710-acre Windsor-based winery welcomes three new senior management personnel
Windsor, Sonoma County, April 2019 — Bob and Renée Stein, the owners of Notre Vue Estate and Balverne Wines, based in Windsor, announced several new key management figures who have joined the winery. Alex Holman has been named Winemaker; Kirk Tomiser has been named National Sales and Marketing Manager; Daniel Charles is the new Viticulturist. “We are thrilled that industry veterans of this caliber will be joining our operation,” they said, in making the announcement.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Alex Holman graduated from CSU Fresno with a B.S. in Chemistry after spending five years in the U.S. Army. As a winemaker, his career has been entirely based at family-owned wineries. He received his start with Golden State Vintners making Christian Brothers Brandy. Most recently at Rack and Riddle, Holman has also made wine for Keller Estate, J. Rickards, Dry Creek Vineyard, and Paul Hobbs: he has worked in every sub-AVA in Sonoma County. Holman caught the fermentation “bug” as a homebrewer which convinced him to go back to Fresno State to complete the Enology program. He is an avid home chef and also expresses his artistic side, whether it’s making furniture from wine barrels or bringing that sensibility to his winemaking practices. He feels the diversity of Notre Vue Estate’s terroir and grape varieties is second to none. He is very passionate about combining innovation with traditional practices as well as nurturing the marriage between science and art. “The canvas of Notre Vue Estate is one of the most exciting opportunities of my life and I look forward to making beautiful wines from the most extraordinary Estate in Sonoma County,” he says.
A native of St. Louis, Kirk Tomiser graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He has more than twenty years of experience as a supplier with both multi-state and national responsibilities. He began his career at Mueller Distributing Company and went on to regional and national sales management positions at Barefoot Cellars, Dry Creek Vineyard, Rutherford Wine Company, Stoller Imports and most recently, Provence Rose Group. Tomiser lives in Windsor with his daughter Willow where he enjoys golfing, hiking and riding his bike. “I’m happy to have joined the Notre Vue team and enthusiastic to get started introducing Notre Vue and Balverne Wines to more of the country while reinforcing our relationships with our current wholesale partners,” he says.
Daniel Charles grew up in Petaluma and graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a degree in Agricultural Business. Charles has worked in the vineyards for Bayview Vineyards in Napa, Balletto Vineyards in Sonoma and Gallo Vineyards in Monterey and San Luis Obispo as well as in in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. He has broad experience across numerous areas of grape growing, from expertise in new vineyard development to the development of new vineyard technology including evapotranspiration sensors and remote frost alarms. Charles lives in Petaluma and enjoys home brewing and playing banjo in a local New Orleans-style jazz band, The King Street Giants. “It’s not too often that a viticulturist gets the chance to work in two distinct growing regions in one ranch. The opportunity to work a site with such diversity and character excites me, and I look forward to the challenges that come with it,” he says.
About Notre Vue Estate
Founded in 1992 by Bob and Renée Stein, Notre Vue Estate produces Notre Vue and Balverne wines from its estate vineyards. Encompassing both the Chalk Hill and Russian River appellations, the estate consists of 710 acres; 250 acres are planted to 18 varietals including Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc, and 350 acres are preserved as “Forever Wild.” The estate’s vineyard General Manager is Douglas Lumgair. The estate sells grapes to many distinguished wineries in the North Coast under its grape sales division, Windsor Oaks.
Located at 11010 Estate Lane in Windsor, the winery welcomes visitors seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 707/433-4050, www.NotreVueEstate.com. Reservations are recommended but not required. Notre Vue offers an assortment of tastings, tours and experiences.
