(May 17, 2024; Yountville, Calif.)—Jason Lede, second-generation vintner and Director of Communications at Cliff Lede Vineyards located in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, is pleased to announce that Eric Gallegos has joined the Cliff Lede team as Director of Vineyard Operations. Equipped with extensive knowledge of the Napa Valley wine industry, Eric will oversee all farming and viticulture of the winery’s 160 acres of estate vineyards across the Stags Leap District, Carneros, and Calistoga AVAs
A third-generation farmer in Napa Valley, Eric was introduced to grape growing at a young age. He grew up working with his father in vineyard management and became the first in his family to earn a degree in viticulture upon graduating from California State University-Fresno in 2009. To build on his education, he returned home to work harvest before taking on a crucial role at his father’s new vineyard management company. There, Eric was a key player in the development of several vineyards alongside viticulturist Nathan Baty, who later hired him to work with some of Napa’s most acclaimed winemakers, including Thomas Rivers Brown and Philippe Melka.
In 2017, Eric joined Pahlmeyer Winery as Vineyard and Grower Relations Manager where he further developed his interest and expertise in site-specific grape growing. With a commitment to farming organically and a philosophy of expressing terroir, Eric was drawn to the ethos of Cliff Lede Vineyards and was named Director of Vineyard Operations earlier this spring.
“With extensive experience implementing sustainable vineyard protocols and managing external grower relations, Eric is well-versed in the farming and viticultural landscape of Napa Valley,” notes Lede. “We are thrilled to work with him to further our commitment to organic grape growing and enhancing the unique characteristics of each of our estate vineyards.”
About Cliff Lede Vineyards
First established by Cliff Lede in 2002 with the purchase of 60 acres in the Stags Leap District, Cliff Lede Vineyards has become a leading family-owned producer of Bordeaux variety wines with more than 160 acres of estate vineyards across Stags Leap District, Calistoga and Carneros. The 25,000 square foot Howard Backen-designed winery and network of caves provide an ideal home for Cliff Lede’s wine production. Over the last two decades, the winery’s flagship estate bottling, Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, has been awarded multiple 100-point scores across critical publications. Winemaking is led by Director of Winemaking Christopher Tynan and Winemaker Travis Bullard. The Cliff Lede Vineyards’ tasting room offers a complete Napa Valley lifestyle experience where the best in wine, music, art, architecture and nature intersect. A variety of indoor and outdoor tasting experiences and private tours, including tasting in the newly remodeled Backstage Tasting Lounge, are available with advance reservation, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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