Amanda McCrossin

Certified Sommelier, Wine Personality and Podcast Host

Amanda McCrossin is a certified sommelier, wine personality, podcast host, and wine-focused content creator on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. With over 450k followers across platforms, Amanda has been called “one of the most influential creators” in the wine community creating wine-focused, relatable content to help consumers via her @sommvivant channels.

A 10+ year veteran in the industry, Amanda spent the majority of her career as a sommelier in NYC and California. Perhaps most notably, Amanda helmed the wine list at PRESS Restaurant in Napa Valley as both sommelier and wine director, overseeing the world’s largest, deepest restaurant collection of all Napa Valley wines in the world thusly earning her reputation as an expert on the region. She has been featured by Food & Wine Magazine, Food Network, Forbes, San Francisco Chronicle, on the cover of SOMM Journal, and Wine Enthusiast who named her a Wine Star nominee for 'Sommelier of the Year.'

Today, in addition to her career as a wine content creator and host of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast, Amanda is a contributor at Wine Enthusiast and regularly sought out for media appearances and speaking engagements around the world including the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, Charleston Food & Wine Classic, Baha Mar Culinary and Arts Festival, Premiere Napa Valley, World of Pinot Noir, and Wine2Wine in Verona, Italy.

Ivo Jeramaz

Winemaker and Vice President of Vineyards & Production, Grgich Hills Estate

Ivo was born in Croatia to a family of grape growers and as boy he assisted in making wine for his family’s enjoyment. However, he didn’t plan on becoming a winemaker. Ivo earned a master’s of science degree in engineering from the University of Zagreb and dreamed of coming to California to work as an engineer.

In 1986, with the help of his uncle, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, Ivo followed his dream and came to Napa Valley. He quickly fell in love with the scenic beauty of the area and became fascinated with wine making. Ivo decided on a career change and Mike immediately put him to work washing barrels. During his almost-three decades at Grgich Hills Ivo has worked his way up in responsibility, learning the classic style and art of winemaking from his uncle, supported by the tools of science and technology. “There’s nothing in the winery or vineyard that I haven’t done, not just for one day, but really worked at it,” he explains.

While he has taken enology and viticulture courses at University of California, Davis, Ivo says, “I’ve learned more working in the vineyards and in the winery with Mike.” Under the guidance of his uncle, Ivo is now responsible for the day-to-day operations in the cellar and the vineyard, including naturally farming Grgich Hills’ 366 acres without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.

Elizabeth Vianna

Head Winemaker and General Manager, Chimney Rock Winery

A native of São Paulo, Elizabeth Vianna spent her early years on a bi-cultural journey moving from Brazil to the United States and back again several times. These early years of travel led her to appreciate and continuously explore what connects us as humans across different cultures such as food, wine, music and art.

A biology major at Vassar College, Elizabeth was originally on the pre-medical school track. She fell in love with wine while living in New York City where she worked as a clinical toxicologist at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.

Elizabeth attributes her career in winemaking to a glass of 1985 Sociando Mallet, which she enjoyed at a pre-auction tasting at Christie’s in New York and was the wine she had in her hand when she heard Christian Moueix praising the UC Davis Enology program.

Her strong science background and deep infatuation with wine propelled her to apply to the University of California, Davis and its renowned winemaking program instead of medical school.

Elizabeth first became familiar with the Chimney Rock winemaking program in 1999, working as a harvest intern while completing her Master’s degree in enology at U.C. Davis. Upon graduation, she became a Lab Director at Napa Wine Company and was soon named Assistant Winemaker working directly with many of the region’s most legendary winemakers including mentors Celia Welch, Erin Green and Heidi Barrett.

Vianna was named to the position of Assistant Winemaker at Chimney Rock in January 2002, and advanced to the position of Head Winemaker in April 2005. In 2011 she was promoted to General Manager of Chimney Rock, and she continues in her role as Head Winemaker at the Stags Leap District estate winery. During her tenure at Chimney Rock, she has consistently produced wines that have been highly rated among critics and highly valued among consumers.

A staunch advocate for sustainability and the legacy of the Napa Valley, she has long served as board member and twice as President of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association. Today she serves as a board member of the Napa Valley Vintners and is also a member of the inaugural cohort of the 2021 Napa Valley Vintners Leadership Program.

Ashley Egelhoff

Winemaker, Honig Vineyard & Winery

Ashley Egelhoff, born and raised in Los Angeles, did not envision having a career in the wine industry until starting her university education at the University of California, Davis. She had intended to study bio- and life science, but a course entitled “Introduction to Winemaking” captured her interest and prompted her to major in Viticulture & Enology, earning a B.S. degree in 2010.

Immediately after graduating, Ashley completed a harvest internship at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in the Napa Valley before heading to Mendoza, Argentina, for a second harvest internship. She then returned to the U.S., rejoining Honig Vineyard and Winery as a harvest intern and became the winery’s enologist in March 2012. She became assistant winemaker at Honig in 2017 and was promoted to winemaker at the beginning of 2023.

Ashley crafts Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon at the winery. She lives in Napa with her family and enjoys reading, working out, gardening, and camping, among other activities.

Jonathan Tyer

Associate Winemaker, Inglenook

Experienced winemaker with a demonstrated history of working in the Napa and Sonoma wine regions. Skilled in vineyard management, sensory evaluation, packaging, bottling, and sales. Strong operations professional with completed coursework at Washington State University and Viticulture and Enology from University of California, Davis.

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