Rachael Froehlich will focus on small-batch, premium winemaking, growing custom crush program.
NAPA VALLEY, Calif., July 6, 2022 – RD Winery, Napa’s first Vietnamese-owned winery, has hired Rachael Froehlich to the winemaking team as the assistant winemaker and production manager. In her role, Froehlich will assist head winemaker, Timothy Milos, on wine production for RD Winery’s two brands—Hundred Knot, which includes the winery’s high-end Khoai tier, and Fifth Moon. She will also focus on growing the winery’s custom crush program, the Collective at RD Winery, while working closely on production with the 15 various collective members.
“Rachael is a driven, passionate winemaker, whose talents are only growing. I’m so glad to have her join the RD Winery team,” says Mailynh Phan, RD Winery CEO. “Much has changed since we opened our tasting room in 2020 and started officially sharing our wines in the U.S. market. Rachael’s dynamic experience and skillset lend themselves beautifully to our approach of bringing community into everything we do.”
Froehlich joins RD Winery with a passion for small-batch, premium winemaking. Her experience includes working as a cellar hand, lab technician, harvest enologist and assistant winemaker, at wineries from New Zealand and Australia, to Sonoma and Napa. She holds a WSET Level 3 Certification in wine, as well as the Wine Business Management Certification from Sonoma State University, where she is currently pursuing her MBA. Most recently, Froehlich worked as the assistant winemaker at Roche Winery in Sonoma and later as the assistant winemaker at Ca’ Momi Winery in Napa.
“I’m intrigued by all of the styles that RD Winery and its collective members produce, and I enjoy the creativity in helping make both RD’s wines and those made through custom crush,” says Froehlich. “I’m excited about having this more hands-on role, and hope to use my future MBA to grow the program.”
For more information about RD Winery and its wines, visit rdwinery.com.
About RD Winery
RD Winery takes a more inclusive approach to the Napa Valley wine experience, creating a space where all can relax, connect, learn and simply enjoy the moment. Founded in 2012 by Dong Van Nguyen, with wines originally only available in Vietnam, RD Winery is the first Vietnamese-owned winery in Napa and is rooted in its inspiring legacy and traditions of Vietnamese altruism and culture. As part of CEO Mailynh Phan’s vision to transition the business into the U.S. market, RD Winery’s tasting room opened in 2020 and features Napa’s first all-Asian pairing menu. The winery’s terroir-driven portfolio offers a range of Napa and Sonoma classics featured under the Hundred Knot and Khoai labels, and lesser-known varieties under a food-centric Fifth Moon label—all artfully crafted by winemaker Timothy Milos with grapes sourced from throughout California. RD Winery is a Napa Green Certified Winery. Learn more at rdwinery.com, and follow along on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
