Hugh Davies
President and CEO
Schramsberg Vineyards and J. Davies Vineyards

One might say that Hugh Davies was born with a wineglass in his hand having grown up on the Schramsberg Estate owned by his parents in Calistoga. He has lived and breathed the winery life since he first walked the vineyards as a toddler. Hugh earned an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College in Maine and a master's degree in enology from the University of California at Davis, and then further honed his skills at Moeet et Chandon in Epernay, France, Petaluma Winery in South Australia, and Mumm in Napa Valley. This diverse background provided Hugh with the knowledge and skills to take the reins of Schramsberg and guide it into the future.

Named CEO and President of Schramsberg Vineyards in 2005, Hugh had already spent multiple years as the winemaker and general manager. He never rests on the successes of previous years however, and is always looking to build upon the winery's venerable track record of producing award-winning sparkling wines that rival the best sparkling wines available worldwide. The winery sources grapes from over 90 cool-climate vineyard sites across Carneros, Anderson Valley, and the Sonoma and Marin coasts. Hugh championed the increased usage of barrel fermentation in the production process and he expanded the small-lot base wine program to an impressive 200 lots of unique wines. These programs have provided the winemaking team with a much broader base of flavor profiles to utilize when ensuring the quality of the final blends of the 10-12 sparkling wines made each year. For the J. Davies Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon program, Hugh was instrumental in the decision to replant the historic hillside vineyards to Bordeaux varietals. These blocks are credited as the oldest hillside vineyards in Napa Valley and are located adjacent to the winery. They are utilized by the Schramsberg winemaking team to make J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that has received both public and critical acclaim since its first release in 2004. Additionally, Hugh's vision and guidance has led initiatives to update the winery's production and bottling line facilities and completely renovate the visitor center to provide guests with the most memorable experience possible.

Hugh is dedicated to protecting the greater Napa County. He served on the board of directors for the Napa Valley Vintners (president, 2006), and along with his family, chaired the 2004 Auction Napa Valley. In addition, Hugh, his brother Bill, and other advisers lead the Jack L. Davies Land Preservation Fund, committed to carrying on the efforts of his father to preserve the Napa Valley for its highest uses: agricultural and open space lands. Continuing on a path that started over 40 years ago, Hugh carries on with the family legacy living on the Schramsberg property with his wife Monique and three sons Emrys, Nelson and Hugh Jr.