WEIBEL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Member of the Production Team
As Director of Operations, Agustin Ponce oversees all aspects of the production floor and the cellar, ensuring that all crush, press, tank, and bottling operations are seamless. His leadership focuses on each client project being handled with the utmost care and attention-from fruit and wine receiving and processing, all the way through bottling.
After studying agriculture in Mexico, Agustin began his career in the wine industry in 1989 working for Chalone Vineyards in Monterey County, Calif. Over the course of nine years his diligence and work ethic earned him an impressive reputation as assistant cellar master. He spent six years as cellar foreman for Kendall-Jackson, which brought him to Sonoma County in 2003 where he worked as cellar master for Kendall Jackson Vinwood Cellars in Geyserville, and Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards in Windsor for five years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- Assistant Cellar Master
A native of Mexico, Alvaro hails from Mendocino County where he attended Mendocino College and worked in the wine industry for 25 years prior to joining Rack & Riddle in 2008. One of Rack & Riddle's original employees since the first year Rack & Riddle opened, Alvaro is an integral part of our team. As cellar master, Alvaro handles work orders to prep client wines for bottling.
Alvaro began his career at Fetzer Winery in the barrel room for two years, followed by quality control for four years before taking a position in production at Rodney Strong Vineyards, where he managed sanitation in production and moved on to oversee presses and cellar operations for five years. Most recently before joining Rack & Riddle, Alvaro was the cellar lead at Murphy Goode Winery (in the same building where Rack & Riddle's Alexander Valley facility is today).
Alvaro very much enjoys his career in the wine industry. "I'm always interested in learning new things about wine - the flavors and aromas, and different ways of making sparkling and still wines," he says.
When not at the winery, Alvaro enjoys playing soccer, basketball and taking his three children to baseball games.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chief Executive Officer
- Managing Partner
- Member of the EXECUTIVE TEAM
Focused as one of the owners of Rack & Riddle (R&R), Bruce has spent most of his career associated with natural resource and agricultural-based industries. He has been active in the wine industry for more than 26 years. First as the General Manager at J Vineyards & Winery, then as a Partner at Longboard Vineyards, before founding Rack & Riddle with Rebecca Faust in 2007.
Prior to his foray into wine, Bruce was a Controller in the forest products industry, and then was the Controller/Treasurer at Tillamook Cheese in Oregon. Thereafter he moved to Petaluma, California as CFO at California Dairy Products.
Bruce is on the Board and serves as the Treasurer of Family Winemakers of California (FWC), an association dedicated to the advocacy and success of its winery members. Bruce is deeply involved in legislative, regulatory, and water issues affecting the wine industry in California.
Bruce resides in both Oregon and California - commuting from his home to the R&R winery operations in Healdsburg/Geyserville. His wife Denise remains in Oregon to help raise their three granddaughters - Audrey, Finley, & Grace. The couple have raised six children:
As Managing Partner Bruce Lundquist said, "Mark has taken us into the next tier as a business-helping us to exceed our clients' expectations in every capacity. He is a natural fit with our boots-on-the-ground approach to doing business and we are lucky to have him, as are our clients."
Casey feels that joining Rack and Riddle has given him a chance to use all of his previous experience, plus stretch his legs with new winemaking challenges. He works with still wine clients to arrange shipment of their wines into our Healdsburg facilities, as well as handling blending and filtration leading up to bottling. He enjoys working with client winemakers from many different backgrounds, and he observes and participates in a wide variety of winemaking styles - learning something new every day on the job.
He is responsible for developing and implementing a plan for visiting, sampling, and analyzing the vineyards from which Rack & Riddle sources its grapes for both still and sparkling wines. This is something Casey finds incredibly rewarding. He has over 20 years of winery production experience, however this is the first time in his career that he's been able to get up close and personal with the grapes while still in the field. Casey says, "In meeting the farmers and vineyard managers, I am struck with how much they truly love what they do and the pride they take in producing premium wine grapes."
Casey came to California in 1997 from The Southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. There, he had enjoyed a career in radio broadcasting - and the creativity and collaborative nature of the work. However, the feeling of never being able to obtain a tangible product for all of his efforts felt lacking to him.
In the mid-90's, his friend had married an Australian woman who told tales of working in wineries all over the world, and how she followed harvest around the globe. This caught Casey's interests, and became his intention for moving to Sonoma County. He was offered a full-time position at Clos du Bois wines after his first harvest - something he remembers fondly. He worked for 10 years in their cellar, eventually working as a lead cellar hand, organizing a crew of 30.
He also squeezed-in a rewarding harvest season in Marlborough, New Zealand in 2004. After returning, he transitioned into the wine lab where his cellar experience helped bridge the information gap and enhance communications between winemakers, cellar and lab staff.
For fun, he's constantly exploring the backroads of Sonoma and Marin Counties, as well as north into Oregon and Washington. Coastal views of the West never get old to him. He also spends time in record stores flipping through bins of vinyl, looking for gems, old and new.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager
- Member of the Business Development Team
Cynthia Faust brings nearly 20 years of business experience to Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services. As Business Development Manager, Cynthia oversees strategic initiatives that have resulted in unprecedented growth for the Rack & Riddle winery brand and all custom crush, base-to-bottle and grape-to-bottle programs.
Cynthia develops quarterly and yearly plans and projections for the department, assesses strategic alignment of business development projects to ensure goals are met on time and within budget, and also shepherds client projects from beginning to end, ensuring each project is handled with the greatest care and attention.
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Cynthia earned her degree from St. Mary's College in business administration, and spent the first 18 years of her career as a financial controller for several Napa wineries, and, most recently, as a securities-licensed CFO for a private equity placement firm in Nevada.
"The really intriguing part of my role here at Rack & Riddle is getting to be a part of the energy as clients come in with their own label and story," says Cynthia. "Our sparkling shiner program especially - we get to help them develop new directions and new opportunities for their brand, so it's a lot of fun."
Cynthia enjoys spending time with her three daughters, taking their dog on walks around Spring Lake and hiking in Annadel State Park.
Along with her sisters Rebecca and Sharon, Cynthia also recently founded Breathless Wines, in memory of their mother. The three sisters are proud to be creating award-winning sparkling wines hand-crafted in the méthode champenoise tradition, while bringing awareness to Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, the disease that challenged their mom.
Job Titles:
- Key Account Manager
- Member of the Business Development Team
Jenn Zeek joined Rack & Riddle in 2014 and brings over 10 years winemaking experience. Originally from D.C., Jenn came to California in 2004 to pursue a career in wine. While working harvest positions in Napa at Big Horn Cellars and Lewis Cellars Jenn pursued a B.S. in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, graduating in 2008. Following graduation, she took a job working harvest at Balletto Vineyards before moving to lush New Zealand for the 2009 harvest at Mud House Wines.
Upon returning to the States, Jenn began working for Sonoma Wine Company as a lab tech, where she was promoted to lab manager. She then worked as winemaker for Murphy Family Custom Crush. In 2014 when Rack & Riddle took over the facility, she happily accepted our offer to continue on working for us - doing custom crush for both still and sparkling winemaking.
When Jenn is not at the winery, she enjoys spending time with her husband and pup. Together they enjoy golf, skiing and travel - and life in Santa Rosa.
Zeek says of Custom Crush winemaking, "The pool of experience you get to draw from working with a myriad of client winemakers is invaluable. I am curious by nature so I enjoy embracing client protocols while also recommending new advances and sharing my own winemaking style."
Job Titles:
- Member of the WINEMAKING TEAM
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- Line Lead
- Still Line Lead
Job Titles:
- Member of the WINEMAKING TEAM
- Executive Director of Winemaking
Manveer has been with us since 2011. Under the direct tutelage of Penny Gadd-Coster he has mastered the art of Méthode Champenoise, advancing from Production Winemaker to Director of Winemaking (2020). He manages day-to-day winemaking operations for sparkling wine production as well as overseeing the winemaking team. Under the direction of Penny, he mentors the team to not only advance the art of winemaking, but to pass on the Méthode Champenoise tradition.
A graduate of UC Davis with a bachelor's degree in neurobiology, he studied for two years under noted viticulturist Dr. David Smart. Post-graduation he worked for Delicato Wines as a lab technician and eventually as enologist. That was followed by Gallo in Modesto as a lab supervisor, and two years as lab manager at Lodi Winery Laboratory before joining Rack & Riddle.
Manveer is a dedicated family man, who enjoys cooking, woodworking and outdoor activities with his wife Kiran and their two daughters, Kimber and Kamrin.
Sandhu says about his role at Rack & Riddle, "Wine has been my passion for many years, and working for Rack & Riddle has given me the opportunity to help craft amazing sparkling wines. Sharing this passion with our clients and team members has been a rewarding experience."
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Member of the Production Team
- Production Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- Line Lead
- Sparkling Line Lead
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- Member of the Business Development Team
- Member of the EXECUTIVE TEAM
- General Manager at Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services
With a unique background in sales, marketing and financial development, and a drive to be an integral part in the growth and development of a promising company, Mark has enjoyed his role over the past seven years helping shape Rack & Riddle into an award-winning winery and custom crush facility.
Born and raised locally, Mark brings 25-plus years of senior management experience and leadership to Rack & Riddle. Having hit the ground running since earning his degree from St. Mary's College in 1988, Mark possesses talents and experience ranging from working in a family business in the 1990's to running national sales for a large corporation. Mark's business acumen and consistency are a natural fit with the team at Rack & Riddle.
Mark currently resides in Marin County and has three children EJ, Michael and Alexandra and is a proud Nonno to his three-year-old grandson Robert. Mark is an avid wine enthusiast, but spends most weekends with his family-playing sports, enjoying time with his children and grandson, or brushing up on his golf game. Mark is driven and finds joy in his successes with which he will happily raise a glass to toast.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- Logistics / Materials Manager
A native of Calistoga, Matthew brings 30 years of experience in all aspects of wine production to Rack & Riddle, most recently as production planning specialist at Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines. His previous roles there over a span of 13 years included distribution coordinator, and bottling & warehouse supervisor.
At Rack & Riddle, Matthew spearheads materials readiness and is the primary contact for shipping and receiving of materials and product. As an important member of the R&R team, Matthew drives improved operations, and delivers top-tier customer service to help us achieve our primary goal: exceeding clients' expectations.
Job Titles:
- Data Entry & Winemaking Assistant
Megan recently joined the Rack & Riddle winemaking team with thirteen years of experience in fine winemaking. She is appreciative of Rack & Riddle's adherence to pandemic safety protocols and the chance to focus on data management while assisting with winemaking at the Alexander Valley Rack & Riddle facility.
Megan brings a broad perspective from her prior experiences around the North Coast and overseas after completing dual Bachelor's degrees concentrated on Viticulture & Enology. She has played a key role in both large and small wineries, in the custom crush and estate winemaking. Megan has experience with traditional method sparkling and a wide range of still winemaking techniques and varieties.
In addition to her passion for wines from all over the world, she likes to cook, work in her garden, and travel as often as possible, even for a quick trout fishing trip with her family. She also tries to get out to hike our Sonoma coastline in pursuit of porcini and chanterelle mushrooms each season, just as wine grape harvest wraps up. As a local with a family history of several generations in the area, Megan loves the diversity and quality of wine our region has to offer. She looks forward to working with the multitude of wine styles and varieties at Rack & Riddle.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Business Development Team
- Business Development Associate
Megan attended the School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State University. She has a Bachelor's in Business with an emphasis on Wine Strategies. She also holds a minor in Modern Languages, French Studies - très bon!
Her first foray into the wine industry was working for Dutton Estate Winery as both a Wine Educator and Harvest Intern. She was a back office coordinator at the deLorimier Winery tasting room before coming to Rack & Riddle.
We rely on Megan for a myriad of daily department needs. She maintains our meeting schedules, coordinates new client tastings and tours, and monitors our at-hand wine inventory. She's a vital part of our team.
Megan says, "I am always looking to expand my horizons and explore new cultures. I have a passion for the wine industry and customer service."
Job Titles:
- Client Services Manager
- Executive Administrator
- Member of the Business Development Team
Monica Smith joined Rack & Riddle in March 2013 as Executive Administrator, a role that involved providing operational support for Managing Partner Bruce Lundquist's projects and strategic initiatives. From new equipment acquisitions and insurance renewals, to everything in between, Monica ensured projects remained on time, on scope and within budget.
In June 2014, Monica was invited to join the Business Development team as Business Development Associate, where she manages the sparkling shiner/private label program, as well as grape to bottle and base to bottle sparkling client relations, the Rack & Riddle wine club, and various industry events. Monica enjoys the personal interaction with Rack & Riddle's varied clientele that her role entails, as well as collaborating internally with Rack & Riddle's production and winemaking teams; she splits her time between Rack & Riddle's Healdsburg and Alexander Valley offices.
Monica brings a wealth of food and wine industry management experience to Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services. Upon graduating with a bachelor's degree in advertising and marketing communications from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Monica worked in public relations for a short time and then started her restaurant career in 2001 with The Charlie Palmer Group in NYC. In January 2006 Monica relocated to Healdsburg to manage the acclaimed Dry Creek Kitchen restaurant. In 2007 Monica made a transition into the wine industry, working with the likes of St. Francis Winery, Lambert Bridge and TastingRoom.com, and has happily been enjoying the fruits of her labor ever since!
When not at the winery, Monica enjoys spending time with her husband Paul, and their twin boys Jackson and Wyatt. Together the family relishes life in Healdsburg and loves spending time outdoors with their dogs Maggie, a spirited Vizsla and Olive, a sweet rescue pup.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- Line Lead
- Sparkling Line Lead
Job Titles:
- Member of the WINEMAKING TEAM
- Consulting Winemaker
Penny's interest in wine began when her family moved to the Livermore Valley. However, it took a few years and the words of a friend to convince her that making wine was a career that did not require belonging to a winemaking family. In 1986 she landed a job as crush help at Jordan Vineyards & Winery, which lead to a 13-year career at Jordan. She was there for the inception of J Vineyards and Winery. In 1999 she was hired as the Assistant Winemaker for J, eventually working her way up to the Sparkling Winemaker position.
In 2007, Penny left J to work as a Winemaker for Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services. She also has her own brand, Coral Mustang, making Tempranillo wines.
Penny's talents have garnered more than 100 medals and awards in the past few years; more than 30 Best of Class, Double Gold and Gold medals in the past few years alone for Rack & Riddle and client wines. Penny was named "Winemaker of the Year" in Dec. 2013, honoring her significant contributions to winemaking. An incredible achievement, as contenders included the top winemakers from Sonoma, Napa and the greater Bay Area.
An accomplished writer and speaker, she was also selected as an expert panelist at the WIN Expo in Sonoma County, the 2015 Women in Wine event in Napa, and most recently at the 2018 Women in Conversation for Sonoma State University.
Outside of wine, she loves cooking, fly fishing, gardening, traveling and motorcycling through the countryside on her Harley.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- Senior Supply Chain Manager
- Senior Supply Chain Manager at Rack & Riddle
A Bay Area native, Ray brings 30 years of experience in supply chain management to Rack & Riddle, most recently in supply chain planning at E&J Gallo Winery for 20 years and Treasury Wine Estates for eight years, as well as two years in consulting.
Ray received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, followed by his MBA from California State University, Stanislaus.
As senior supply chain manager at Rack & Riddle, Ray oversees planning, scheduling, inventory and warehousing of all sparkling wine production.
Ray has held a long appreciation for wine, having been recruited into the wine industry while working on his MBA. He has remained in the industry ever since. "Wine has cultural and social appeal as a beverage, especially when shared over a meal," says Ray.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the EXECUTIVE TEAM
- Founding Partners of Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services
One of the founding partners of Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, Rebecca brings over 25 years of experience in the industry to Rack & Riddle.
Raised amid the vineyards of Sonoma County, it was a natural fit for Rebecca to pursue a career in wine. Rebecca is known for championing superior-quality wine made in the Méthode Champenoise tradition.
After graduating from Sonoma State University with a business degree, she first discovered her passion for wine while working for Deloitte & Touche. She then worked for the prestigious domestic sparkling wine brand Piper Sonoma as financial controller, and eventually became CFO at Lambert Bridge Winery.
Having an entrepreneurial spirit, she answered the call in 2007 to co-found Rack & Riddle along with Bruce Lundquist; shortly thereafter she founded Breathless Wines with her sisters. Rebecca is thrilled to work with sisters Sharon and Cynthia to create sparkling wines that help people celebrate and remember those moments in life that leave you breathless. Breathless Wines is a memorial to their mother, Martha, who understood the importance of living life to the fullest. Breathless supports bringing awareness to the disease that afflicted their mom: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
Rack & Riddle is proud to be among only 10 percent of California wineries led by women. In 2013, Rebecca was recognized for her contributions to business, the community and the wine industry as recipient of the NBBJ's "Women in Business" award.
Rebecca lives in Healdsburg, California with her husband, Allen, where they raised their three children: Daughter Jessica, mother of granddaughter Harlow, and sons, Mark and Max.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- Cellar Master
Richard was hired in 2021 as Rack & Riddle's new Cellar Master. He's responsible for all day-to-day operations of the cellar. He works closely with the winemaking team to ensure that all winemaking guidelines, procedures and quality control are closely adhered, and to ensure the cellar operates safely and efficiently. His role also entails developing systems, procedures, and policies for ongoing operational efficiency and cohesiveness.
Richard attended San Joaquin Delta College studying business. He started his career in the wine industry in 2012 as a seasonal worker at Bear Creek Winery in Lodi, California. His determination and stellar work ethic earned him a full-time position where he continued to gain knowledge and further advance his career. Working his way up, he became a supervisor during his five years at Bear Creek. Richard then became the Cellar Master at Oakridge Winery (Lodi) in 2017. There, he was in full control of all cellar operations, at times running a team of 40-60 employees. He's been part of harvests ranging from 12k to 60k-tons - all of which he has found to be a very exciting adventure.
Richard enjoys spending time with his wife Alisha of 12-years, his daughter Alana, and his extended family - he's the eldest of four siblings and considers himself the patriarch of his large family. A huge 49ers fan, he attends Niner and Giants games frequently, tailgating with family and friends. He loves to travel and explore new places with family whenever possible.
Sandrine has recently joined our team as our Sparkling Winemaker. She's responsible for ensuring all Custom Client products meet and exceed established standards for the highest caliber of sparkling wine. She also helps to coordinate all Custom Clients of Rack & Riddle, ensuring excellent customer service, as well as client development. Sandrine also participates in all wine operations, and is in the process of learning, developing and mastering every aspect of our sparkling wine production.
Hailing from France, Sandrine studied Oenology, Chemisry and Biology, and holds degrees from: University of Toulouse (National Diploma of Oenology), University of Technology, Orsay (Diploma of Chemistry Technologist) and University of Technology, Quimper (Diploma of Biology Technologist).
Prior to taking on her role here at Rack & Riddle, Sandrine was Head Winemaker at Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery in the Niagara area of Canada. She's also worked for Stonechurch Vineyards in the same region, having created the winery's laboratory for regular wine analysis, and more.
We're excited to have Sandrine on board here at Rack & Riddle - and look forward to sharing our collective expertise with each other, as the Winemaking Team and technologies expand.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Production Team
- QA / QC Manager
- Quality Assurance & Control Manager
Silvia de la Presa Owens, a native of Spain, joins Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services after 15 years of experience in basic and clinical research and two years in the wine industry in a laboratory setting. She brings extensive experience in quality control/assurance as well as quality and food safety management systems in both the wine industry and research environment.
Outside of work she likes traveling, reading, hiking and spending time with friends and family and beloved dogs and cats.
Job Titles:
- Member of the EXECUTIVE TEAM
- Executive Manager - Strategic Operations & Human Resources
Stacey has been with Rack & Riddle for seven years. She was initially hired as our Staff Accountant. Over the course of seven years, we have increasingly relied upon Stacey's talents, and steadily increased her job responsibilities. In early 2020, she began a new role as our Executive Manager - Strategic Operations & Human Resources. With nearly 100 employees working for the company, Stacey's HR duties take up the majority of her time, however she also plays a key role in the strategic direction of Rack & Riddle from both a personnel, management and company growth perspective. As a manager on the Executive Team, she helps ensure that company-wide protocols are followed and the execution of the overall business plan is implemented across the various departments in day-to-day operations.
She was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California, and comes from generations of Bay Area construction industry professionals - which provided her with a grounded, determined work ethic. In 2007, she graduated from Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics with a Bachelor's degree in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. At SSU, she was Vice President of the Econ Club, Head of Economics Tutor Department with Distinction.
Stacey is married, and in 2018 she and her husband embarked on a shared lifelong goal of building their dream home together. This project is now complete and they welcomed their first child together in October, 2020. When the timing is right, she plans to get back to one of her most beloved hobbies: Coaching youth sports - soccer, softball and T-ball. And, visiting more of Sonoma County's bountiful wineries on dates with her husband.
Job Titles:
- Facilities Manager
- Member of the Production Team
- Facilities Engineer of Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services
- Vice President of Sales for Womack International
As the facilities engineer of Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services, Stan first found himself knee-deep in the non-stop construction activities germane to building a sterling 500,000-case custom crush facility. It was the latest and most exciting challenge in Stan's distinguished career which started as Project Engineer for Container Technology Corporation in Denver, Colorado.
Trading the snowy peaks of Colorado for the sunny coast of California, Stan became the Vice President of Sales for Womack International, an equipment supply company to the container industry, which eventually led to his current position at Rack & Riddle.
Since blueprints were drafted and ground broke in 2007, Stan has been integral to ensuring optimal design of the facility-vetting only the best equipment and creating a layout geared toward the serious winemaker.
Today, Stan continues to manage every aspect of the 125,000-square-foot facility and extensive grounds. From the welcome signs and pipe fittings, to pond operations and interfacing with vineyard management, to obtaining new equipment and leading IT operations, Stan ensures everything at the winery runs smoothly.
Stan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from SE Missouri State. He and wife Valarie live in Brady Bunch fashion in Petaluma, where they raised (and are raising) their five children.
Away from the winery, Stan enjoys golf, working around the house and family activities.