, with particular expertise in Pinot Noir, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, traditional method sparkling wine, vineyard sourcing, and winery operations. I have led teams through more than three decades of harvests and have worked extensively on vintage strategy and decision-making, sensory evaluation and blending, wine risk and smoke exposure assessment, and maintaining wine quality in challenging growing conditions.
PEOPLE & CULTURE
BUILDING GREAT TEAMS
In addition to winemaking, I have spent much of my career developing people, building strong organizational cultures, and creating safe, sustainable, high-performing work environments. I believe the best wines are the result of great vineyards, talented teams, thoughtful leadership, and a long-term commitment to continuous improvement.
30-40,000
Annual Cases
Luxury & Estate
33
Wine Varietals
Pinot to Sparkling
$24M
Operating Budget
Capital Projects
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