Heather Pyle

Winemaker

Heather Pyle (Winemaker) Heather Pyle is a pioneer winemaker. Pyle has always been unique. Born in 1960 in Scotland to British and Australian parents, and they moved to California when she was 8. Pyle wanted to be a veterinarian, so she went to University of California, Davis, and spent the next six years there. Pyle said, as a 22-year-old student, she had an epiphany and realized that winemaking, not caring for animals, was the career that offered the proper lifestyle and a perfect blend of science and art.

In 1985, she left in the middle of graduate school to work on a harvest at the Robert Mondavi winery in Oakville and never looked back, getting her education at Mondavi as the company pursued excellence. In 1988, Pyle was put in charge of the pinot noir program, and from 1990 to 1996, she was in charge of the cabernet and merlot programs, including the Mondavi reserve wines. Then in 1996, she oversaw Mondavi’s La Famiglia program of producing Italian varietal wines in California.

But in 2001, she got the itch to move on and left Mondavi to be a consulting winemaker at start-up wineries in the Lodi Appellation, Napa Valley and throughout the rest of the state.

Pyle said she took her 17 wonderful years of experience at Mondavi and puts it to use helping other wineries.

If you have ever had the pleasure of tasting an early Opus One vintage or the 1994 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, you quickly understand the foundation that Pyle builds into her wines. The incredible flavor, balance, finesse and finish are always evident.

Pyle writes in her tasting notes. “My vision is to create a wine that elevates the dining experience in some tangible, but also intangible ways. ... This is not a trophy, not just a beverage, but rather a strong contributor to a perfect meal.”

Carrie Mettler

Assistant Winemaker / vMv Co-Owner

Bio coming soon!