June 15th – Alexander Valley, CA – Skipstone is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Jones as Winemaker, where she will oversee the estate’s organic farming and winemaking. The hiring of Jones coincides with the upcoming completion of Skipstone’s estate winemaking facility, bringing to fruition the vision set forth by founder Fahri Diner of creating one of Sonoma County’s great luxury wine estates.
Jones will work closely with consulting winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky. “Since 2006, the Atelier Melka team have made exceptional wines at Skipstone,” says Skipstone General Manager Brian Ball. “The wealth of knowledge and experience Atelier Melka brings is a tremendous asset, and we are proud to continue our relationship together. Atelier Melka, with their years of experience at Skipstone and beyond, plus Laura, with her pedigree and skill set, is a winning combination. Our owners and entire team can’t wait to see what Laura can accomplish as she shapes the future of Skipstone’s estate vineyard and winemaking in our new, state of the art winery.”
Prior to joining Skipstone, Jones spent over a decade honing her craft, working at prestigious estates in California, New Zealand, and France, including Aubert Wines, Cliff Lede Vineyards, and Domaine Armand Rousseau. She earned a Master of Science in viticulture and enology at UC Davis and has a BS in biology from Pepperdine University. For years, Jones has followed the evolution of Skipstone and is honored to play a leading role in shaping its future. “I am thrilled to be part of such a dedicated and dynamic team at Skipstone. I look forward to the completion of the new winery and the opportunity to continue Skipstone’s pursuit of excellence in our own facility,” adds Jones.
Skipstone began crafting wines in 2005 from their a 200-acre private estate, located on the western hillsides of the Mayacamas Range in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley. Producing approximately 2,500 cases annually, Skipstone’s wines have received ongoing critical acclaim and are sold almost entirely to their mailing list of dedicated collectors.
