People
Here are some of the people that make up Chateau Montelena.
Jim Barrett came to the Napa Valley in 1972 with one thing in mind, to start a world-class winery. He doesn’t mind telling visitors, “I wanted to do something to make people happy.
Bo’s career in the wine industry began in the summer of 1972, right after he graduated from high school, when his family purchased Chateau Montelena. He spent the first summer pulling star thistle in the old vineyard and picking up rocks in preparation for replanting.
Cam has been an integral member of the winemaking team at Chateau Montelena since 2004, and was named winemaker in 2008. As such, he is responsible for management of all winemaking, cellar activity, and laboratory protocol – under the direction of Master Winemaker Bo Barrett.
A Virginia native who earned a B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Virginia in 2003, Matt resisted the siren call of Wall Street to start his career in wine production.
Dave Vella has been the Vineyard Manager at Chateau Montelena since 1985. Dave’s ancestors came to California in the late 1800’s as grape growers and winemakers, settling in the Central Valley and in Napa Valley. Dave grew up near Modesto farming grapes, almonds and row crops.