Proprietor Tom Leonardini Sr.
Tom enjoys drinking good wine and loves to make great wine. It was this interest in wine that led him to buy Whitehall Lane Winery in March of 1993. Tom was looking for a business to buy and Whitehall Lane was for sale. Knowing that the winery had premium vineyard sources and wines that were starting to turn heads (like the 1990 Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and 1990 Merlot), he put an offer in on a Monday and the following week bought the winery. "This is not just a hobby. We're committed to making superior wines" is what he said back in 1993 and it still rings true today. Tom is an active owner, involved in sales, marketing and production. Almost immediately after buying the winery, he implemented a new barrel aging program and brought in state-of-the-art winemaking equipment. The portfolio of wines was narrowed to focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Tom had the Estate vineyard replanted and bought four additional vineyards including the Leonardini Vineyard. His background is not rooted in wine. He is a native of San Francisco and a successful businessman who has owned several businesses over the years. Whitehall Lane Winery is not like his other ventures; it's a family business with his wife and five children. In fact, he hopes that the winery will be in his family for generations to come. Currently, four of his children are directly involved in day to day operations of the winery while one other participates in a more limited role. Of course, they all enjoy the world class Whitehall Lane wines.
Winemaker Dean Sylvester
Dean is a detail-oriented winemaker who works closely with his crew in the cellar, while keeping a watchful eye on the development of the grapes in the vineyard. He is responsible for all winemaking as well as overseeing the 110 acres of vineyards that Whitehall Lane owns and all vineyards held under contract. He has been making wines in the Napa Valley for the past 22 years and is well respected in the Napa Valley winemaking community. He combines the experience of working with both European and American winemakers, allowing him to marry classic old-world style with modern winemaking techniques. Dean was born and raised just outside of Rochester, New York. He escaped the East to pursue a career in winemaking and enrolled at U.C. Davis. He majored in Fermentation Science and began gaining practical winemaking experience in Santa Cruz and Sonoma before spending 10 years as an assistant winemaker at Newton Vineyards in St. Helena. He has also worked at Chimney Rock Winery in Napa and Mario Perelli- Minetti Winery in St. Helena. Dean is responsible for making the wines rated among the top five in the World from The Wine Spectator Magazine. His focus and attention are apparent in this wine and all of the other wines he makes at Whitehall Lane Winery.
