Chateau Montelena – NAPA GALA

chateau montelena

One of the worlds iconic brands, Chateau Montelena Winery was founded in 1882 by San Francisco entrepreneur and State Senator Alfred Tubbs. The winery, however, is most widely known for its victory at the 1976 Judgement of Paris when it's 1973 Chardonnay bested some of the greatest white Burgundies and other top California Chardonnays in a blind tasting held for a who's-who of the French wine and food establishment gathered at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Paris. The results proved that Chateau Montelena could produce some of the world's finest wines, and that California's wine industry had come of age.

Since the Barrett family purchased and re-invigorated Chateau Montelena in 1972, the winery has remained family-owned and committed to producing world-class, age-worthy wines. These wines are produced in a classic, old-world style but using California fruit - they showcase high-quality grapes, vintage growing conditions, as well as Chataeu Montelena's unique vineyard sites.

www.Montelena.com

olivia mannix

brand & communications manager

As Brand & Communications Manager at Chateau Montelena, Olivia handles communications, public relations, brand strategy and digital media for the winery. Having joined the team in 2018, Olivia came from a background in public relations working in the tech industry but quickly jumped into the wine industry, applying all the knowledge gained from her past career. At the beginning on her time at Montelena, she oversaw a massive “brand refresh” that entailed a complete overhaul of the website, the crystallization of brand messaging, a style guide and brand voice guide, press kit, new collateral and more. From the past five years at the winery, she’s also oversaw the selection and onboarding of new PR agencies, managed press trips and media visits, created brand messaging and communication strategies, developed a professional image and video library, upgraded brand collateral and design, developed new tasting experiences and cultivated brand partnerships. As a full-time Calistogian, living five minutes away from the winery Olivia considers Montelena a second home. She’s looking forward to gaining additional experience in the wholesale side of the business between market visits and sharing her knowledge and love for the winery.