TEAM
Joining us for the 2024 vintage, Aaron Pott brings more than 30 years of winemaking experience to Pestoni Family Estate Winery. A graduate of UC, Davis Dept of Viticulture and Enology, Pott began his winemaking career at Newton Vineyard in 1990. He moved to France to be the winemaker for Château Troplong-Mondot, and then spent five years as the director at Château La Tour Figeac while earning a degree in Viticulture from the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, France. Upon returning to the U.S., Pott was appointed head winemaker for Beringer Wine Estates’ international brands, followed by a dual role as winemaker/general manager for Quintessa Estate. He was recognized as Food & Wine magazine’s ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2012. Today, Pott consults with a limited number of boutique Napa Valley producers, in addition to making wine for his own label, Pott Wine.
Jeremiah Moore is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and began his winemaking career at Sterling Vineyards in 2004. During his thirteen-year tenure with Sterling Vineyards, Moore worked his way up to the position of laboratory manager, supervising the winery’s compliance, Napa Green certification, blending trials, bottling and annual harvest internship program. In 2017, Moore jumped into the cellar as the enologist at Blackbird Vineyards. There, he met and worked alongside Pott, who appointed him the winemaker for Blackbird’s custom crush clients and eventually winemaker of Blackbird Vineyards in 2022.
As part of the 4th generation of Pestoni’s, Greg developed deep roots within the Napa Valley community yet unlike his father and siblings, he didn’t immediately join the family business. Instead, Greg spent twenty-seven years making his mark in television and film. His early exposure to the world of film, fostered by his close relationship with the Coppola family, led Greg to attend NYU Film School. He went on to work as an editor, then screenwriter, and on the production teams for numerous films, including Coppola’s Godfather III and Dracula, as well as studio projects with James Caan, Mike Judge, Johnny Knoxville, and Spike Jonze, to name a few.
In 2014, Greg returned to Napa to support his family’s winery. Leaning on his skills honed in story telling, he turned his focus on his family’s 125 years of Napa Valley winemaking and oversaw the rebranding of Rutherford Grove Winery to the eponymous, Pestoni Family Estate Winery. As our General Manager he effectively orchestrates all operations. On any given day, you might find Greg sanding picnic tables, working on the sorting or bottling line, hosting a wine dinner, or simply engaging with guests enjoying our grounds and our family wines.
Our Estate Director, Peter Huls, is a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers and brings nearly 20 years of experience in winery sales and hospitality to Pestoni Family Estate Winery. Following graduation from Sacramento State with a degree in Hospitality Management, Pete went on to work in consumer-facing, hospitality management roles with reputed Napa Valley wineries, developing outreach plans and partnerships as well as cultivating lasting relationships with all in his path. Pete shares our belief that wine is for everyone and experiencing the Napa Valley should be as well.
Manuel wears multiple hats at Pestoni Family Estate Winery. Beyond excelling in his role as our Cellar Master, he’s also a skilled mason, and it’s his craftsmanship you see in the rock walls, planters, and entrance that welcome you to the winery. With nearly 15 years on our team, Manuel is truly indispensable. His history with our estate actually predates his time with us, as he worked alongside renowned vineyard manager David Abreu to plant our winery estate vineyard.
Outside the winery, Manuel cherishes time with his wife, their two children, and two grandchildren. He’s also an avid fan of Mexican fútbol, and channels his masonry skills into crafting and selling wine barrel planters.
As a member of the Pestoni family, Nic brings both a personal connection and genuine pride to sharing the story of the estate with guests. As part of the hospitality team, he hosts wine tastings and crafts welcoming experiences that highlight the history of the family winery. Nic lends a hand in the cellar during harvest and supports our winery team as needed year-round.
Before joining the winery, Nic earned a degree in Nutrition as a Registered Dietetic Technician and worked as a trainer and lead nutrition consultant in Arizona. He later owned and operated West Wine Tours, a curated wine tour company running a fleet of restored vintage Volkswagen buses through Napa and Sonoma Valley. Outside the winery, Nic enjoys hosting dinner parties and serves as head coach of the Calistoga High School boys basketball team.
Gio has been with Pestoni Family Winery for close to a decade, welcoming and hosting guests, hand-packing club shipments, and ensuring winery visitors receive the best possible experience. Born and raised in Napa, Gio grew up around many of the families that make up our beloved wine community, and was naturally drawn to working in the industry. Her deep local roots and genuine love for the valley shine through in every interaction, making her a natural ambassador for Pestoni.
When she’s not hosting guests, Gio enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her friends, family, and her four pets—two cats and two dogs.
