Our Team

A TEAM DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS

Boisset Collection is comprised of savvy entrepreneurs and industry experts, bringing years of experience to the team. They cultivate our strong culture, and work tirelessly to help the program scale, grow, and succeed.

THE BOISSET TEAM

Jean-Charles Boisset

Jean-Charles Boisset serves as president of Boisset Family Estates, one of the world's leading family-owned wine companies, with wineries in Burgundy, Beaujolais, the Rhone Valley, the South of France, with expertise in French sparkling wines, as well as wineries, tasting rooms and other gastronomic destinations in Napa Valley and Sonoma.

Cassandra Melhuish

Cassandra serves as the Director of Boisset Collection’s innovative Ambassador program, a unique sales channel for our wineries which combines key elements of word-of-mouth marketing, network marketing and direct-to-consumer sales to build direct relationships between our winemakers and American wine drinkers. Boisset’s nationwide network of Boisset Ambassadors act as social media influencers and wine advisers in their social circles, organizing tastings and earning commissions for promoting our wines. Cassandra rose to her current leadership position from within the ranks, having been a successful Founding Independent Ambassador for over 10 years before coming aboard. She brings a firm set of leadership skills to Boisset from her background in corporate finance and business operations. Her project management experience, technology background and experience managing diverse business streams are also valuable assets, as is her extensive history in the world of philanthropy and fundraising.

 

Marnie Old

Sommelier and author Marnie Old is one of the country’s leading wine educators and serves as our director of vinlightenment, curating our wine portfolio, leading our wine trainings and designing our world-class Tasting Experiences. Prior to joining the Boisset family, Marnie revolutionized how wine is taught worldwide through her award-winning book Wine: A Tasting Course (DK 2014), an infographic primer that is now available in 17 languages. Formerly the director of wine studies for Manhattan’s legendary French Culinary Institute, she also served as the founding education chairperson for the American Sommelier Association and as a regular guest speaker at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, CO. In her remarkable career, Marnie has designed wine programs for restaurants like Morimoto in Manhattan and consulted for retailers, vintners, celebrities, government agencies and trade associations. In addition to her work for Boisset Collection, she also writes for newspapers and magazines and her wildly popular wine tutorials on YouTube's Wine Simplified channel have millions of views.
More About Marnie Old Marnie's Latest Book

Ellen Springwater

Ellen Springwater is the Ambassador Program's Head of Operations & Customer Success Manager. If Ellen looks familiar it’s because she has been with Boisset Family Estates for over twelve years as their Retail Operations Manager, overseeing some of the company tasting rooms! 

COLTON HANEY

Colton Haney joins the Ambassador Program as a strategist and program architect. From creating new resources and hosting trainings, to performing data analysis, he is excited to be part of pushing the Ambassador Program to new heights! Prior to Boisset, Colton worked for another wine company based out of Sonoma County – there, he both managed the company’s wine tasting program and personally executing over 500 wine tasting experience. Colton has achieved his WSET II Award with Distinction, as well as his Intro Somm Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Prior to entering the wine world, Colton earned his degree in Business & Hotel Administration from Cornell University – it was there that much of his love for wine started! After graduation, Colton also earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University, with an emphasis in business and transactions law.

Bruce Curtis

Bruce is into his 8th year working for the Boisset Collection as their Ambassador Program Marketing & Ecommerce Lead. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications & Advertising from the University of Wisconsin, Steven's Point and over 20 years marketing experience, including the last 13+ in the wine industry, Bruce has worked for some large wineries in Napa Valley managing direct-to-consumer wine sales through many direct-to consumer marketing platforms. Since achieving his Court of Master Sommelier certification in 2013 and becoming WSET level 2 Wines & Spirits certified in 2019, Bruce has been passionate about his continued learning about all things wine from vineyard to bottle. In his spare time, Bruce spends quality time with his wife and two daughters at his home in Santa Rosa; his hobbies include collecting wine, running, swimming, hiking and playing bass guitar in his Sonoma-based rock band, The Henry Coopers.

Megan Byle

Megan was born and raised in Napa and she loves living and working in Napa Valley. She joins Boisset with extensive experience working in the wine industry and running events. The guest experience is her top priority and she takes pride in providing solutions in a timely and courteous manner. When she is not helping guests, Megan likes to garden, read, camp and bake. She loves animals, rounding out her household with a dog, cat, fish, and chickens. She looks forward and is excited working with the Ambassador Team and meeting our Ambassadors in the near future!

Cristy Jack

Cristy Jack works as our Boisset Customer Care Specialist. Cristy has a varied background, working as a volunteer firefighter for three years, and in the food and beverage industry for over 23 years. Cristy also works closely with our Custom Label and Corporate Concierge customers, as well as helping with phone calls and e-mails in Customer Care. When she’s not working Cristy loves to take her dog Marley for walks around downtown Napa, where she lives. She enjoys cooking, gardening, working out, and drinking fine wine with friends. 

THE BOISSET WINE MAKING TEAM

Stephanie Putnam

  • Vice President of Winemaking, Napa
  • Alum of Far Niente Winery and Hess Collection
  • Known in particular for her exceptional Cabernet Sauvignons and blends
  • Wines awarded: Wine Spectator's Top 100, Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 and many more accolades

Laurent Sauvage

  • Winemaker, Fortant
  • Travels to wine regions across the world to meet with winemakers and exchange techniques
  • A specialist in the delicate balance needed for France’s finest dry rosé wines
  • “My father told me that sharing wine with people is always something special, it often brings happiness and joie de vivre.”

Brian Maloney

  • Vice President of Winemaking, Sonoma
  • 4th generation Sonoma Napa Valley winemaker, with family history that dates back over 100 years!
  • Renowned for his winemaking talents and natural way with the land
  • Always exploring, Brian is also making natural wines fermented and aged in amphorae

Lucie Depuydt

  • Winemaker, J. Moreau & Fils
  • Chablis native and life-long champion of the region and its wines
  • Master’s degree specializing in vines and terroir
  • Lucie is a thought leader in the region making soulful white wines

Thane Knutson

  • Winemaker for Raymond Vineyards, Lockwood and 1881
  • Mastered his craft at famed Napa Valley institutions including Cakebread Cellars, Hess Collection, and Raymond Vineyards
  • A sensible and compassionate midwesterner, Thane has embraced Napa Valley
  • His AVA series coaxes out the nuanced distinctions between Napa’s subdistricts

Katie Carter

  • Winemaker, Wattle Creek
  • One of the wine industry’s most up-and-coming young winemakers
  • Her positive energy is reflected in the world-class, award winning wines she produces
  • With the Wattle Creek line, Katie channels the playful, fun-loving side of wine

Marcel Combes

  • Director of Sparkling Wines, Louis Bouillot
  • Started making wine 46 years ago at the age of 16
  • Burgundy’s leading sparkling winemaker, in a region better known for still wine
  • An aficionado and an expert, who makes mastering effervescence look easy

Heidi Peterson Barrett

Legendary Napa Valley winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett works with Elizabeth Spencer Winery as Consulting Winemaker, beginning with the 2022 vintage. Barrett has made many of the Napa Valley’s most sought-after and cult classic wines, such as Screaming Eagle and Dalla Valle Maya. While she is best known for her perfectly balanced, elegant, and age-worthy Cabs, she has gained an international following for her winemaking skill and artistry across many different varietals and has established herself as a true artist who excels in shaping her wines into something extraordinary.

Sarah Vandendriessche

Winemaker Sarah Vandendriessche joined Elizabeth Spencer in 2010 as Winemaker. While her career began in restaurant roles, her viticulture roots were planted in college where she studied biology and anthropology before embracing a career in wine. Now she is one of Napa Valley's most esteemed female winemakers working with renowned vineyards in the most prestigious appellations of Northern California. Balanced, elegant, and approachable, her wines are quite enchanting.

Sylvain Jean

  • Winemaker, Louis Bernard
  • Born in Champagne, mastered his craft by making wine across the globe, then settled in the Rhône
  • Passionate about creating wines that respect the land that they come from
  • Our guru of Grenache, Sylvain is determined to showcase the Rhône’s leading grape