May 12, 2026 (Napa/Sonoma, CA) — On Wednesday, May 27, from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. PST, the Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable of the Napa | Sonoma chapter of Women for WineSense (WWS) will host, “Leading from the Vineyards: A Conversation with Women in Winegrowing.” The event opens with a networking reception at Chappellet Winery followed by an engaging technical viticulture discussion with guest expert panelists Stephanie Kunkel (Chappellet Winery), Kelsey Leslie (Bianco Wine Growing), and Natalie Winkler (Michel-Schlumberger Winery). The panel will be moderated by Brenae Royal (Violet’s Paradise Wine).
Join us for an engaging and insightful panel discussion celebrating the women shaping the future of winegrape viticulture with thoughts about the future of viticulture and our professional opportunities, regenerative and sustainable farming practices, navigating leadership in a traditionally male-dominated field, achieving quality goals and ROI in a challenging market and much more.
The panel will offer diverse perspectives and practical knowledge for professionals in viticulture, winemaking, operations and grower relations. The conversation will include different organization structures including larger and smaller scales of winery estates, stand-alone vineyards and vineyard management companies.
This Roundtable is generously hosted at Napa Valley’s acclaimed Chappellet Winery by Viticulturist and long-time WWS member, Stephanie Kunkel. Since 1967, the Chappellets have been dedicated stewards of this land, working to honor the natural integrity of Pritchard Hill, while constantly evolving their techniques to achieve the site’s full, expressive potential
ABOUT THE EVENT: The onsite event welcomes both WWS Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable members and their professional guests that have received pre-approvals. The panel discussion will not be recorded to ensure private discussion.
At 3:00 p.m. the event begins with a networking reception with professional peers and the speakers enjoying hospitality and limited-edition Chappellet wines, followed by a 3:30 pm behind the scenes production/vineyard tour. At 4:00 p.m., the program begins.
- Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
- Time: 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. PST
- Location: Chappellet Winery, 1581 Sage Canyon Rd, St Helena, CA 94574
- Please pre-register no later than 2 pm., May 26th at this link:
WHO CAN ATTEND: Kindly, no walk-ins. The free roundtable is open to active professional WWS Winemaking & Viticulture Roundtable members. Roundtable members and their pre-approved qualified guests are welcome to attend, including viticulturists, vineyard managers, grower relations, winemakers, lab, cellar, vineyard and production professionals, owners and general managers.
Interested guest winemakers and viticulturists that have emailed and received confirmations through the Chair are warmly welcomed to attend one Roundtable for free before joining WWS if space is available.
To add qualified Roundtable guests or for other questions on this event or future WWS events, please contact the Roundtable Chair, Alicia Sylvester at aliciasylvester15@gmail.com
REGISTRATION:
- Free for WWS W&V Roundtable professional members
- Free for first-time qualified professional viticulture and winemaking guests
- $20 for returning non-member W&V professional guests
- All attendees are asked to bring a bottle of wine to share as a thank you to our speakers and hosts.
For RSVP assistance, membership status inquiries, or to join or renew, contact Nicole Economou at (831) 332-1727.
ABOUT THE WWS WINEMAKING & VITICULTURAL ROUNDTABLE
The Roundtable meets approximately six times a year, taking a harvest break. Current members of the WWS Napa / Sonoma W&V Roundtable work in the North Bay, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz, Central Coast and Washington, meeting both in person and through hybrid onsite / online formats.
Ana Diogo-Draper, long time WWS member of the Winemaking & Viticulture Planning Committee noted “Our past meeting topics have focused upon the C-suite professional skills and insights women winemakers and viticultural professionals need but aren’t always easy to get in their daily work environment.”
She further explained that, “Held for 35 years at some of Napa and Sonoma’s finest host wineries, and since 2020, expanded to both online and in person formats, our Roundtable programs have been a fantastic opportunity for over 100 member women winemakers and viticulturists to connect directly in a friendly professional forum, with experts that they otherwise wouldn’t get to meet for personal advice and questions. Some of our recent speakers have included top wine publication critics and senior editors, iconic winemakers, leading academics, global sensory consultants, sommeliers, media trainers, professional coaching experts, CFO’s and GM’s in panel discussions and key recruiters.”
ABOUT ADDITIONAL WWS ROUNDTABLES
Multiple Roundtables have developed for WWS industry members in finance, accounting, HR, winemaking / viticulture, and owners / GMs. Each provide a welcoming and confidential environment to meet in small peer groups on a bi-monthly or quarterly basis. Members network, provide advice and support for one another, as well as foster educational occasions by inviting guest speakers in their fields and discussing ‘hot issues’ facing members in their day-to-day work. To join or learn more about WWS’ roundtables, contact Napa| Sonoma Chapter’s Roundtable leaders listed at www.womenforwinesense.org.
ABOUT WOMEN FOR WINESENSE
WWS is a national not-for-profit organization 501(c)6. The Napa|Sonoma Chapter founded in 1990 is the founding chapter of this national organization with 13 chapters which provides outstanding educational and networking opportunities to both wine industry professionals and wine enthusiasts by presenting educational, insightful and stimulating events in a welcoming, fun environment. Women and men 21 years old or more are welcome to join.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Brenae Royal (moderator): Brenae Royal is the founder of Violet’s Paradise and the Violet’s Paradise Scholarship. Widely recognized for her leadership at Monte Rosso Vineyard and St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery, she is a vineyard consultant, wine entrepreneur, and advocate for diversity and sustainability in agriculture. Royal was the youngest and first Black woman to manage Monte Rosso Vineyard, overseeing its transition towards organic certification for nine years. Her contributions have been acknowledged by Wine Enthusiast’s “40 Under 40” and featured in prominent wine publications.
Stephanie Kunkel: Viticulturist at Chappellet Vineyard. With 13 years in the industry and 15 vintages under her belt, she put down roots at Chappellet in 2022 to maximize the quality and efficiency of this iconic vineyard site on Pritchard Hill. Since coming to Chappellet, Stephanie has incorporated collaborations with UCDavis, UCRiverside, and CalPoly Humboldt in research endeavors to understand birds in vineyard settings.
Looking forward she will be collaborating with UCCE to study star thistle and TCAH vegetation management practices as well as continued collaboration with neighbors in an effort to understand and control Grapevine Redblotch virus.
As an avid rock climber, caver, and hiker, Stephanie brings her love of the outdoors into the vineyard. She is now joined by her young Basenji puppy, Dresden, in her effort to elevate Pritchard Hill even higher.
Kelese Leslie: Kelsey Leslie is currently a viticulturist at Bianco Winegrowing, she brings over a decade of experience in viticulture, vineyard management, and agronomic research. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Wine and Viticulture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a concentration in viticulture.
Most recently, Leslie served as a Sales Agronomist at Wilbur-Ellis, where she developed vineyard nutrition and spray programs, managed field scouting teams, and worked with advanced viticulture technology such as Veris and SoilOptix. Her prior roles at St. Supéry Vineyard & Winery, Redwood Empire Vineyard Management, and Laetitia Vineyard & Winery have equipped her with expertise in vineyard sustainability programs, harvest operations, irrigation management, and viticulture research.
As an active industry leader, Leslie holds a California Pest Control Advisor License and is a Certified Crop Advisor. She is also a dedicated member of CAPCA, Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Farm Bureau, and the Napa Valley Vineyard Technical Group, serving in leadership roles for multiple industry organizations.
Natalie Winkler (Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate): Natalie is the Head Winemaker at Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, where she oversees winemaking operations and leads the estate’s transition to organic certification. She brings more than a decade of global winemaking and viticulture experience, with a strong focus on sustainable, regenerative, and biodynamic farming practices.
She began her career in Spain following her graduation from the University of Oregon, earning harvest experience at Bodegas Elias Mora and Bodegas Monje in the Canary Islands. She later worked in key wine regions including California’s Russian River Valley and Sonoma County, as well as internationally in Australia at Delatite Winery and in Bordeaux at Château Fontenil.
She holds a Master’s degree in Enology and Viticulture from the Escuela Universitaria de Ingeniería Técnica Agrícola in Valladolid, Spain. In Sonoma Valley, Natalie advanced at Westwood Estate Wines from cellarmaster and enologist to assistant winemaker, contributing to the production of Pinot Noir and Rhône varietals. She went on to serve as winemaker and viticulturist at Salvestrin Estate Vineyard and Winery in Napa Valley, where she focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and led the successful transition of the Dr. Crane Vineyard to CCOF-certified organic farming, incorporating regenerative and biodynamic techniques.
In addition to her winery roles, Natalie has worked closely with biodynamic consultant Philippe Coderey since 2012 and is a member of Traditional & Biodynamic Vineyard Consulting, supporting vineyards in their transition to organic and biodynamic farming systems.
ABOUT CHAPPELLET
Chappellet Winery was founded in 1967 by Donn and Molly Chappellet in Napa Valley, California, on the then-unknown slopes of Pritchard Hill. Donn left a successful business career to pursue his passion for wine, with the vision of creating mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon that could rival the great wines of Bordeaux.
The winery quickly became a pioneer in high-elevation viticulture, helping establish Pritchard Hill as one of Napa’s most respected wine-growing regions. Built into the hillside and designed like a pyramid, the winery reflects a deep connection to the land and nature.
Today, Chappellet remains family-owned, with the next generation continuing the founders’ focus on quality, sustainability, and expressing the unique character of their mountain vineyards.
