As a native Californian, Peter’s purchase of the Circle R Ranch in 2015 fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming a farm and ranch owner. It also provided an opportunity to continue to honor his deep commitment to the conservation and preservation of California’s natural habitat and wildlife. With a profound entrepreneurial spirit and drive, Peter’s vision is being realized through contemplative planning and tremendous effort, putting the ranch back to work as it once was. He happily “drives the team” and enjoys living and leading by “the code of the West.”
Raised in Montana and, arguably, “swimming upstream” living in California, Chris is responsible for the day-to-day on a working, family legacy ranch and leads the overall development, operation, and stabilization. He brings a vast and diverse background of experience to the ranch team, including expertise as a farm/ranch/recreation real estate broker, a former major airline captain, and a naval officer and carrier aviator who used to fly the EA-6B Prowler. Chris is also an accomplished, and published, country music singer and songwriter. He particularly enjoys leading the campfire song sessions at the Circle R.
Domenick Bianco is a fourth-generation grape grower living and working in the Napa Valley, and the new owner of Michael Wolf Vineyard Services. Prior to his new role, he was the Senior Vineyard Manager for the iconic Joseph Phelps Vineyards in St. Helena. Previous experience includes Hall Wines, originally as their Viticulturist and Grower Representative, and later as their Manager of Vineyards and Growers. Domenick’s first job in the wine industry was in 2004 as in Intern for Oscar Renteria at Renteria Vineyard Management. Over the years, he has managed vineyards and worked with growers in the Willamette Valley, Sonoma County, Sierra Foothills, Mendocino County, Santa Lucia Highlands, Paso Robles, and Santa Ynez Valley. When he isn’t walking vineyards, Domenick loves spending time with his wife and two kids, exploring and traveling. He is an avid runner, often training for an event, but can also be spotted riding his road bike around Napa County.
Mike Wolf, Circle R Ranch’s vineyard farmer since 2017, discovered his agricultural vocation in 1972 while helping a friend raise pears, prunes, and grapes on a family farm in Mendocino County. His experiences with those first crops soon developed into an agricultural philosophy: farming is a process, not an event, and farmers and viticulturists who set out to conquer nature inevitably lose. Mike believes wine is affected by every person who has a hand in its making. With forty-plus years’ experience developing and managing California vineyards, his farming company lists many of Napa Valley’s leading independent growers and wineries as clients. Since 1987, Mike has been a board trustee of the California Grower Foundation, and a board member of Napa Valley Grape Growers and Napa Valley Farmworkers Foundation.
With over thirteen years of experience at Stagecoach Vineyards working for founder Jan Krupp, Ricardo brings a wealth of expertise in many areas, such as irrigation and farming, large equipment operation, and personnel management. Living full-time on the Circle R Ranch property with his wife, Janet Llamas, and their family, Ricardo has met the challenge head-on of being a full-time ranch manager. As he works with and manages the ranch employees, tends to the care of the cattle herds, and oversees the aesthetic well-being of our beautiful Napa ranch property, it all helps Ricardo reach his goal of establishing the Circle R Ranch & Vineyards as a world-class operation.
Bruce joined Circle R Ranch & Vineyards upon acquisition of the property in July 2015. Having worked for 27-plus years in retail accounting and real estate development, adding the financial management of a combined ranch and vineyard presented a unique opportunity to learn new skills. Bruce handles nearly all of the financial aspects of running the property. In addition to broadening his knowledge of the grape-growing business, he enjoys the additional benefit of being able to sample, taste, and drink the “fruits of the labor.”