Shelby Green, Assistant Winemaker
Shelby Green, Assistant Winemaker
Shelby Green is the Assistant Winemaker for Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga and V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena. Shelby joined the wineries in 2017, after graduating with two degrees from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo—one B.S. in Food Science and another B.S. in Nutrition. She has also recently completed her two-year Winemaking Certificate Program at the University of California, Davis.
Post-graduation and prior to joining Castello di Amorosa and V. Sattui Winery she worked at Ferrari-Carano Winery in Sonoma County. She currently works with a wide range of varietals making wines for the two wineries and particularly enjoys Merlots and Pinot Noirs.
Shelby enjoys working in the medieval setting of Castello di Amorosa. As she explains, “even though we may work in a thirteenth century castle, our winemaking techniques have kept up with the modern day. One of the most important tools we utilize during harvest is TankNET; it’s essentially a cloud-based control system that we use to keep track of our tanks during the busy season. We have the ability to schedule automated pump-overs on tanks, control heating/cooling and track fermentations of all of our tanks directly from our computer or phone.” If she had to choose just one wine as a favorite of the wines she makes, it would be the winery’s Terra de Promisso Pinot Noir, which is sourced from a spectacular vineyard on the Sonoma Coast.
Shelby came to her love of winemaking during college. “When I was younger wine was always around, but I didn’t think much of making a career of it. It wasn’t until my first laboratory internship at a winery that I thought back to the varietals my grandfather would drink, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Of course, those naturally became my favorite wines as well. It wasn’t until I started as an Enologist for V. Sattui and Castello di Amorosa, that my grandfather told me he was a wine club member at V. Sattui back in the early 1990s- guess you could say things have come full circle!”
In her spare time Shelby loves hiking with her dog Koda on the Sonoma Coast and in different regional parks in California’s North Bay wine country. Recently she has been training for an IronMan race, alternating between swimming, biking and running. Aside from training she enjoys baking. Her specialty is cinnamon rolls. “I usually make about 300 when I have the time,” she says, adding “they freeze exceptionally well, and it brings me so much happiness to be able to share them with all of my friends, family and coworkers.”
Interviews
♦ Shelby Green – Wine Women, July 30, 2021 (Interview)
Brooks Painter, Director of Winemaking
Brooks Painter, Director of Winemaking
Brooks Painter has been a winemaker for over 30 years. His impressive resume includes positions as operations manager at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville and winemaker at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Leeward Winery, and Felton-Empire Vineyards.
Brooks has been director of winemaking at Castello di Amorosa since 2005, producing a variety of highly acclaimed 90+ point wines that have gained recognition from Robert Parker, Wine Spectator, and Wine Enthusiast. In 2014, he received the distinguished Winemaker of the Year award in the American Fine Wine Competition.
He discovered his passion for wine while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. His work has been published in The American Journal of Viticulture and Enology, Biochemistry, Practical Winery, and Wines & Vines. Brooks is a professional member of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture and a former chair of the Microbiology Committee for the California Enological Research Association.
For the past 15 years, Brooks and his wife Beth have lived in Napa. They’re actively involved in the Napa Valley community, charitable organizations, and long-range public planning for local city and county government.
Interviews
♦ Wine Life Radio Welcomes Brooks Painter, September 7, 2013 (Podcast)
♦ Life Between the Vines interviews Brooks Painter, May 27, 2013 (Podcast)
♦ What’s Cookin’ Today on CRN Radio, Mike & Paul talks with Brooks Painter, August 18, 2014 (Podcast)
♦ VinVillage Radio interviews Brooks Painter, November 17, 2014 (Podcast)
♦ Winner, Winner April Dinner: Fine Wine Gala Announces Number Ones, February 17, 2015
♦ Wednesdays with Winemakers, Brooks Painter, February 10, 2016
♦ Sommtalks, Castello di Amorosa Director of Winemaking Brooks Painter Joins Us, April 17, 2017
Peter Velleno, Winemaker
Peter Velleno, Winemaker
Peter Velleno studied winemaking, brewing science, microbiology, and food engineering at the University of California at Davis. In 2003, he was the only student to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in fermentation science.
After graduation, he went to work in the laboratory at William Hill Winery, where he quickly worked his way up to assistant winemaker specializing in Chardonnay production. Peter went on to work for the ultra-premium small winery Hartwell Vineyards, where he helped craft some of the most highly regarded Cabernets in the Napa Valley.
Peter’s career path took a sharp turn in 2008 when he joined Castello di Amorosa as the associate winemaker. He was promoted to winemaker in 2014 and manages production of the Castello’s wines. If asked, he will tell you that making wine in a Castle is even more fun than it sounds.
Peter and his wife Lauren have lived in Napa since 2003. They have two children and enjoy playing tennis, biking, cooking, and spending time outdoors with their dogs Cooper and Ruby.
Interviews
♦ Winemaking from A Castle in California, March 26, 2021 (Interview)
♦ We Like Drinking, March 24, 2021 (What Two Wines Would Winemaker Peter Velleno Recommend)