CFFO Nick Papadopoulos lands a rainbow trout on Montana's famed Yellowstone River

The Management and Winemaking team at StoneFly Vineyards is dedicated to uniting the passions of fly-fishing and fine wine enjoyment. Whether we are blending in the barrel room or wading waist deep in the river, we never lose sight of our goal: creating a remarkable experience.

Chief Fly-Fishing Officer

Our CFFO Nick Papadopoulos grew up fishing the coastal waters of Oregon, where he'd cast and cast and cast until the sun went down or his parents literally dragged him home. He spent many memorable summers fly-fishing Montana's Bitterroot Valley, where he explored small mountain streams and had the good fortune of spending many days with his fishing mentors learning to read such waters as the Clark Fork, Beaverhead and Madison.

As CFFO of StoneFly Vineyards, Nick combines his love of fly-fishing with his professional background in business and natural resource conservation. In addition to managing StoneFly, Nick coordinates sustainability efforts for StoneFly and its sister wineries, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Girard Winery, Windsor Sonoma and Windsor Vineyards. Nick also works on various programs in conjunction with StoneFly partner organizations to raise funds for environmental causes

Vintner Pat Roney and his wife Laura

Vintner

Vintner Patrick Roney started in wine as a college student at Northwestern University where he worked at Chicago's famous Pump Room restaurant as a sommelier. Since his college days Pat has dedicated his career to fine wine and specialty foods, starting as fine wine importer for Seagram Wine Company. After 8 years with Seagram, Pat migrated to California where he managed marketing for Christian Brothers Winery, followed by serving as President of Chateau St. Jean and later Kunde, both in the celebrated Sonoma Valley. From 1995-2000 Pat served on the Executive team at the renowned specialty food purveyor, Dean & DeLuca. Then Pat firmly rooted in wine and purchased Girard Winery, where he engaged Wine Spectator-acclaimed winemaker Marco DiGiulio to craft wines which have since been recognized as some of the finest in the world.

StoneFly Winemakers Marco DiGiulio (top) and Zach Long (bottom)

Winemakers

Winemakers Marco DiGiulio and Zach Long now create StoneFly wines. Marco's craft is steeped in the culture of wine and the rich history of Napa Valley & Sonoma County winemaking. An avid outdoorsman, Marco is a native San Franciscan with a degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis. Early in his career he worked at several well-known wineries and achieved a score of 98 by the Wine Spectator on one of his Cabernets. This was a pinnacle event that set the standard by which Marco measures himself. In 2000, Marco joined Pat at Girard Winery, where the two have achieved widespread critical acclaim, with several 90+ rated wines.

Zach's experience ranges across international bounds. A graduate from UC Davis in Viticulture and Enology, and having interned in Bordeaux, France, Tauranga, New Zealand, and the Napa Valley here in California, Zach brings a veritable cuvee of skills and winemaking techniques to our winery. Having contributed under the tutelage of Marco DiGiulio at Girard Winery since 2005, Zach is a rising winemaking star who is gaining international acclaim.

As Marco and Zach take on winemaking responsibilities at StoneFly, they seek to honor the winemaking heritage first established at StoneFly by Dan Baron (of the legendary Silver Oak Cellars). Now Marco and Zach will make their mark, seeking out grapes of unparalleled quality from unique terroir, and contributing winemaking excellence with their widely-acclaimed "minimalist style" to preserve the unique story of each vintage and vineyard.

StoneFly's founders Rob and Claudia Hampton

The StoneFly Legacy

StoneFly began with artisan fly-fishing, culinary and winemaking duo of Rob and Claudia Hampton. Over the last decade Rob and Claudia have established StoneFly as one of Napa's finest boutique wineries, known as much for community involvement as superb wines. Moving on to more fly fishing than winemaking, Rob and Claudia have turned over their tractor keys to Patrick Roney and Leslie Rudd, and we look forward to carrying on StoneFly Vineyard's fine tradition of excellence.