Our Team
Melissa Lynch, National Program Director
Stephanie Putnam, Director of Winemaking at Raymond Vineyards
Stephanie Putnam is the Director of Winemaking at Raymond Vineyards, where she oversees all aspects of winemaking for this iconic Napa Valley winery. Before joining the Boisset Family Estates team, Stephanie spent eight years as winemaker at Far Niente Winery, where she contemporized their house style. Prior to that, she was part of the team at Hess Collection, where she began as a cellar worker and rapidly progressed to winemaker. While there she also worked with the winery’s South American partners.
Throughout her tenure at these highly acclaimed Napa Valley estates, Stephanie has focused on producing high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Her wines have won acclaim, including recognition in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100, the Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 and being named The Wine News Cabernet of the Year.
Eric Pooler, Vineyard Manager at Raymond Vineyards
Eric Pooler is the Vineyard Manager at Raymond Vineyards, overseeing 300 acres of estate vineyards, as well as a dozen local winegrowers. Dedicated to farming in a sustainable and healthy manner, Eric is currently managing Raymond Vineyards transition towards organic and Biodynamic® certification for its estate vineyards.
A Northern California native, Eric started his career in the wine industry in Sonoma as the Kendall Jackson Wine Estates team pest control advisor. He was quickly promoted to assistant vineyard manager for Kendall Jackson Vineyards of Monterey properties, where he was able to hone his skills working with the finicky Pinot Noir grape. In 2005, he returned north as viticulturist for Hall Wines in Napa Valley before joining Boisset Family Estates in 2008 to oversee vineyards for DeLoach Vineyards.
Eric is involved in a number of community agricultural organizations and is currently a Director with the Napa County Farm Bureau, Co-Chairman of the Ag in the Classroom Committee and Co-Chairman of Napa County Young Farmers and Ranchers. He plans to become involved with Sonoma County’s farming organizations, as well. An outdoor enthusiast, Eric spends his time away from the vineyards fishing and surfing.
Darin Kinzie-Assistant Winemaker, Lockwood Vineyards
Inspired and ready for adventure, Darin returned to California in 2012 and landed at Lockwood Vineyard — a dream and an opportunity to work with the cool climate wines of Monterey and the unique soil known as “Lockwood Shaly Loam” found in the San Lucas Vineyard, once the largest contiguous vineyard in California and one of the most striking in Monterey. Kinzie appreciates Monterey’s potential and recognizes that the appellation is perhaps under-appreciated among the great appellations of California. Driven by this perspective, he is eager to establish Lockwood Vineyard as a leader in this region’s continued emergence in the California wine world.
Darin and his wife Anna, a native of Australia, live in Northern California wine country and together enjoy the outdoors, fine food, and, of course, great wine. A prolific outdoorsman, Darin enjoys water sports, hiking, camping, and fishing.
Brian Maloney, Winemaker for DeLoach Vineyards and Buena Vista Winery
When DeLoach Vineyards Winemaker Brian Maloney says that he “lives the wines,” he isn’t kidding. Winemaking has been a family tradition ever since his great grandfather planted vineyards and founded a Napa Valley winery at the turn of the century. That side of the family, his mother’s, has been growing grapes and making wine in California for four generations, and is still involved in the wine industry today. Brian also learned the importance of the land from his father, whose family has been involved in agriculture in rural Sonoma County for the past 150 years.
Brian spent his youth on a sheep and cattle ranch in Petaluma, California, learning the intricacies of agriculture and the importance of hard work. Inspired by the story of his great grandfather, Brian left the family farm to study Enology at The University of California at Davis and graduated in 2003. He worked his first crush at one of DeLoach’s neighbors in the Russian River Valley, Balletto Vineyards. At Balletto, Brian was able to learn the workings of Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, falling in love with the tasty potential of Sonoma’s famed grapes. His winemaking talents and natural way with the land were quickly noticed by DeLoach’s former winemaker, who recruited Brian to join the DeLoach team in 2003.
Laurie Turner, Customer Service Representative for Boisset Wine Living at Home
Laurie Turner joined the Boisset family to help launch this exciting new program and is thrilled to assist all the Ambassadors, customers and wine club members with any of their questions or needs.
Laurie has a diverse background, all focused on customer care and management. Her strengths in field marketing, team-building and corporate training and development all enable her to tackle the most challenging of circumstances with ease. She has over seven years of experience in the wine industry and over eight years in Internet technology.
Laurie is also very community-minded and is currently the Treasurer of the Kenwood Community Club, which helps maintain the Kenwood Depot, a California historical landmark. She enjoys gardening, cooking and hiking.