2024 Sommeliers and panelists

Dan Kosta has over 20 years of experience in the Sonoma County wine industry, specifically as THE leading producer of ultra-premium California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

A native son of Sonoma wine country, Dan’s lifelong love of food and wine led him to a career in the restaurant industry, utilizing skills learned as a child to navigate through a series of world class restaurants as a back waiter, waiter, bartender, maître d’, operations manager and finally as wine director at the acclaimed John Ash & Company in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. It was there that Dan and his business partner Michael Browne founded Kosta Browne Winery in 1997. As a founder of Kosta Browne, he oversaw an unprecedented marketing program that included never before seen growth in Direct-to-Consumer sales, as well as managing a nation-wide distribution network.

Dan’s accomplishments and contributions to the American wine industry are numerous. From industry volunteerism to children’s advocacy philanthropy, Dan continues to leverage his network for giving back to community through Convene. Some of Dan’s past and ongoing accomplishments:

• Chairman, 2016 Sonoma County Wine Auction
• Board member, Sonoma County Vintners Association
• Board member, Emeril Lagasse Foundation • Board member, Sonoma County Harvest Fair
• Trustee, Destin Charity Wine Auction • Board member, Family Winemakers of California
• Panelist, multiple industry trade shows and symposiums
• Wine judge, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, San Francisco Chronicle Citrus Fair, San Francisco Wine Competition, among many others.

David’s interest in the fermentation process began at an early age. A friendship forged on a seventh-grade school bus resulted in some early experimentation with apple juice, yeast culture and plenty of boyhood anticipation. That initial interest soon waned, but would resurface many years later with a much more refined product. In the early 1970’s, David transitioned from University life to the world of food and wine opening his first restaurant in Boulder, CO. This experience cemented his passion for great food, fine wine (and hard work!) The art of hospitality and the cultivation of great friendships has never been lost on David. If there is any reason to celebrate; life, love, family, friends, a beautiful day, David is there with open arms, a mischievous smile and lots of delicious food, tasty libations and plenty of fun! David was lured to the Napa Valley by his adventurous spirit and the opportunity to do something special. One fateful evening in the winter of 1976, David’s father, Don Long, disclosed that during the 1950’s and 60’s he had purchased nearly 1,000 acres of land in the eastern hillsides of Rutherford. The Judgement of Paris had been published in Time magazine and conversations with Andre Tchelistcheff, the Dean of American Winemaking, ensued. The Europeans had been growing wine in the hills for centuries and the concept of terroir was on the American horizon. David wasted no time clearing the land, removing rock and planting his vineyard on Pritchard Hill. He began learning about viticulture and oenology through internships at Chappellet, Joseph Phelps and Schramsberg all the while taking classes at UC Davis. Hard work was the name of the game and David had endless energy to get the job done. The result: electricity, water, a barn, a house, a road and nineteen acres of pristine grapevines producing the extraordinary fruit that goes into each bottle of highly acclaimed David Arthur Vineyards wine. David’s energy is contagious. The glass is always half-full (or entirely full in many cases) and his vision and work-ethic are at the heart of our company. It’s about family and friends and being thankful for our blessings. One of David’s many insightful quotes is: ‘We make wine every day…the magic happens when we enjoy it together!’

Christine Mercnik
Grace Under Pressure
Founder & Owner

Christine Mercnik is an internationally trained hospitality professional with a love for food and wine service and a true passion for collaboration.

Throughout her career Christine has aspired to bring the ‘finer things’ in life to guests and share her knowledge and experience in both culinary and vinicultural worlds.

Attending the University of Guelph in Ontario, Christine learned critical thinking and operations skills on a path to a degree in Hotel & Food Administration. Upon graduation, Christine began her journey into the F&B world at Walt Disney World in Food and Beverage management.

Pivoting to a more wine centric role on the opening leadership team at The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando as Wine Director/Sommelier she continued her pursuit of wine studies and sommelier certification including involvement in the Advanced Sommelier Candidate Program with the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Stints at White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa, nearly four years in management with the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group and Silverado Resort and Spa helped hone her high-touch, customer focused, experiential skill set while fine-tuning her operational and financial acumen. Throughout her career she has mentored hundreds of guest service staff and managed multi-million-dollar budgets.

After over 7 years in sales distribution, In 2020, Christine took a leap of faith to start Grace Under Pressure, only importing Special Club Champagne producers to US markets, which is currently in 15 states nationwide. Grace Under Pressure is exclusive US importer for eight of the now 24 Special Club winegrowers, all new to the US.

“Grace Under Pressure…is a sensory journey to the heart of the terroir of Champagne. Offering customers the best of Champagne, by working in close collaboration with passionate and talented winegrowers to select the best grapes and produce Club Trésors Champagne. This proximity and close relationships with her winegrower partners allows top-of-the-line bottles of exceptional quality” says Christine.

STEPHANIE POPE

Winemaker Lions Head Collection

Stephanie Pope is an integral part of the Lions Head Collection winemaking team. She works with our signature varietals from the Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast—Cabernet Sauvignon, high-elevation Malbec, and Chardonnay. Her goal is to coax the powerful and bold flavor profiles from these varietals and craft wines that challenge the norms of modern winemaking. Stephanie began her winemaking career at Trefethen Vineyards & Winery, another iconic Napa producer, before moving to New Zealand to work in the cellar at Whitehaven Wine Company, where she fell in love not only with Sauvignon Blanc, but with her future husband. Upon returning to Napa, she joined Charles Krug Winery, first working in the winery lab and later serving as Assistant Winemaker. In 2008, she joined The Hess Collection as a winemaker, and has since taken over the leadership of the Lions Head Collection wines. Stephanie is known for her skill at the blending table, and she actively investigates and leverages new technologies in the cellar, all with the desire to reach new boundaries in flavor profiles. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Viticulture & Enology at the University of California at Davis, and now resides in Napa Valley with her New Zealand-native winemaker husband and young daughter. She is fluent in Italian and is an avid photographer.

Mike Sullivan was born in Sonoma County and grew up in the Russian River area. As a teenager Mike started working in his family’s vineyard and from a very early age understood and the challenges and rewards of winegrowing.

After graduating from Fresno State University with a degree in Fermentation Science, Mike held winemaking positions with Landmark Vineyards, Chappellet Winery, La Crema Winery and Hartford Family Winery. During his tenure at Hartford, Ronn Wiegand, MS and MW, called Mike “Winemaker of the Year,” and Robert Parker named him the “Wine Personality of the Year.” Robert Parker has said of Mike, “I’m a big fan…he seems to have the brilliant ability to convert Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel into wines of considerable character and individuality.”

As a winemaker, Mike listens. He listens to the vineyards; he listens to what the grapes are saying; he listens to nature unfolding each year, and he listens to the wine during fermentation. He listens to what is needed and strives to make the wine his senses tell him is there. He does not follow a standard recipe for each wine, but instead really listens – and most importantly, understands – what is needed to bring everything together.

“No wine reflects its place and time more than Pinot Noir,” says Mike. “At Benovia I have only one job: to create wines that capture the essence of this place and this time.”

Mike lives in the Russian River Valley with his two sons; Colin and Ryan.