Our Team
Meet the newest members of the Stony Hill Vineyard family! We are eager to familiarize ourselves with Stony Hill’s vineyards, history, and home to best preserve the legacy started by Fred and Eleanor McCrea so many years ago.
We appreciate the care and support given to the Stony Hill family by our neighbors and wine peers during this time of transition and discovery. Share a glass with us here on Spring Mountain!
Michaela Louise Kelly, Estate Director
Michaela comes to us by way of Chicago where she fell in love with wine while bartending at an Alinea Group Restaurant called Roister. After deciding to further her wine education, she transitioned to the sommelier team at Alinea, where she worked up until July 2020. Her long-term goal was always to move to the Napa Valley. When an opportunity to do a harvest internship with Schramsberg was offered, plans were accelerated. Following harvest, Michaela joined the team at PRESS and became the Assistant General Manager shortly after.
With a background in theater and dance, the narrative that wine presents has always resonated with Michaela. The rich history of Stony Hill Vineyard caught her attention early on in her wine studies with the Napa Valley. Michaela holds the role of Estate Director with the passion of continuing on the story and legacy of those before her and is excited to curate the next chapter of what Stony Hill has to offer.
Reid Griggs, Winemaker
Reid Griggs is a passionate first-generation winemaker who found his calling to wine through a fascination with the natural world. During his first vintage at Bedrock Wine Company, his work in the cellar along with visits to some of the oldest vineyards in the region solidified his inspiration to pursue a career in winemaking.
From working on the steep slopes of Saint Joseph in the Northern Rhone to farming some of the oldest Cabernet vines in the Napa Valley, Reid continued to form his winemaking philosophies and vision for articulating place through wine. He holds a Masters in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis and has published research on microbial terroir.
Reid is focused on crafting wines that reflect the distinct ecology of each place and sees winemaking as the discipline of honoring the history and character of the land, and the people who steward it. He finds it a tremendous honor to be a part of the genealogy of Stony Hill and carry on the tradition of making classically proportioned wines here, started by the McCrea Family, on behalf of the Lawrence Family and Carlton McCoy.
Julia Minnillo, Member and Guest Relations Manager
Julia is a hospitality professional with over fifteen years of experience and holds a background in Journalism and Marketing. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Julia moved to the east coast to study at Boston University’s School of Communications and simultaneously began her career in the restaurant profession. Here she found her desire for all things food, wine, and entertaining. She continued her growth in hospitality in New York City, working in Michelin Star restaurants including Danny Meyer’s Maialino and Lydia and Joe Bastianich’s Del Posto.
In 2015, Julia returned to her home state of California and settled in Napa Valley to further establish her career in the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group. There she graduated to a Captain position at the 3-star Michelin restaurant The French Laundry, and later to Marketing and Social Media Associate for all of TKRG’s casual restaurants.
Combining her hospitality knowledge, love for wine, and writing experience, Julia looks forward to leading the allocation list program and delivering exceptional guest experiences.