Nigel Kinsman ~ Winemaker

Nigel Kinsman’s winemaking career spans three decades, three continents and some of the most revered wine estates the world over. His career began in his native Australia, where he worked at Nepenthe and Petaluma Wines in the Adelaide Hills and Cullen Wines in the Margaret River. He then moved to Tuscany where he worked alongside renowned wine consultant Michel Rolland at Tolaini, a project founded by visionary Pierluigi Tolaini in Castelnuovo Berardenga, Sienna. From there Nigel moved to Napa Valley, holding successive roles at Krupp Brothers and the iconic Eisele Vineyard (originally Araujo Estate). Today, Nigel is project manager at Wheeler Farms where he makes wine for Impensata, Accendo Cellars, Bella Oaks and his own brand, Kinsman Eades.

Michel Rolland ~ Consulting Winemaker

Michel Rolland is one of the world’s most revered wine consultants and master blenders, with broad experience in winemaking regions globally including the Alta Maremma in Tuscany where he works with Masseto and Tenuta di Biserno. With Impensata’s vision of producing a benchmark Napa Valley Merlot that stands on the world stage, Rolland is uniquely positioned to lend unparalleled experience and insight to the project.

Michael Laipple ~ Managing Partner

With over thirty years of experience developing large infrastructure projects, Michael Laipple serves as the managing partner for Impensata. Early in his career, he created the strategy and structure that led to one of the country’s first privately owned high schools. It was then he connected with another ambitious developer, Louis Ciminelli, which resulted in a long-lasting friendship, and shared love for wine. Louis and Michael spoke about this dream of developing a vineyard on Howell Mountain back in 2000 - Impensata has been long in the making. In his life before wine, Michael held leadership positions at Fortune 100 corporations, including Honeywell, Duke Energy, and AT&T. With an unwavering commitment to family and community, he has volunteered his time to several organizations throughout his career. He now brings his altruistic senses along with his aptitude for business management and enthusiastic love of Napa Valley to the Impensata team.

Julie Elkeshen ~ Vice President of Client Relations

Julie Elkeshen, a fifth-generation native of Napa/Sonoma Valley, brings over 30 years of luxury hospitality experience to Impensata. Growing up surrounded by vineyards, her love for food, culture, and wine flourished, enriched by her experiences in France. Julie honed her skills working with prestigious companies like The Ritz Carlton, Hotel Company and Auberge Resorts, before transitioning to luxury wine estates. Julie's love for people, food, wine, and travel, along with her dedication to her two adult children define her. Julie's extensive history of collaboration with her colleagues at Impensata makes her an indispensable asset to the team.

Winegrowing Partners:

Louis Ciminelli ~ Laelius Winegrowing

Louis Ciminelli is the proprietor of Laelius Winegrowing. Established in 2015 in Napa Valley, Laelius combines Louis’ savvy business acumen with a long-held desire to establish a legacy of world-renowned vineyards. With the purchase and development of a rugged, 40-acre site at the top of Howell Mountain followed by the acquisition of the well-regarded Engelhard Vineyard in Calistoga, Louis is poised to be one of the most daring and finest vineyard developers in Napa Valley for decades to come.

David Abreu ~ Abreu Vineyard Management

A third-generation farmer and household name in Napa Valley, David Abreu’s reputation as one of the region’s most meticulous vineyard managers precedes him. Having established Abreu Vineyard Management in 1980, David has grown grapes for distinguished wineries such as Screaming Eagle, Staglin Family Vineyard, Colgin Cellars, Harlan Estate, Bryant Family Vineyard, Araujo Estate Wines, Spottswoode, and Grace Family Vineyards. David and his stellar team deliver their telltale precision farming to Impensata’s two estate vineyards, Engelhard and Ciminelli.

Jack Bittner ~ Ecotone

Jack Bittner’s guardianship of the Ecotone Vineyard officially began in 2019, but his love for the vineyard began over 25 years ago. A student of wine new to the valley and looking for a place to rent, Bill Harlan introduced Jack to the owners of what was then called Thorevilos. From 1994-1999, Jack lived in a small guest house on the property along with roommate Hugh Davies from Schramsberg. Since those beginning days in Napa, Jack has positioned himself to be an integral part of the fabric of Napa Valley serving many roles. In addition to guiding the Ecotone Vineyard into its next generation, Jack is the managing partner of Ovid Winery on Pritchard Hill, sits on the board of Schramsberg, and is the board chair for the Napa Valley Vintners.

The Impensata family includes many more than can be named here, all of whom are crucial to the success of this project.