Home Industry News Releases Hahn Family Wines Expands Winemaking Team with New Hire and Promotion

Hahn Family Wines Expands Winemaking Team with New Hire and Promotion

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Juan Jose Verdina Rejoins Hahn as Winemaker
Megan McCollough Promoted From Assistant Winemaker to Winemaker 

Soledad, Calif. — July 11, 2017 — Hahn Family Wines, a Santa Lucia Highlands-based producer of luxury and super-premium wines, has added Hahn alum Juan Jose Verdina as winemaker and promoted Megan McCollough to winemaker for Smith & Hook. Verdina and McCollough will report to Paul Clifton, director of winemaking at Hahn Family Wines, who is in his 14th vintage with the winery.

“Both Juan and Megan have the passion and expertise to help craft world-class wines from our Santa Lucia Highlands estate vineyards and the Central Coast,” said Clifton. “I worked with Juan in various capacities during his tenure at Hahn, and will rely on him as we continue the Hahn family’s nearly 40-year winemaking legacy. Megan has managed the cellar with me for the last four years and can deliver the high quality customers expect from Smith & Hook wines. We look forward to their contributions and fulfilling important leadership roles on our winemaking team.”

Juan Jose Verdina, winemaker, will focus on production of Hahn and Boneshaker brands. Hahn brand includes six varietal wines that are fruit driven, supple and perfect for everyday enjoyment. Boneshaker is a robust Lodi Zinfandel from vines over forty years old. Verdina has more than fifteen years of winemaking experience, starting in 2002 during his first harvest with Hahn Family Wines. While at Hahn, Verdina was promoted to winemaker, where he oversaw winemaking and quality control. Before returning to Hahn, he was head of winemaking for Jamieson Ranch Vineyards in Napa Valley.

Megan McCollough, winemaker for Smith & Hook, will be responsible for the winery’s duo of Central Coast red wines paying homage to the Hahn family’s first Monterey County properties, known today as the Smith Vineyard and Hook Vineyard. McCollough started at Hahn in 2011 as an enologist, and her passion for winemaking quickly earned her promotions to assistant winemaker and now to the winemaking team’s leadership. She studied wine and viticulture at Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, which paved the path for her to work in California’s wine industry.

“These two rising stars of the wine industry strengthen Hahn Family Wines’ position as a winemaking leader,” said Tony Baldini, president of Hahn Family Wines. “We welcome Juan back to the Hahn winemaking family and congratulate Megan on her well-deserved promotion.”

About Hahn Family Wines

Hahn Family Wines is a family-owned winery located in the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) appellation of Monterey County, California. Founders Nicolaus (Nicky) and Gaby Hahn purchased land in Monterey County in the late 1970s and have made wine in SLH for more than 35 years (since 1980). Early on, Nicky Hahn saw the wine grape growing potential of SLH, and in 1988 he spearheaded efforts to establish SLH as an American Viticulture Area. Today, Hahn Family Wines owns one of the largest shares of planted vines in the region, equaling more than 650 SLH vineyard acres that range in elevation from 200 to 1,200 feet. The vineyards offer a diverse selection of terroir for growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other grape varieties. The brands of Hahn Family Wines include Hahn SLH, Hahn, Lucienne, Smith & Hook and Boneshaker.

For more information, visit www.hahnwines.com. Follow Hahn Family Wines on Facebook (@HahnFamilyWines), Twitter (@HahnWines) and Instagram (@HahnWines)

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