There's a swell of excitement building at Bill Price's Sonoma-based Head High Wines, where a new management team is paddling the brand toward a bright and exciting future.

In the past month, Head High has brought on a roster of new management, sales and marketing professionals to supplement the existing staff, which includes an experienced set of founders and female winemaker.

Going forward, one of the group's main goals is spreading the word about its grape-to-glass Sonoma County wines, which are made entirely with carefully selected, 100% locally grown grapes. "Since Head High was founded in 2017, our goal has been to overdeliver on quality while having fun and contributing to a better world," said Prema Kerollis Behan, the company's co-founder. "With this new team in place, it will be easier to share our story and commitment to making affordable, quality wines. We have several new wines coming and fun new experiences planned, all thanks to the rockstar people we have working for us."

The new team will also help speed up progress on the brand's carbon neutral initiative. Head High recently became the first Ocean Positive - Carbon Neutral winery and continues its work to lower its own carbon footprint. Simultaneously, it is investing in restoration projects in the world's oceans and coastlines. The most recent efforts include rebuilding mangroves in Kenya and supporting a kelp restoration project in Palos Verdes, California.

The newly appointed team of Head High is as follows:

Colette Fay-Simpson, General Manager: Born in the U.K., Colette and her family moved to Sonoma in the early 1990s, and she developed a strong connection to the region's rich viticultural heritage from an early age. Over the course of her career, Colette has amassed invaluable experience in various facets of the wine industry. From opening tasting rooms to starting wine clubs and curating direct-to-consumer sales, she cultivated a dynamic set of tools and gained expertise in operations and management. She joined the Price Family Vineyard team in 2015 and came to Head High in 2023 and is still operating as the assistant general manager of Three Sticks Wines.

Kate Benziger, Sales and Marketing Coordinator: Kate developed a deep connection with the wine industry from an early age while interning at her family's winery. During her summers, she immersed herself in various departments of the winery, including marketing, sales, hospitality and the lab. This hands-on experience allowed her to gain a holistic understanding of the industry. After graduating from the University of Arizona in 2011, she worked her way up in the wine industry, taking on roles that involved opening tasting rooms, managing wine clubs and honing her sales skills.

Brendan Jin, National Sales Manager: Born and raised in the Bay Area, Brendan developed a deep appreciation for wine early in his career. After graduating with a degree in business administration with a focus on communications, he went to work for E&J Gallo. After that, he progressed to covering regional and national territories for mid-size and large wineries. He quickly rose through the ranks at these companies, honing his skills in various sales and marketing roles within the wine industry. He joined Price Family Vineyards & Estates in May 2021, where he has continued to grow Head High's presence nationally.

Garrett Sathre, Brand Manager: Garrett is a true renaissance man with a deep connection to Sonoma County who excels in the realms of restaurant management, event organization, culinary arts and tour operations. His achievements include revitalizing restaurants, pioneering flash mob picnics, being featured as a head chef on a popular TV show and creating unique wine tours, all while fostering nonprofit partnerships and celebrating the essence of Sonoma through Head High wines.

Existing experts at Head High Wines are:

Bill Price III, Co-Founder: Price was introduced to wine at an early age by his father, who was born in France. After practicing law working as a business consultant after college, Price co-founded Texas Pacific Group, a private equity firm, in 1992. The company invested in several wineries, which brought Price back to his days of visiting wineries with his father. He also longed for a project that would get him more in touch with the natural world. In 2007, he entered the wine business full-stop and has been engaged in growing grapes and making wine through Price Family Vineyards & Estates and related ventures.

Prema Kerollis Behan, Co-Founder: Prema began working for Three Sticks Wines founder Bill Price III in 2000 in an administrative position at Texas Pacific Group. Soon, she found herself working closely with the family and the company's director of operations. She became an essential part of Price's team and eventually switched to helping manage his winery operations. She has been involved in Three Sticks Wines from its founding and has helped found multiple brands, including Head High and Lutum Wines.

Rob Harris, Vice President of Vineyard Operations: Rob spent the early part of his career at Constellation before being recruited by Head High founder Bill Price in 2008. He is responsible for everything having to do with the company's vineyards, including farming, overseeing harvest, selling fruit and managing harvest. His expertise allows Price Family Vineyards to grow the incredible fruit used to make world-class wine. Perhaps more importantly, Rob is Head High's ambassador to other Sonoma County vineyards. His relationships are what allow Head High to source grapes with the exact style and ripeness to create each year's vintage.

Brittany (Britt) Richards, Winemaker: Britt has always had her sights set on winemaking. After graduating from CSU Fresno in 2007, she made her way to Napa to do an internship at Chappellet Winery. From there, she did stints at Jordan Winery, Keller Estate, Peter Michael Winery, St. Clement, Ledson Winery, Coho and with acclaimed consulting winemaker Philippe Melka. In 2018, Britt joined the Head High Wines team, where she serves as winemaker, along with making wine for several other clients. She takes a minimalist approach to winemaking, allowing the fruit to shine and maintain its purity.

www.headhighwines.com