DLynn Proctor

Director, Fantesca Estate

DLynn Proctor has been a figure in the wine industry for 20 years. He comes to Fantesca with extensive experience working with the best in the fine dining business, retail/web sales, fine and rare wine brokerage, and international education. DLynn, a passionate ambassador, is instrumental in winery education programs, media relations, and radio across the Americas and Europe. He often contributes to food and wine content and to TV shows and print magazines. In addition, he travels extensively to speak publicly and represent this iconic brand to collectors, consumers, journalists, and distributors in a variety of global forums. DLynn has been involved in widespread sensory testing, winemaking, and training with top winemakers in California, Washington, Texas, South Australia, and Italy and is an adjunct lecturer and wine show judge at some of the world’s most famous universities and wine shows.

Named ‘Best Sommelier in America’ by Wine and Spirits Magazine in 2008, DLynn was also a finalist in The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Société Mondiale du Vin ‘Best Sommelier in America Competition’ in 2008 and 2009, and was named to the National RUDD Scholars of 2011. DLynn has been featured in publications such as GQ Magazine, Decanter, Wine Spectator, Esquire, Forbes, WineSearcher, Huffington Post, The New York Times, and a multitude of others. He was bestowed the honour as one of Wine Enthusiast’s Magazine’s Top ’40 Under 40’ Tastemaker’s for 2014, and in October 2020 graced the cover of Wine Business Monthly as one of America’s Wine Industry Business Leaders.

DLynn has been featured in the UPSCALE TV series, and is one of the four featured subjects in the internationally acclaimed wine documentary ‘SOMM’. A follow up film ‘SOMM: Into the Bottle’, was released in 2015, and the third installment SOMM 3, was released in 2018. The SommTV streaming service launched in fall 2019, slating Somm 4: Cup of Salvation, to be released summer 2021.

DLynn has most recently appeared on screen with a cameo in the Netflix Original film ‘Uncorked,’ where he also earned the title of Associate Producer for his work behind the scenes.

Peter Heitz

Winemaker, Turnbull

Fourteen generation Vigneron hailing from Alsace and forth generation Napa Valley Winemaker, Peter Heitz grew up kicking the dirt clods of Carneros on one of the pioneering vineyards in the region, later honing his vineyard background farming in the Calistoga Appellation, on dirt first planted to vines by his great grandparents in 1904. Winemaker at Turnbull Wine Cellars in Oakville since the 2007 vintage. Farm the best grapes - make the best wine.

Kian Tavakoli

, Jean Edwards Cellars

​​Kian Tavakoli - Winemaker
Kian is a graduate of UC Davis and has nearly 30 years of winemaking experience. He started his career at Opus One where he spent 4 years and then moved on to become assistant winemaker at Clos du Val. Kian spent 8 years with Clos du Val were he became the winemaker for their red wine reserve program. In 2004, Kian left to start his own wine consultancy company and it was perfect timing as we were forming Jean Edwards Cellars. Kian has been with us each step of the way since 2004. A humble yet very accomplished winemaker, Kian has an exceptional palate. In 2017 and in 2018, Kian was named by Napa Valley Life Magazine as one of the "top 3 winemakers in Napa Valley" and he was a finalist once again for this honor in 2020. When Kian is not busy in the winery, he is actively involved with the Napa Valley Swim Team (along with his wife and 3 children). Kian is also a martial arts black belt and an avid Star Wars fan. We are proud to call Kian our winemaker, friend and colleague.

,

,

,

,