NVWE Staff
Denise Johnson
General Manager
Kristen and I opened the Napa Valley Winery Exchange in 1988, filling what we saw as a niche in the downtown San Francisco area. I belong to several professional wine tasting panels, and am on the weekly tasting panel of The San Francisco Chronicle. I nearly always prefer to drink red wine varietals.
I have always been interested in and around wine. My father was born on a wine-growing island in Lake Erie and my summers as a child were spent running around vineyards. There was always a barrel of homemade wine in our basement.
When I moved to San Francisco in the early seventies, my friends and I would visit sleepy Napa Valley on the weekends. Wine tasting was free! There were only a couple of dozen wineries then. Over the years I have always had wine in my life (and my house) and I was very fortunate when in 1988 I was given the opportunity to open and manage this store. I now judge wine for the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the San Francisco Chronicle and other occasionally other competitions and panels. I get to try hundreds (maybe thousands) of great (and not-so-great) wines and I like having people listen to my opinions!
My favorite wine is Cabernet Sauvignon, although most red wines can get my serious attention.
Donald Gillette
Wine Sales
Yes, the rumors are true, I have been selling wine retail since the Flood. My tasting notebooks began accumulating sometime around 1972. People say that my opinions are strong and I confess that I spend little time on the fence. If there is a desert island somewhere, stocked with old Riesling, I shall retire there.
I first began tasting and selling wine in Santa Barbara more than thirty years ago. I liked the job from the beginning and enjoy it even more working in San Francisco. During my first fifteen years in the industry I tasted and sold wines from around the world, learning to appreciate the best examples from Europe's great appellations, while experiencing first hand the explosive growth of our local wine industry. Since 1988 I have sold small production California wines almost exclusively. My first and most important function at NVWE is to taste wine.
I evaluate wine in a straightforward, orderly manner. I first survey impressions of scent, then flavor and it's ability to linger on the palate; then I progress to the wine's mouthfeel and textural impact; this leads to decisions about its varietal accuracy, internal harmony and overall appeal. All these impressions are tallied before I make judgments concerning its value, appropriate drinking times, market demand or appropriateness for our store.
I like speaking and am a dreadful typist, so I prefer human contact to email, although I have mastered my keyboard enough to appreciate its virtues and I now welcome contact that way. If you have time to call, or better yet to stop in, I will be delighted to chat about what is new and exciting.
Kristen Leonardini Kettell
Wine Sales
I have been raised to enjoy food and wine. I love different varietals and especially like matching them with first courses.
I have been at the Napa Valley Winery Exchange since the day we opened the doors, 17 years ago. I have a practical approach to the wine tasting, drinking and buying. I don't look for chemical components in wine or dissect a wine to the point where I can't enjoy it. If a wine is good, I will drink it. If a wine is not so great, well that's another story. One of my favorite times for wine is when I am either cooking, eating or getting together with family. There is a place for wine in everyone's life and I can help you whether you are looking to consume, collect or give wine as a gift.
James Jackson
Wine Sales
My sojourn in the wine business started in the mid-seventies when I was enrolled in Culinary school in San Francisco. I was introduced to a class on wine that was part of the curriculum. Over the years I have worked in food and wine service at the University Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon. I was head baker at Acme Bakery in Berkeley for ten years. While there, I had a friend who worked at NVWE in San Francisco. On weekends I would visit with warm bread and apple tarts. We would taste a little wine and I thought about what a great place this would be to work and before I knew it I had a part time position! That was about 12 years ago and I am still here.
One of my favorite pastimes is to take a drive to different wine regions and look for new vineyards and wineries. This led to my nickname at Napa Valley Winery Exchange - "Vineyard Sleuth!"
Should you wish to call me, I am usually at the wine store on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Zoe
Graphic Designer and Grape Enthusiast
My history is in graphic design. After graduating from college, I've worked with a big variety of clients in the San Francisco area. In the last few years, I've been fortunate to work with the Napa Valley Winery Exchange, where I've learned more about California wine than I ever thought possible! At the store I primarily handle all things design and computer-related... working daily on our website, photographing the wines, designing the emails/newlestters, and helping to oversee our Mac network. I also help customers as needed, and am happy to share my opinions on our delightful small-production wines. My favorites are probably big flavorful reds -- however I do also love a rich Chardonnay. Or a crisp and cool Sauvignon Blanc. Or a nose-tickling California bubbly. Or a luscious late-harvest dessert Zin. Yes... it's great to work in a place while surrounded by such wonderful wine!
When not here at the store, you can find me perfecting my tennis forehand, working hard in my community garden or hiking around this great city with my digital camera in-hand. For those interested in San Francisco history, here's my personal website on the subject: San Francisco Memories.
Midori
Wine Sales - Japanese Specialist
ミドリ イワモト
焼酎で有名な鹿児島県出身。２０歳で渡米しグラフィックデザイン科を卒業。後、グラフィックデザイナーとして日々を過ごしてきました。その間、美味しいテキーラに出会えるマイアミ、面白いカクテルが豊富なロサンゼルス、コクのあるギネスビールが安いロンドンで生活するチャンスもありました。今はワインの生産地でよく知られているナパ、ソノマに近いサンフランシスコに在住し、ここナパ・バレー・ワイナリー・エクスチェンジで沢山の美味しいカリフォルニア・ワインに囲まれて生活中。昔からワインには興味がありましたが、ヨーロッパ産のワインばかり手に取っていた事が多く、カリフォルニアワインの美味しさを知り始めたのは最近の事です。ここナパ・バレー・ワイナリー・エクスチェンジでは生産量の少ない珍品を含め、品揃いがとても豊富な事にとても驚きました。料理に合うワインを見つける事が今は楽しみの一つになっています。日頃は絵画、デザイン、写真などを趣味にしています。犬をテーマにした写真本の出版も経験し、ワインを片手に自分の感性を磨く努力をしています（笑）。チャンスがあれば海外旅行、気持ちのよい季節には友人などとワイナリー巡りを楽しんだりもしています。
ここカリフォルニアでは幅広い、様々な場所でそれぞれの気候を生かして個性あるワインを生産しています。赤ワイン、白ワインと両方、美味しいワインが沢山ある当店でみなさんが求めている味のするワインを見つけるお手伝いを致しますのでご気楽にご連絡下さい！