Schramsberg Vineyards

About Winery: For over 50 years, Schramsberg Vineyards has been committed to crafting extraordinary sparkling wines. Living and working on the Napa Valley Diamond Mountain property, the Davies family and Schramsberg team have focused on creating wines that reflect the passion and experience of the people behind each bottle. They set out to produce sparkling wine – specifically, “America’s most prestigious, select and admired sparkling wine; chosen for special guests, special gifts, pampering one’s self and expressing one’s taste in unique products.” Through the decades, this spirit of innovation earned Schramsberg and the Davies worldwide praise and recognition.

Aggie Connection: Hugh was born in 1965, the same year that his parents, Jack and Jamie Davies, purchased the abandoned Schramsberg property in the Mayacamas range above Calistoga. Hugh earned a master’s degree in Enology from the University of California, Davis in 1995 and honed his skills at Möet et Chandon in Epernay, Petaluma Winery in South Australia, and Mumm, Napa. This diverse background has provided Hugh with the knowledge and skills to take the reins of Schramsberg and guide it into the future.

Sean's interest  in agriculture led him to his first round at the University of California, Davis, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry in 1992, with “minors” in tractor maintenance and bus/truck driving. After working for Beringer Vineyards, he returned to the University of California, Davis in the fall of 2002, and earned his Masters of Science in Viticulture and Enology. Upon graduating, Sean worked at Staglin Family Estate in Rutherford, CA, before joining the Schramsberg winemaking team in the summer of 2006.

Jessica Koga’s first experience with Schramsberg Vineyards goes back to her working as the company’s lab intern in 2003. She soon joined the winemaking team full-time, as the enologist, following graduation from the University of California, Davis with a BS degree in Viticulture and Enology. Over the following three years, she was responsible for overseeing the winery’s lab trials, maintaining the company’s wine database and managing the records from each harvest.

While at U.C. Davis, Samantha took an introductory winemaking course, with encouragement from some friends in the Viticulture and Enology Department, where she had an “ah-ha” moment and quickly changed course. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree in 2013, Sam worked for Vineyard 29, Sugar Loaf Wines, Stagecoach Vineyards, Gisborne Vintners, and Rupert & Rothschild Vigneron. Sam joined Schramsberg in April 2018 as the Viticulturist and Grower Relations representative, where she oversees all farming activities on the three vineyard sites owned by Schramsberg.

Alum: Hugh Davies '95, President; Sean Thompson '92 & '02, Vice President of Winemaking; Jessica Koga '04, Wine Production; Samantha Rubanowitz '13, Viticulturist