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Aaron Pott

Winemaker, Saint Helena Winery

Pott took the position of Assistant Winemaker at Newton Vineyard where he worked with John Kongsgaard and Michel Rolland. Pott tried to convince Rolland to find him a job in France pulling hoses around a dark cellar and working on his language skills. Rolland soon sent word that he had found the ideal position, Winemaker at Chateau Troplong Mondot, Premier Grand Cru Classe, St. Emilion. Pott would thereafter become Winemaker and General Manager of Chateau La Tour Figeac Grand Cru Classe, St. Emilion.

Pott worked for nearly six years making wine in France before returning to the States to take a position with Beringer Wine Estates as the Winemaker for the company's international brands in France, Italy and South America. Pott's duties expanded in 2001 as winemaker at St. Clement in St. Helena. In 2004, he accepted the position as Winemaker and General Manager at Quintessa. In 2007, Pott formed Huis Clos Wines and is dedicated to consulting for a limited quantity of notable producers and producing his own wine, Pott Wine.

Country born: United States

Education: Aaron studied Fermentation Science Enology at the University of California, Davis. He completed his education with a masters degree in Viticulture from the University de Bourgogne in Dijon, France.

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Honors / Awards:
2012 Winemaker of the Year - Food & Wine Magazine

Winemaking Philosophy:
Aaron believes wines should reflect the terroir of their origin, as well as the art and character of the people behind them.

Lindsey Wallingford

Winemaker, Saint Helena Winery

As both Winemaker and Vineyard Manager, Lindsey Wallingford embodies the belief that the best wines are made in the vineyard. In this dual role, Lindsey works alongside the winery’s in-house vineyard team, guiding the farming of the estate’s 14 individual blocks. In the winery, she applies her talents to single clone fermentations each harvest, to ultimately create three different Cabernet Sauvignons from the property and to ensure that each wine reflects the Estate and the age-worthy style of Saint Helena Winery.

Lindsey began her career studying and working in vineyards of Washington State before she could even legally drink. She laughs when she thinks about the times her supervisors would help her purchase bottles of wine so she could become familiar with the effects of “terroir”. Since then, Lindsey has worked in the wine regions of Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, and across California. Before joining the team in 2018, Lindsey worked for Napa Valley’s Screaming Eagle and Bryant Family Vineyard.

Lindsey is dedicated to the land, and bringing out the best of the property. Through organic farming practices, minimizing tillage, and introducing honey bees, Lindsey and Saint Helena Winery are continuously striving to leave the land better than it was found.

Country born: United States

Education: BS Viticulture & Enology, Washington State University.
Business Fundamentals Series, UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

Mentors: Bob Gallagher, Nick Gislason, Mark Griffin

Years in the wine industry: 10-15 years

Winemaking Philosophy:
My philosophy is the often heard expression that the best wine is made in the vineyard. I believe the winemaker's mission is to express the best aspects of each property with the most minimal intervention. Having the additional title of Vineyard Manager with an in-house crew truly allows us the opportunity to thoughtfully create the wines throughout the entire growing season.