Kenny Likitprakong
Hobo
Santa Rosa, CA

Kenny Likitprakong

My inspiration:
I find inspiration in many ways. As a winemaker, artistically and creatively by traveling, reading, communing with friends and people along my journey, always drinking wines and learning about how they were made and the people that made them, being in vineyards and hearing their stories and histories, and FOOD, of course.

As the owner of a business, a lot of inspiration honestly comes from stress, the stress to keep things moving forward, to pay bills, to produce and create without harming and hurting, to provide the means for our employees to succeed and not feel stressed.

Wines we produce:
Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Aglianico, Cinsault, Carignan, Valdiguié, Grenache, Charbono, assorted blends.

Philosophy and focus:
Everything starts in the vineyard. The vineyard depends on the health of the environment and the planet. We consider this when making all decisions.

All of the vineyards that we farm are certified organic by CCOF. Our winery is also certified by CCOF.

We make wines that we want to drink.

Favorite pursuits:
I think I am always pursuing more balance, which for me includes time with family and the people that I love, time spent doing things that I enjoy, surfing, mountain biking, running, and reading, and of course time at work growing grapes and making wine.

David Huang
David Clinton
Napa, CA

David Huang & Clint Holdsworth

My inspiration:
I have a lifelong love for food and wine, instilled by my parents' curiosity for cuisines and flavors from many cultures, and through my world travels.

After 24 years as an Air Force physician, I settled in the Napa Valley to explore my passion for wine more fully, utilizing my extensive background in chemistry and biology. I completed over 30 units in the enology and viticulture program at Napa Valley College, then became managing partner of Double Barrel Winery, an award-winning home winery collective.

With my business partner, Clinton Holdsworth, I decided to move to the next level and launched David Clinton Wine Cellars in 2010.

Wines we produce:
Single vineyard Zinfandels and a Port-style Zinfandel dessert wine

Philosophy and focus:
We founded David Clinton Wine Cellars in the belief that life is about meaningful relationships, especially with family and friends. The greatest thing about wine is that it brings people together. Our wines are made by two friends, for friends, to share with friends.

Favorite pursuits:
I love coming into San Francisco for great Asian food and to watch my favorite sports team the Golden State Warriors.

George Zhang
ShunYi Cellars
Sebastopol, CA

George Zhan

My inspiration:
I had a ten-year banking career before I started ShunYi Cellars. I was introduced to fine wines when I was just getting started on my first banking job. I was immediately fascinated by the variety and complexity of wines from different parts of the world. As a result, I dedicated much of my free time to learning everything I could about wine. In 2019, I founded ShunYi Cellars to create unique brands and terroir-driven wines that focus on serving Asian communities around the globe.

Wines we produce:
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon

Philosophy and focus:
All the vineyards Shuni sources fruits from are sustainably farmed, but making great wines takes more than just being in harmony with the environment. Together with our winemaker Byron Kosuge, I look for our wines to bring people together and serve as a bridge between different experiences, cultures, and values.

Favorite pursuits:
I'm a die-hard soccer fan. I try not to miss watching any Real Madrid games.

Lise Asimont
Dot Wines
Healdsburg, CA

Shawn Phillips & Lise Asimont

My inspiration:
My mother Delicia emigrated from the Philippines to Southern California, where both my parents were practicing physicians. But my true roots are in Hawaii, where being Hapa is celebrated.

Attending UC Davis brought me back to California and opened my eyes to the wonders of wine. For the past two decades, I have been a winemaking viticulturist for several large wine companies in California, Oregon, Washington, Europe, and Peru. But I wanted a chance to focus and make wines that reflected the exceptional soils and mesoclimates of the Russian River Valley, so in 2016 I launched Dot Wines with my husband, Shawn Phillips.

Wines we produce:
Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Sparkling Wines

Philosophy and focus:
I strive to make wines that represent the vineyard and focus on minimal intervention in my winemaking techniques.

Favorite pursuits:
This wine company is my hobby! I love finding exceptional vineyards, working with winegrowers all year long on growing the highest quality wine possible, and making these wines to highlight these exceptional sites. I still have a full time job at a large wine company, but Dot is our family business, and we're so proud of every wine we make with our own hands.

Korbin Ming
Korbin Kameron
Glen Ellen, CA

Korbin Ming & family

My inspiration:
While majoring in hospitality at Boston University, I took wine appreciation classes and began working summers at my family's vineyard that we founded in 2000 on the ridge of Mt. Veeder. Later, I obtained my Master's Degree in Viticulture & Enology at UC-Davis, then worked at wineries in Bordeaux, the Sierra Foothills, and Napa Valley. I ultimately rejoined Korbin Kameron and now head our family operations.

Wines we produce:
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc

Philosophy and focus:
We craft wines representative of our vineyard's high elevation site. The best way to do this and highlight our terroir is through holistic farming. Treating the entire vineyard as a closed loop ecosystem we are certified organic—and encouraging life is the key to farming high quality grapes.

Favorite pursuits:
Just being out in nature with my pup. It's such a great way to recharge, whether it is hiking or swimming in the ocean, summers at my family's vineyard on the ridge of Mt. Veeder that we founded in 2000.