5/26/2026 – Saint Helena, CA – Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) is investing in the next generation of wine industry professionals through its custom-made Napa Valley Leadership Program. This spring marks the launch of the program’s sixth cohort. The twelve participants, selected from a pool of 50 applicants, began their journey on May 20, 2026. Since its inception, the program has graduated 62 individuals representing all sectors of the Napa Valley wine industry.
Launched in 2021 at a pivotal time for the wine business, the program was designed to cultivate emerging talent and strengthen collaboration across the Napa Valley wine community. Alumni have gone on to serve in leadership roles at their organizations and in the broader wine industry.
“The future of wine depends on the people who step up and help shape it,” said Linda Reiff, President & CEO of Napa Valley Vintners. “The U.S. wine industry has faced challenges time and again, and Napa Valley has endured because of the leaders who believed deeply in its future. This program is about investing in emerging voices who will help guide Napa Valley wine into its next bright chapter.”
The curriculum includes in-person sessions, guest speakers, facilitated discussions, reading assignments and collaborative projects focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the wine industry today. Participants engage in an environment that emphasizes personal accountability, shared ownership and thoughtful exploration.
A defining element of the program is its cohort-driven group project. Each class identifies a need within the industry or community and develops a strategic response designed to create meaningful impact.
The most recent cohort focused on engaging the next generation of wine drinkers by developing a digital media campaign. Centered on the question, “Why Napa?”, the campaign incorporated participants’ personal stories of living and working in Napa Valley, highlighting themes of wellness, passion and lifestyle as part of the region’s wine culture. The videos aim to spark curiosity, connection and appreciation among younger audiences.
The campaign builds on NVV’s Why Wine? initiative that was launched in the summer of 2024 in response to the changing marketplace. The Why Wine? initiative is still going and encourages people from around the world to share why wine matters to them through social media storytelling.
Members of the new cohort are: Brittany Anderson, owner of MTGA Wines, Lauren Carpenter, GM of Miner Family Winery; Marla Carroll, Winemaker at Antinori Napa Valley; Morgan Couch, Manager of Community Relations at Lewis Cellars; Samuel Dearden, Director of Hospitality & Sales at Sleeping Giant; Lucas Farmer, Owner and Assistant Winemaker at Euclid Wines; Torie Greenberg, Owner and CMO of The Vice; Frances Stockton, VP of Operations and Sales at Gallica; Georgia Taylor, General Manager of Blackbird Vineyards; Raul Toscano, Estate Liaison & Marketing Coordinator at Continuum; Michael Tracy, VP of Winemaking at Darioush; Jonathan Tyer, Senior Associate Winemaker at Inglenook.
For more information about the Napa Valley Leadership Program, visit: https://napavintners.com/community/leadership-program.asp
About Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its nearly 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, provide environmental leadership and care for the extraordinary place they call home. NVV has invested more than $245 million in community healthcare, youth development and the environment in Napa County. Learn more at napavintners.com.
