Mike Saini, Co-Founder & Partner
Mike began his farming career when he was eight years old, working the family prune orchards and vineyards of the Dry Creek and Alexander valleys alongside his father, John Saini, and grandfather, Eugene “Si” Saini. By Junior High he was driving tractors and discing ground and after graduating High School he went to work full time for the family business while studying viticulture. A few years later Mike took over the day to day operations of the family farming business, Saini Farms, Inc.
After years of farming Mike set out to create a wine label that would showcase his favorite blocks and varieties while honoring the longstanding history and farming tradition of the Saini family. He partnered with longtime friend George Christie and his parents, John and Patti Saini, and in 2008 the partners released their first vintage.
Mike continues to run the farming operation for Saini Farms, Inc. and oversees the production of each and every Saini Vineyards wine.
George Christie, Co-Founder & Partner
George Christie was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Sonoma County in 1991 where he met his wife Tami, a lifelong resident of Healdsburg. Since that time, he has been involved in nearly every aspect of the wine industry, from vineyard operations and grower relations to distributor realignments and national marketing campaigns. Always an active member in the wine community, Christie has also held board positions with the Russian River Wine Road, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley and the Sonoma County Vintners.
He currently resides in Healdsburg with Tami and their two daughters, Olivia and Skyler Christie.
Laura Saini, General Manager
Born and raised in the Dry Creek Valley, Laura was surrounded by wine from an early age. The daughter of hard working parents, both of whom worked in the wine industry, Laura spent her childhood assisting her home-vintner father as he made and bottled wine in his garage.
Laura worked her first harvest at Hanna Winery when she was 18 years old. Shortly thereafter she went to work for Clos Du Bois Winery where she spent several years in production operations. In 2001, after working a harvest in Australia, Laura took on a new challenge with Seghesio Family Vineyards. She spent several years working with the Seghesio family in their vineyard and winery operations and there, as fate would have it, she and Mike first met.
Laura and Mike have two children, Angelo and Valentina, who will hopefully become the 5th generation to carry forth the 104 year old family farming tradition.
Julia Iantosca, Winemaker
Julia Iantosca has over 35 years of winemaking experience in small premium wineries. She enjoys working with many varieties and the challenges that each variety holds.
Most of her career has been spent in Sonoma County. Her affection for this region began during a student internship at Dry Creek Vineyards. Upon graduation from UC Davis with a BS in Fermentation Science, Julia joined Stevenot Vineyards in Calaveras County as Co-Winemaker with winery owner Bardon Stevenot. After two years at Stevenot Vineyards, Julia returned to Sonoma County as Winemaker for William Wheeler Winery in Healdsburg. During this time she also served as an officer in the Sonoma Wine Technical Group and as a member of the California Enological Research Association (CERA).
Lambert Bridge Winery offered new winemaking opportunities and the chance to work with Consulting Winemaker Merry Edwards. Merry inspired Julia’s love of the art of blending wines and her exacting pursuit of excellence.
Lasseter Family Winery in Glen Ellen offered a new challenge. For eleven years Julia help the Lasseter’s build a new winery, create a unique portfolio of wines, and develop several new vineyards.
Julia lives in Bennett Valley on a small Pinot Noir Vineyard with her husband Bob Iantosca (Winemaker Emeritus for Gloria Ferrer Caves). They have two daughters.
Kara Groom, Tasting Room Manager
Growing up immersed in the wine industry of Sonoma County has instilled Kara with a deep appreciation for wine. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Kara was encouraged (or as she says tricked!) by her winemaker father to travel to Australia to work a wine harvest. Kara never intended to follow a career in the wine industry but after one harvest she was hooked. Gaining knowledge through experience, Kara has now completed six harvests at wineries both at home and abroad. As a result, she has emerged as an intuitive winemaker and experienced wine educator, not to mention a kick ass Tasting Room Manager!
She currently resides in the Dry Creek Valley with her nine pet quails.
Jocelyn Buchowicz, Senior Wine Educator
A California native, moved to Sonoma County from the Bay Area with her family in 1998. Excited to explore her passion for wine, she started knocking on tasting room doors and took wine classes at Santa Rosa JC.
She has expanded her love and knowledge of wine by traveling to some of the best wine regions in the world and working in several tasting rooms in Sonoma County.
Jocelyn met both Mike and Laura Saini while working at Seghesio Winery. She joined the Saini team in 2020 and loves the family atmosphere.
