About the panel

Randy Herron

Head Winemaker at C. Mondavi & Family

Randy Herron has travelled the world, exploring winemaking style and technique while visiting growing regions around the globe. He’s focused on structure and intensity, crafting wines that showcase the best characters of the vineyards and the grape varietals. He joined C. Mondavi & Family as head winemaker for CK Mondavi and Family wines in September 2018, bringing with him 22 years of winemaking expertise, with extensive experience working directly with growers, managing winemaking teams, and overseeing everything from harvest to bottling. He is also head winemaker for the family’s Flat Top Hills portfolio.

Jake Pauli

Assistant Winemaker for Yokayo Wine Company

Jake is a Mendocino native that was raised on his family’s grape and pear farm. After graduating with a degree in Vineyard & Winery Technology from Napa Valley College he spent a harvest at Chappellet Winery. Since then, he has been working at his family-owned custom crush winery, Yokayo Wine Company, in Ukiah, CA. Jake has been fortunate enough to train under Yokayo’s General Manager and Director of Winemaking, David Rosenthal and Yokayo CEO Bill Pauli for nearly a decade. During that time Jake has not only expanded his winemaking knowledge but also gained a deep understanding of the bulk wine market. Dealing with a vast array of clients and winemaking styles has been a dream come true. Jake also started a personal wine Label, JEP Wines, in 2019 with his wife Mikaila.

K. Christopher (“KC”) Branch

Attorney, International Wine Law K. Christopher (“KC”) Branch practices wine law from his offices in San Luis Obispo and Napa Valley, representing wineries of every shape and size, including wineries in California, other wine states, and other countries. Currently, he represents wineries from England, Italy, France, Georgia (the Country), and Argentina. Over his multiple decades of representing wineries, he has advised his clients on multiple transactions, including the purchase and sale of grapes, bulk wine, bottled wine, trademarks, brands, vineyards, and entire wineries. He actively teaches American Wine Law at regional wine forums, American Bar Association events, local colleges & major wine universities in the US and Europe.

Bryan Avila

Co-Founder, CEO and teacher, Vintners Institute

Bryan Avila is a formally trained enologist, seasoned commercial winemaker, ACUE Credentialed Educator and Co-Founder of the Vintners Institute. The Vintners Institute brings wine industry producers and allies together, online and in-person, to Innovate with nature, Educate the workforce, and Inspire good leaders. A freelance writer for Wine Business Monthly’s Trials section, Bryan covers advancements in viticulture and enology at the university level and the applied research trials that viticulturists and winemakers use to implement them. This helps the industry grow better grapes, make better wine, and maintain resiliency as our industry is called to improvise, adapt and overcome the challenges of climate change.