MYLES ANDERSON AND GORDY VENNERI

After many years as hobbyist wine makers these two old friends started Walla Walla Vintners in 1995 to sell their wines to the public. They continue to oversee all aspects of winery operations including winemaking. They work with an outstanding, talented staff that makes up the Walla Walla Vintners team. (more)

WILLIAM VON METZGER
Production Winemaker

As Production Winemaker, William oversees wine from the time grape clusters arrive at the winery until the finished product is bottled. He manages fermentations, selecting barrels, leading blending trials and monitoring and maintaining wines during the aging process. William works closely with Gordy, Myles and Judah to ensure vineyard and fruit quality that produce the award-winning wines which made Walla Walla Vintners famous.  He began working at the winery in 2002 while attending the Institute for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College.  Outside of the winery, William likes spending quiet time with his family, the outdoors (hiking, biking, snowboarding) and arguing the merits of the DH rule in baseball.

JUDAH PIRA
Director of Vineyard Operations

Judah joined the Vintners team in 2010 after working as the enologist at Long Shadows and attending the Walla Walla Enology and Viticulture program that Myles Anderson helped create. Initially trained as a chef, Judah’s trained palate and passion for getting the best ingredients helped him prepare for overseeing that the winery gets the very best grapes for each wine.  Judah describes his approach to his job –“Each season presents itself as a clean slate for trying to get the best fruit possible for our winery and we all know that great fruit makes excellent wine.  My job is listening to our winemakers Gordy, Myles and Bill about the potential of each specific vineyard and focus always on getting the best quality.”

BARB COMMARE
Office Manager

With personal heroes like Laura Petrie, Dorothy Gale and the Kool-Aid Man, Barb Commare has the perfect combination of patience and endurance for her job at Walla Walla Vintners.  In 2005 Barb was promoted from assistant to full time office manager and wrangler at the winery. Barb enjoys spending time with her best guy Tom and their four-legged kids – Rowdy and Otis – when not at the winery. At least three nights a week you will find her skating in circles at the YMCA as the fearless coach of the Walla Walla Sweets Roller Girls, the local roller derby team.

AL ROSE
Tasting Room Manager

After retiring from his day job in the restaurant and food service industry Al turned to his passion for great wine. He started helping with the fall crush, becoming deeply knowledgeable about the wines he loves to share with customers in our tasting room. Since 1999 he has been our tasting room guru – we affectionately think of Al as the head evangelist for Walla Walla Vintners. Anyone who’s had the pleasure of meeting Al knows his love and enthusiasm for our wines is contagious.

KEITH ERLEBACH
Tasting Room Assistant

Since 2006 Keith has been a familiar face at the winery working alongside Al Rose in the tasting room most weekends. He has extensive knowledge about Walla Walla Vintners wines and is a gracious host.

Keith, his wife and four children have lived in Walla Walla since 1976.  He is a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in Psychology. His day job for over 30 years is sales representative for the National Federation of Independent Business. Keith says his “free” time is spent trying to stay in shape (jogging), reading, church activities and traveling to visit family.

SARAH NEHER
Sales & Tasting Room Assistant

Sarah grew up on a farm in Walla Walla. Her love of farming and agriculture and experience in retail make her a valuable part of the WWV team. After earning a B.A. in English from UW Sarah went on to get a degree in Nursing. Sarah’s truly a member of the Walla Walla Vintners family as the daughter of Kate and Gordy Venneri.

When she’s not helping out at the winery she works as a registered nurse and in 2011 married Derek Neher.

TODD BERNAVE
Crush Manager

Todd has a long history at Walla Walla Vintners, dating back to 1999 when he began helping during crush. His father, Rich Bernave, was one of Vintners original team members, working over 16 crushes and counting. Once Todd started to work the pad alongside his dad, he couldn’t seem to get enough. Following in his father’s footsteps, he began working full time as Vintners crush manager in 2008. Managing the crush crew and working closely with Gordy, Myles, Bill and Judah - Todd’s brings Walla Walla Vintners passion for making great wine to the crush pad.  While away from the winery, Todd is an artist represented by galleries in Seattle and Portland and works as an event manager at several Seattle area catering companies.