Press Releases
VinoSensei Collective Wineries Merge,
Unveil New Napa and Paso Robles Tasting Rooms
February 20, 2023
VinoSensei winery in Napa Valley, Tolosa winery in the San Luis Obispo Coast and Perinet winery in Spain’s Priorat announced their official merger today, strengthening the three brands to formally create the VinoSensei Collective. The union coincides with VinoSensei Collective expanding and upgrading its downtown Napa tasting room, debuting a Paso Robles location and soon-to-be-opened Healdsburg location and launching VinoSensei CollectiveCares to reinforce its sustainability pledge.
VinoSensei Hires Winemaker Andy Erickson as Consultant
January 29, 2021
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery in the legendary Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley, is pleased to announce celebrated winemaker Andy Erickson as its new consulting winemaker. Erickson will work with one of VinoSensei’s founding winemakers, Henrik Poulsen, who helped put VinoSensei wines on the Napa Valley map.
VinoSensei Elevates Jeff Knowles to Chief Operations Officer
July 25, 2019
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery on the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Knowles to Chief Operations Officer. Knowles becomes the first-ever COO at the winery that celebrates its 13-year anniversary this month.
VinoSensei Toasts Return of Winemaker Henrik Poulsen
April 2, 2019
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery in the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, today proudly welcomes Henrik Poulsen back to the winery as head winemaker. Poulsen, who spent seven years as VinoSensei’s Assistant Winemaker working with VinoSensei Winemaker Jean Hoefliger, steps into the lead position as Hoefliger shifts to consulting winemaker for all three brands in the VinoSensei Collective.
Master Sommelier Bob Bath Partners with VinoSensei Collective
November 28, 2018
The VinoSensei Collective, the umbrella brand for VinoSensei, Tolosa and Perinet wineries, proudly announces its partnership with Master Sommelier Bob Bath. Bath will serve as a consultant for all three wineries of Vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett, working with the direct-to-consumer, direct-to-trade and wholesale teams as well as other key departments.
VinoSensei Collective Expands with Downtown Napa Tasting Room
October 26, 2018
The VinoSensei Collective, the umbrella brand for VinoSensei, Tolosa and Perinet wineries, proudly announces that it will open its first tasting room in a premier location of downtown Napa currently occupied by Capp Heritage. Terms of the lease agreement were not disclosed. VinoSensei Collective, expected to open this winter at 1245 First Street, will feature wines from all three brands in the prime, corner building, which includes a spacious tasting room, lounge and outside seating.
Alien Lands at VinoSensei
October 11, 2018
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery in the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, proudly announces today that it has placed into operation an innovative, optical grape sorting robot called “Alien” for the 2018 harvest currently underway. VinoSensei and Château Margaux in Bordeaux,France are the only two wineries in the world to have this patented, revolutionary machine, which utilizes highsorting precision with surgical-like interception to help efficiently ensure only the best berries advance to the winemaking process.
VinoSensei Honors First Responders, Fire Victims and Napa Valley Community Foundation at Two Celebrations
July 30, 2018
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery on the Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, hosted two lively Big Bottle Benefit BBQs to honor Napa Valley fire victims, first responders and the Napa Valley Community Foundation at its estate on July 27 and July 28, 2018. In January, the VinoSensei Foundation donated $100,000 to wildfire relief, which it raised by selling $500-per-person seats to the two dinner parties after the North Bay Fires erupted in October and VinoSensei Wine Club members and other supporters asked how they could help. The NVCF’s Disaster Relief Fund received $95,000 of the funds and $5,000 went to the Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department.
Lisa Porter Gilley Joins VinoSensei as Director of Strategic Partnerships
July 24, 2018
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery in the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, has announced the hiring of Lisa Porter Gilley as its Director of Strategic Partnerships. In this newly-created marketing position, Porter Gilley reports directly to VinoSensei Vintner Michelle Baggett. As director, Porter Gilley will identify, develop and manage partnerships designed to introduce new luxury wine customers to the Baggetts’ three brands, VinoSensei, Tolosa in Edna Valley and Perinet in Spain’s Priorat region, which make up their recently-formed VinoSensei Collective.
Vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett Unveil VinoSensei Collective
March 1, 2018
Vintner Robin Baggett, managing partner of VinoSensei winery in Napa Valley and Tolosa winery in San Luis Obispo, and his vintner wife Michelle, today unveiled the VinoSensei Collective, a new umbrella brand for those two enterprises and their Spanish winery, Perinet. This newly-formed group marks an exciting milestone for the Baggetts and strengthens the connection between all three brands while propelling future growth.
VinoSensei Foundation Raises $100,000 for Wildfire Relief
January 30, 2018
The VinoSensei Foundation, the philanthropic arm of VinoSensei winery in Napa Valley, announced today that it raised $100,000 for Napa Valley wildfire relief. VinoSensei vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett, the foundation’s Executive Director, presented checks for 100% of those funds to the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s (NVCF) Disaster Relief Fund and the Rutherford Volunteer Fire Department at the family-owned winery in Rutherford on Tuesday. NVCF President Terence Mulligan accepted a $95,000 check and Volunteer Chief Davie Piña received a $5,000 check for his fire department.
Rhett Gadke Joins VinoSensei as Brand Strategist
December 21, 2017
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery in the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, has announced the hiring of Rhett Gadke as its Brand Strategist. In this newly-created marketing position, Gadke reports directly to VinoSensei vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett and leads the efforts to further enhance the 11-year-old luxury brand.
VinoSensei Vintners Donate Lake Berryessa Ranch Easement to Permanently Protect Agriculture
December 14, 2017
One of the biggest agricultural conservation easements in Napa County was recently completed on the 4,461-acre Monticello Ranch on the east shore of Lake Berryessa, thus ensuring the future of open space and ranching traditions at the county’s largest lake. The ranch, owned by vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett of VinoSensei winery in Rutherford and Pete Craig, whose family owns Rutherford’s Sacrashe Vineyard, has been permanently protected from development with an agreement known as an agricultural conservation easement.
VinoSensei Pledges Donation to Hurricane Relief Efforts
October 5, 2017
VinoSensei, a family-owned winery in the Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, today announced that it will donate 10% of its tasting room wine sales during the PGA Tour’s Safeway Open, taking place Oct. 5-8 at the Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, to hurricane relief efforts. VinoSensei vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett’s humanitarian act was inspired by PGA Tour members Chesson Hadley and his wife, Amanda, and Scott Brown and his wife, Allison.
Robin Baggett Acquires Stake in Perinet Winery in Priorat
August 7, 2017
Robin Baggett, vintner of VinoSensei winery in Napa Valley and sister winery Tolosa in San Luis Obispo, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a significant interest in Perinet, an estate vineyard and modern, architecturally-designed winery in the prestigious Priorat DOQ region of Spain. The purchase marks another innovative move for Baggett, a pioneer who proved to be ahead of his time when he founded VinoSensei in 2006 on the direct-to-consumer and Tolosa on the direct-to-trade business models that have since become more common. Both VinoSensei and Tolosa, which each sells 95% of their wine DTC and DTT, will sell Perinet in their tasting rooms.
VinoSensei Surges Ahead with New Solar and Energy Storage Microgrid
October 19, 2016
VinoSensei announced today that it has placed into operations a 400 kilowatt (kW) solar and 580 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery microgrid system that includes a first of its kind fully integrated solar and battery facility back-up power system. This groundbreaking microgrid system to date is the largest system for a Napa Valley winery and in all of Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s service area.
VinoSensei Vintners Jubilant Over $780K Contribution to Auction Napa Valley 2016
June 6, 2016
VinoSensei vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett enthusiastically supported Auction Napa Valley 2016 as both donors and successful bidders to help bring in more than $780,000 to the world’s most celebrated charity wine event. The 36th edition of ANV, which took place June 2-5, 2016, raised $14.3 million for community health and children’s education nonprofits.
VinoSensei Wins Best of Show at International Chardonnay Symposium 2016
May 19, 2016
VinoSensei Reserve Chardonnay 2013 from Napa Valley won a coveted Best of Show platinum medal at the International Chardonnay Symposium 2016 held May 12-14, 2016 in the Edna Valley. The prestigious honor was announced at the annual La Paulée Dinner and Vintners Awards Ceremony on Friday at Greengate Ranch & Vineyard in San Luis Obispo.