The Family
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Alice and David Alkosser
Alice first ventured into the Napa Valley while studying Food Chemistry at UC Davis. She developed an interest in wine and included viticulture and enology as part of her studies. After completing her degree, Alice pursued her career in research and development and worked in that field for several well known national brands.
David studied engineering at Cal Poly and started his working career as an industrial engineer. He always had an entrepreneurial eye and aimed to own his own business one day.
After getting married they realized the potential of real estate ownership, investment, and management. Pooling their resources, they founded their own company and worked together, starting a business that David would later grow into a successful enterprise spanning several states.
Both Alice and David have long possessed a love affair with land. After a series of acquisitions and redevelopment projects in the hills of Coombsville, they decided to create an estate where all of their dreams could be realized. In order to fulfill their vinous passion with their pledge to excellence, the Alkossers set the quality bar high with Shadybook Estate and assembled a talented team with more than 150 years of combined experience in vineyards and the wine industry. Since their first vintage release in 2010, Shadybrook Estate wines have risen to the top in local, national and international wine tasting contests.
Justin Preiser
Justin transplanted his roots to Napa in 2006, where he co-founded a concierge magazine focused on discovering and highlighting the best wineries and restaurants in Napa and Sonoma Wine Country. Immersed in the world of wine and gastronomy, Justin’s journey sparked a profound passion for both. After years of working in the wine industry in multiple capacities, he developed, with his family and close family friends, their own boutique wine label, where after several years of working and studying with a fantastic team, he became the winemaker in addition to growing their clientele through his role as Director of Operations for their tasting room in Downtown Napa.
He is now excited to bring his experience to Shadybrook Estate, to collaborate with our amazing team, and continue to build upon the tradition of excellence in hospitality, winemaking, and stewardship of the land that makes this boutique, family owned property in the highly sought after Coombsville AVA so special.
Isabel Hernandez
Born and raised in Napa Valley, Isabel’s interest in wine & food began early on. Now, with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Isabel has established herself as an individual with a keen eye for detail and a passion for creativity.
Driven by her desire to create memorable experiences that are flawlessly executed, Isabel eagerly delved into various roles expanding her already extensive toolkit. From restaurant management to winery hospitality and events management, Isabel’s background and personal style are a great addition to the Shadybrook Team.
Outside of work, Isabel enjoys exploring hidden gems in the valley and beyond, as well as traveling to gain fresh inspiration for her next event.
Ariel Green
Ariel is a true advocate for our Wine Club Members. She excels at fostering strong relationships with our members through her genuine desire to get to know them personally, and to ensure that each interaction embodies the warmth and sense of community characteristic of the wine industry. Her authentic approach enables her to curate personalized wine selections and experiences tailored to their lifestyle which is a special skill set we know they value as much as we do. With a keen eye for detail, Ariel skillfully manages our wine club and e-commerce operations with a commitment to flawless execution and exceptional customer service. Passionate about wine and food and known for her love of crafting unforgettable experiences for wine enthusiasts at all levels, Ariel’s close partnership with our events team has exciting plans in the works!
Born and raised in Mendocino County, Northern California, Ariel brings a profound appreciation for the land and its bounty to her work. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys gardening, exploring the culinary delights of Napa Valley, and painting with watercolors. Ariel shares her home with her husband and a cherished menagerie of two rabbits, two cats, and one very energetic dog.
Tara Rodriguez
Born and raised in Napa Valley, Tara has been in the wine business for nearly 25 years with much of that time focused on accounting and project management.
Tara spent the first seventeen years of her career at a Saint Helena based winery, where her passion for learning allowed her to take on multiple roles early on. Accounting, Order Processing, Inventory Management, Global Logistics and Payroll are just some of her areas of expertise. In 2018 Tara joined Shadybrook Estate Winery as Controller and in 2022 was promoted to the position of CAO. She works closely with our GM and owners on capital improvement projects and is an instrumental part of the team that continues to build our brand with the future in mind.
Outside of work, Tara enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and her beloved golden retriever. She enjoys trips to Disneyland, and anywhere she can be enjoying the sunshine and water.
Winemaking and Production
Rudy Zuidema
Rudy’s passion and focus on making wine for premium estate programs has never been more evident than in his role with Shadybrook Estate. In the vineyard, he follows organic and biodynamic farming practices that naturally enhance the flavor diversity demonstrated by the vineyard’s rich tapestry of individual blocks. Rudy’s natural approach continues in the winery where he emphasizes classic, small-lot techniques and gentle handling to craft balanced wines that embody a sense of place with elegance, purity and power.
Having almost 30 years of winemaking experience in the Napa Valley, Rudy has worked with some of the most esteemed vineyards and wineries. While looking for someone to evaluate their new estate vineyards by vinifying small lots from the 2010 harvest, Alice and David Alkosser invited Rudy to participate in their new venture. Upon viewing the vineyards and sampling the grapes, Rudy agreed without hesitation to be the winemaker for Shadybrook Estate.
Francisco Vega
