Second Generation Vintner Takes on New Role at Legendary Estate
Napa Valley, CA (January 29, 2021) – Iconic Napa Valley winery Dalla Valle Vineyards names Maya Dalla Valle as Winemaker. Previously Director of the estate, Maya is succeeding her mother and world-renowned vintner, Naoko Dalla Valle, who will continue to consult and oversee other aspects of the operation.
“Dalla Valle is not only my family’s legacy, but it is also my home,” says Maya. “It’s an honor to carry out my parents’ life’s work into a second generation, where I am given the opportunity to incorporate my own vision while preserving the values that started our family’s journey.”
Maya is a gifted winemaker who learned her craft working at some of the world’s most prestigious wineries. Before joining the family business, Maya was committed to earning her place. She achieved a Master’s degree in Viticulture and Enology from Cornell University, and a Master’s of Business and Science in Vineyard and Winery Management from Bordeaux Sciences Agro. Training with the best, Maya also gained invaluable hands-on winemaking experience at Ornellaia e Masseto, Bodegas Rolland, Pétrus and Château Latour.
“Maya is a talented winemaker whose great instincts and unique ideas will herald a new era for our winery,” says Naoko. “We are very excited for this new chapter and look forward to see how Dalla Valle Vineyards continues to grow, always with quality and precision at the forefront.”
Under Maya’s direction, the winery will continue its legacy of creating exceptional terroir-driven wines through truly hands-on craftsmanship that impacts every vine. Maya will also leave her own mark, incorporating positive changes such as implementing biodynamic viticultural techniques and a project with acclaimed Italian winery, Ornellaia. Andy Erickson will continue in his role as Consulting Winemaker for Dalla Valle Vineyards.
Founded in 1986 by Naoko and her late husband Gustav Dalla Valle, Dalla Valle Vineyards is one of Napa Valley’s preeminent multigeneration family-run wineries on the famed eastern hillsides of Oakville. Dalla Valle Vineyards has earned acclaim as one of world’s most celebrated wine estates, yielding wines of extraordinary character and complexity, vintage after vintage. In 2017, Naoko was joined at Dalla Valle by her daughter, Maya, making the estate a true multigenerational winery.
For more information on the winery or upcoming announcements, please visit https://www.dallavallevineyards.com/
ABOUT DALLA VALLE VINEYARDS
Founded in 1986, Dalla Valle Vineyards one of world’s most celebrated wine estates located in Napa Valley’s famed eastern hillsides of Oakville. This preeminent multigeneration family-run winery has earned acclaim for producing wines of extraordinary character and complexity, vintage after vintage. Today, Dalla Valle is guided by the mother-and-daughter team of Naoko and Maya Dalla Valle, who steward every aspect of the viticulture and winemaking with a level of meticulous care and detail reserved for the great First Growths, to ensure Dalla Valle continues to thrive for generations to come.
