Home > News & Features > News
Helen Keplinger Leaves Bryant Family Vineyard
Top Napa Cabernet house and promising young winemaker part ways
Helen Keplinger, one of Napa Valley’s rising-star winemakers, is no longer at one of the region’s highest-profile wineries, Bryant Family Vineyard. Keplinger held the post of winemaker at Bryant for only a year and a half.
“Bryant Family Vineyard was a good experience, and it is unfortunate that it was not a good fit,” said Keplinger. Bryant has had its share of talented winemakers come and go over the years, including Mark Aubert, Philippe Melka and Helen Turley, who won a well-publicized lawsuit over her firing.
Keplinger has consulted on several projects over the years, including Kenzo Estate, Scully Wines, Arrow & Branch and Fort Ross Vineyards. “I gave up all of my consulting clients when I accepted the job with Bryant, so I will have a new slate after harvest, which is really exciting,” said Keplinger. She added that focusing exclusively on her own brand, Keplinger Wines, for this year’s harvest is a “luxury.”
Bryant Family general manager Brady Mitchell confirmed that Keplinger left her position before harvest began, and that assistant winemaker Todd Alexander is currently in charge. A replacement for Keplinger has not been named.
