Our People

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.

"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.

“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.

In January 2024, Allison Wilson joined Domaine Carneros as Director of Vineyard Operations, overseeing six estate vineyards across more than 400 acres in the renowned Carneros AVA. Bringing over a decade of expertise in vineyard management, including nine years at Cliff Lede Vineyards where she rose to Director of Vineyard Operations, Wilson is poised to lead a skilled team in advancing Domaine Carneros’ sustainable viticulture practices. Her deep commitment to sustainability is supported by her involvement with organizations such as the Napa County Farm Bureau and the American Vineyard Foundation. A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Wilson’s passion for viticulture was sparked during childhood visits to family vineyards, and she is excited to elevate the winery’s sparkling wine and pinot noir programs alongside the esteemed winemaking team.

In 2024, Michaella Goldner joined Domaine Carneros as Associate Winemaker, bringing fifteen years of experience crafting world-renowned wines that reflect a deep sense of place. Working closely with the DC team, she focuses on creating méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines and Pinot Noir that express the unique terroir of the Carneros region. Prior to joining Domaine Carneros, Goldner served as Associate Winemaker at Seghesio Family Vineyards for seven years. A UC Santa Barbara graduate in Aquatic Biology and UC Davis Winemaking Certificate holder, she has honed her craft through harvests across California, New Zealand, and beyond.

Gita Mallya joined Domaine Carneros in 2023 as Viticulturist and Sustainability Lead, overseeing viticultural analysis and planning, sustainable farming practices, and sustainability certifications across 400 acres of estate vineyards in the Carneros AVA. Mallya holds a Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis, where her academic excellence earned her recognition from Wine Spectator and the American Society for Enology and Viticulture, among other prestigious scholarships. An active contributor to the wine community, she co-founded Women in Wine at UC Davis and remains engaged through several regional vineyard and wine technical groups.