Jon Priest

The Climb

Training at Wine Cask Company gave Priest an entry point into the daily mechanics of winemaking, before he moved into his first production roles. A decade at Wild Horse Winery (1989–1999) followed, a stretch that established the habits of repetition, timing, and precision that define a working winemaker’s craft. Later roles at Adelaida Cellars and then Taz added to that foundation, each post deepening a career built on close attention to what grapes can become when handled with restraint. Those years led to Etude Wines, where Priest has served as Senior Winemaker & General Manager since 2005.

Today

At Etude Wines, Priest’s focus remains on Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, two categories that ask for control rather than excess. The value of that work sits as much in the vineyard as in the winery, and Priest has said so directly: "I like people to really take home a sense that we spend a lot of time in the vineyard, crafting and growing grapes so that when we bring those grapes into a winery the techniques we use gently bring out the best in them." The point is plain: the finished wine is the result of patient farming, then gentle handling in the cellar.

In Their Words “I like people to really take home a sense that we spend a lot of time in the vineyard, crafting and growing grapes so that when we bring those grapes into a winery the techniques we use gently bring out the best in them.”

Recognition

Priest’s recognition sits in sustained specialization rather than a single award. Pinot Noir and sparkling wine are both demanding categories, and his long tenure at Etude Wines in Napa since 2005 gives that specialization weight. The combination of longevity, technical focus, and responsibility for both winemaking and general management is what defines his standing in the trade.