Our People

"Every detail is important. If we overlook even one simple element we risk all the hard work we have put into the wine for the past months, even years."

After more than a decade working on the winemaking team under Domaine Carneros founding winemaker Eileen Crane, Zak stepped into the role of sparkling winemaker in 2020. Before discovering his passion for winemaking, Zak spent years working as a forestry scientist, but following his first harvest at fellow Carneros winery Saintsbury Vineyards, he was hooked. Zak went on to work harvests abroad in New Zealand and Chile, returning home to join the team at Domaine Carneros in 2008. At the time, he was focused on still winemaking and mastering Pinot Noir, but under Crane’s guidance, Zak developed a deep fascination and appreciation for sparkling and never looked back.

“The dirt is the arbiter of quality, but the clone is going to express the personality of the wine. It’s all about getting a diversity of foundational flavors that you can play with to make the wines. I think it’s a critical element.”

TJ joined the winemaking team at Domaine Carneros in 2008 to oversee the winery’s still winemaking program, which is focused on Pinot Noir. Prior to joining Domaine Carneros, TJ earned his master’s in enology at UC Davis and spent a decade cutting his teeth at top estates all over the world, from France to New Zealand to Chile. In California, TJ worked internships at Napa Valley icons Robert Mondavi and Far Niente, but it was in Sonoma that he refined his passion for Pinot Noir, working as a winemaker at La Crema in Russian River Valley and Alderbrook Winery in Dry Creek Valley. He’s now spent more than 10 years crafting quality Pinot Noir at Domaine Carneros from Napa’s cool-climate Carneros region.

“When I met with Eileen Crane to learn more about her retirement and the search for her successor as CEO, I knew the position was the perfect fit for me. My career began in Carneros and I have always loved the people, the wines, and the beauty of the region.”

In 2020, Remi Cohen joined the Domaine Carneros family as CEO, taking over from illustrious founding winemaker and former CEO Eileen Crane and continuing the winery’s tradition of visionary female leadership. Remi has 20 years of wine industry experience and began her career on the winemaking and viticulture side before pursuing her MBA in finance to complement her master’s in viticulture from UC Davis. Remi spent the first 10 years of her career working in the Carneros AVA, with stints at Saintsbury, Bouchaine, Merryvale and Starmont, culminating with her role as Vice President of Merryvale. Remi was most recently at Cliff Lede Vineyards, where she was promoted from Director of Winemaking and Vineyards to VP of Operations to COO. After ten years with Cliff Lede, Remi’s passion for Carneros has brought her full circle to Domaine Carneros, where she is especially focused on furthering the winery’s fastidious commitment to sustainability.

After an exhaustive search in 1987, the Taittinger family selected Eileen Crane as Domaine Carneros’ founding winemaker. While directing the first vintage, she was also tasked with overseeing the planning and construction of the winery.

Eileen is not only one of the industry’s pioneering women, but also the most experienced American Sparkling winemaker with over 40 years to her credit and is widely regarded as the doyenne of Sparkling wine in America. Her pursuit of excellence in viticulture, winemaking and hospitality has made Domaine Carneros an iconic American winery. After an incredibly successful career spanning 42 years, Eileen Crane stepped down from her role as CEO at the end of summer 2020. She continues to lend her expertise to the winemaking team in an advisory role.