Proprietor- Tom Leonardini Sr.
Tom enjoys drinking and making great wine. It was his interest in wine that led him to buy Whitehall Lane Winery in March of 1993. Tom was looking for a business to buy and Whitehall Lane was for sale. Knowing that the winery had premium vineyard sources and wines that were starting to turn heads (like the 1990 Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and 1990 Merlot), he put an offer in on a Monday and the following week bought the winery. "This is not just a hobby. We're committed to making superior wines" is what he said back in 1993 and it still rings true today. Tom is an active owner, involved in sales, marketing and production. Almost immediately after buying the winery, he implemented a new barrel aging program and brought in state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. The portfolio of wines was narrowed to focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Tom had the Estate vineyard replanted and bought four additional vineyards including the Leonardini Vineyard. His background is not rooted in wine. He is a native of San Francisco and a successful businessman who has owned several businesses over the years. Whitehall Lane Winery is not like his other ventures; it's a family business with his wife and five children. In fact, he hopes that the winery will be in his family for generations to come. They are directly involved in day to day operations of the winery and they all enjoy the world class Whitehall Lane wines.
Winemaker- Dean Sylvester
Dean is a detail-oriented winemaker who works closely with his crew in the cellar, while keeping a watchful eye on the development of the grapes in the vineyard. He is responsible for all winemaking as well as overseeing the 110 acres of vineyards that Whitehall Lane owns and all vineyards held under contract. He has been making wine in the Napa Valley for more than 30 years, the last 12 at Whitehall Lane. He combines the experience of working with both European and American winemakers, allowing him to marry classic old-world style with modern winemaking techniques. Dean was born and raised just outside of Rochester, New York. He escaped the East to pursue a career in winemaking and enrolled at U.C. Davis. He majored in Fermentation Science and began gaining practical winemaking experience in Santa Cruz and Sonoma before spending 10 years as an assistant winemaker at Newton Vineyards in St. Helena. He has also worked at Chimney Rock Winery in Napa and Mario Perelli- Minetti Winery in St. Helena. Dean is responsible for making three wines rated among the top five in the World from The Wine Spectator Magazine. His focus and attention were apparent in those wines and all of the wines he makes at Whitehall Lane Winery.
Director of National Sales- Tom Leonardini II
Tom Leonardini II joined the winery in 1994 and is responsible for the national and international distribution of all Whitehall Lane wines. He has been instrumental in increasing sales from 15,000 cases to almost 50,000 cases in eight years. Tom has the expertise of a marketing background and is also familiar with the retail end of wine sales having worked in a premium wine shop while working on his masters degree. He earned an MBA degree from the University of San Francisco with an emphasis in marketing and also worked for a large California wine and liquor marketing company prior to joining Whitehall Lane Winery.
Director of Events- Katie Leonardini
Katie spends her time at the winery planning events and marketing our products. She can be spotted at numerous hospitality, fund raising and public relations events.
Enjoying food and wine was part of her family culture. As a child, Katie recalls driving up to the "country" with her family and admiring the serene beauty of the Napa Valley. Weekly family gatherings were always surrounded by beautiful, (mostly Italian) meals created by her mother and interesting wines shared by her father. Being the middle child, Katie would claim that she preferred beer and wine coolers. However, she would still partake in the weekly blind tastings at the family table and always listened to the wine lessons provided by her father.
Katie earned her degree in Political Science at Gonzaga University in Washington. She spent many years in the financial services industry in San Francisco before moving to Philadelphia. When she confirmed to herself that California was the place to be, she headed back West and landed in Napa Valley. She's been working with her family at Whitehall Lane ever since.
