Nova Cadamatre

Winemaker, The Debate, Fiadh Ruadh

Over the course of almost two decades, Nova Cadamatre has become one of the most versatile and experienced winemakers in the industry. She holds a Bachelors from Cornell University in Viticulture. In 2017 she achieved the title of Master of Wine and was the first female winemaker in the US to do so. She has worked with some of the best vineyards in the world including significant time in the iconic To Kalon vineyard while working as the Senior Director of Winemaking for Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville, CA. While there she crafted the #6 wine of 2022 for Wine Spectator’s top 100 list. She has been named to Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40 under 40 list and has numerous 90+ scoring wines to her credit from both coasts
Cadamatre owns three brands of her own; Trestle Thirty One and Snowshell Vineyards from the Finger Lakes and Fiadh Ruadh (Fay-ah Roo-ah) in Napa, CA. She currently goes back and forth between Napa and the Finger Lakes to manage both her projects and several consulting clients as a true “flying winemaker”.

Country born: US

Education: BS in Viticulture - Cornell University - 2006
Master of Wine - 2017
WSET Diploma - 2010
WSET Advanced - 2007
UC Davis, Graduate School of Management - Wine Executive Program - 2016
Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning - Emerging Executives Program 2019

Mentors:
Ed Killian, Director of Winemaking, Asti Winery,
Scott McLeod, Winemaking Consultant
Margo Van Staavern, Director of Winemaking, Chateau St Jean

Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years

Honors / Awards:
Northern California Public Media Food and Wine Awards - Wine World Game Changer - 2023
#6 Wine of the Year - Wine Spectator, 2022
Wine Enthusiast 40 under 40 - 2014

Winemaking Philosophy:
I always try to make the best wine possible. I want the vineyard to show me what it wants to be and then I work hard to try to craft the highest possible translation of that in to the wine.

Jean  Hoefliger

Winemaker, The Debate, Fiadh Ruadh

Jean Hoefliger’s initial experience took him from Switzerland to Bordeaux and South Africa, making wine at the esteemed estates of Chateau Lynch-Bages, Chateau Carbonnieux and Meerlust. After completing a winemaking and viticulture degree at the Swiss federal school of Changins, Jean came to California where he spent the first five years in Napa Valley as Winemaker for Newton Vineyard. He then continued on to the famed Alpha Omega Winery along with Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo, California and Perinet Winery in Spain. In addition, to other projects across the globe Jean consults for THE DEBATE. Jean’s winemaking style is characterized by long, natural barrel fermentation, he also often leaves red wines on skins for an extended amount of time to create wines that are delicious, intriguing and complex. Jean brings the true character of the vine and the terroir into the wine by making naturally fermented, unfined and unfiltered wines that show elegance, finesse and the capacity to age. Jean’s esteem has grown as his wines continue to garner high scores and critical acclaim while his generosity of spirit, passion and down to earth attitude shine above it all.

Country born: Switzerland

Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years