(July 11, 2022 – Napa, Calif.)—Chris Kajani, general manager and winemaker of Napa’s Bouchaine Vineyards, is pleased to announce a new promotion and hire for the Carneros-based estate. Erik Goodmanson has been promoted from associate winemaker to director of operations, where he will oversee the entire Bouchaine estate. With Erik’s promotion, Emily Wiemer has been hired as assistant winemaker after spending three years as enologist at Three Sticks Winery. In her role, Wiemer will work alongside Kajani to oversee winemaking across Bouchaine’s diverse portfolio of cool-climate, estate-driven wines
“Erik has worked with me in the cellar for the past seven years and will continue to play a key role, particularly in our blending sessions,” says Kajani. “We are excited to be developing our team and bringing on a rising star in Emily. We can’t wait to see what the 2022 vintage brings us and are thrilled to start the vintage together.”
Goodmanson joined Bouchaine in 2015 as assistant winemaker and was quickly promoted to associate winemaker the following year. Prior to that he held positions at Carneros-based Robert Sinskey Vineyards and Rutherford-based Staglin Family Vineyards. Together, he and Kajani have worked tirelessly to elevate the estate vineyard farming practices, modernize the cellar, and develop a new tasting room and contemporary kitchen.
Prior to her tenure at Three Sticks, Wiemer worked several international harvests at wineries including Marchesi Antinori in Tuscany, Vilafonté in South Africa and Cantine Nervi in Piedmont. In Sonoma, she worked with both Gloria Ferrer and Marcassin. Kajani, Wiemer and Goodmanson are all graduates of the viticulture and enology program at UC Davis.
“We are proud to have a winemaking team that has been mentored and trained at some of Napa and Sonoma’s most prominent estates,” says Bouchaine Proprietor and President Tatiana Copeland. “We truly have a rock star team in Chris, Erik and Emily.”
As the winery enters its fifth decade, owners Gerret and Tatiana Copeland continue to bring an international perspective to the winery with an eye to the future. They invested in this cool-climate region long before it was well known and remain active in the day-to-day operations and strategic plans. The Copelands care deeply about sustainable agriculture, while also imbuing effortless fun in each facet of the winery. If one sentence can encapsulate the energy they bring, it is the words embossed in the floor entrance of the winery’s new Visitor Center: “Wine Makes You Happy.”
About Bouchaine
Bouchaine was founded by Gerret and Tatiana Copeland and is today one of the leading producers of sustainably farmed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Carneros AVA. The estate is comprised of 104 acres, including a dramatic winery and new tasting room and a state-of-the-art kitchen. The vineyards at Bouchaine are greatly influenced by the adjacent San Pablo Bay, where cool breezes and the daily influx of fog allow cool climate varieties to shine. The location’s substantial daily temperature shifts also help develop beautiful acidity in the fruit, resulting in wines with vivid energy and texture. Noted as the first “Fish Friendly Farming” certified vineyard in Napa Valley, the winery is also Napa Green land and winery certified.
For more information about Bouchaine Vineyards, please visit https://bouchaine.com/
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