OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY, Calif. (June 8, 2023) — Groth Vineyards & Winery has named Christina Appleby as Chief Financial Officer of the family-owned winery founded in 1982 by Dennis and Judy Groth.
With nearly two decades of public and private accounting experience, Appleby first joined Groth in June 2022 as Controller, coming from Napa-based Fior di Sole (dba Ca’ Momi Winery), where she served as Director of Finance for 10 years during a period of immense growth. Prior to that, Appleby, who earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from Sonoma State University, worked as a Senior Accountant at Brown Holder Alfaro & Co. in St. Helena.
“I’m excited to welcome a new level of financial oversight in our family business,” said second-generation President & CEO Suzanne Groth. “As the daughter of a CPA, I have a healthy respect for sound financial advice as a required tool for business success. It is my personal mission to not only continue Groth’s history of excellence in growing and making exceptional wines, but also to leave the company on sound financial footing for the family leadership to come.”
Appleby, who was raised in Napa Valley, said that commitment to family ownership is one of the things that drew her to Groth Vineyards & Winery. “I value my position here and am very grateful to have found a home with the Groth family,” Appleby said. “They are not only known for their quality wines but also for their commitment to being a family-owned winery, leading the industry for over 40 years. I look forward to using my skills to help continue the legacy they have created.”
In addition to managing the winery’s Finance and Accounting Department as CFO, Appleby, who enjoys cooking dishes to pair with wine in her free time, will continue the time-honored tradition of having a voice on wine quality. “Since our first vintage in 1982, our wines have been blended at a table with seats for representatives from every department, including winemaker, family, finance, sales and marketing,” Suzanne Groth explained. “That first kitchen table was in a tiny vineyard house when Groth only had six employees. This philosophy of collaboration and teamwork has been an essential part of our success in our 40-plus-year quest to make the finest Napa Valley wines possible from our family estates.”
Appleby’s promotion follows the retirement in May of Carl Ebbeson, who managed the winery’s Finance and Accounting Departments for 29 years.
About Groth Vineyards & Winery
Dennis and Judy Groth made a life-changing investment in 1981 when they bought a vineyard on Oakville Cross Road, in the heart of Napa Valley, with hopes it would produce world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. It didn’t take long for their intuition to be proven right. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate gave the Groth 1985 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon the distinction of being the first 100-point wine in the United States.
Today, with Dennis and Judy’s daughter, Suzanne Groth, as President & CEO, Groth sustainably farms two estates totaling 165 acres with the dual goals of producing the highest-quality, most elegant wines we can while caring for our estate for future generations. The winery produces critically acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Tastings are available daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment. For reservations and inquiries, call 707-754-4254, email concierge@grothwines.com or visit Grothwines.com.
