Winemaking

Tom Hinde, President and Director of Winemaking

One of the most experienced wine industry experts in California, Tom Hinde has extensive expertise in all facets of the wine business – from vineyard cultivation to winery management and hands-on artisan winemaking – his broad skill set has been instrumental in the success of Yao Family Wines.

Under Tom’s direction, Yao Family Wines has garnered prestigious recognition globally including top honors from Robb Report China’s Robb Choice · Best of the Best 2012 where exceptional brands are celebrated for offering the best products in their industries, and a nomination from Wine Enthusiast magazine for 2012 American Winery of the Year following the extraordinary scores of 97 points for the 2009 Yao Ming® Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 95 points for the 2009 Yao Ming® Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tom’s impressive resume spans over three decades with prior posts at some of California’s most acclaimed wineries: from 2005 to 2010, Tom was President, CEO and Director of Winemaking for Flowers Vineyard and Winery, a specialty Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producer located on the Sonoma Coast.

From 1997 to 2005, Tom was General Manager for Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates and helped develop two famed Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon programs as part of the winemaking teams for Lokoya and Cardinale. Additionally, Tom supported the winemaking team at Stonestreet Winery and launched the world-renowned Vérité Estate. For seven years, Tom was General Manager at La Crema and Hartford Family Winery where he helped build La Crema into one of Sonoma County’s most prominent wine producers.

At Yao Family Wines, Tom has leveraged his longstanding grower relationships to source some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after fruit, providing him with the top quality grapes necessary to craft the finest Cabernet Sauvignon from the region. This combined with Tom’s deft winemaking approach and exceptional palate has propelled the highly coveted Yao Family Wines to “must have” status world-wide.

Tom has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Toledo and a winemaking certificate from the highly-regarded University of California, Davis. Tom lives in Santa Rosa and Truckee, California, with his wife and three children.

Larry Bradley, Consulting Viticulturist

Larry has a strong background in both developing and managing vineyards throughout the known world. His particular expertise lies in soils and conservation and his extensive resume includes vineyard management and viticulture consulting experience with Clos du Val Winery, Clover Hill (Australia), Domaine de Nizas (Languedoc, France), Elyse Winery, Falcor Winery, Flowers Winery, Morisoli Vineyards, Taltarni Winery (Australia) and V. Sattui Winery among others.

Larry has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Plant Science from the University of California, Davis.