Meet the Team

Ross Reedy

Winemaker

Ross Reedy absolutely loves what he does. “I get to work with inspiring people, my job is dynamic and challenging, and I really love the wines we make,” says Reedy. He became fascinated with the craft as a teenager while making wine at home with his father from their vineyard in Alexander Valley. By the time he was 18, he had made up his mind to pursue his passion full time. Reedy studied Wine and Viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, while simultaneously gaining real-world experience at a boutique winery in Paso Robles. After graduation in 2005, he traveled the world- chasing the perfect grape harvest. Stints in cellars, vineyards, and winemaking labs across Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Napa Valley eventually led him back to Sonoma County, where he accepted a permanent position with Truett Hurst and VML. When Ross is not immersed in the creative exploration and the technical challenges of making ultra-premium wines, he can be found spending time with his family, playing guitar, and fishing.

Sylvia Hurst

Event Coordinator

Sylvia was raised in South Lake Tahoe and later attended UC Davis, where she earned her teaching credentials. During her senior year, she met her future husband, and after graduation, the couple moved to Ukiah, California. There, Sylvia began her career teaching Kindergarten through Eighth grade. During summer breaks, she worked as a VIP tour guide and in the catering kitchen at Fetzer Vineyards, where her husband was employed full-time. It was during this time that she discovered a deep passion for the wine industry. That passion eventually led the couple to found Truett Hurst Winery in 2007, located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley. At Truett Hurst, Sylvia wears many hats—serving as property manager, event director, and an essential presence in the tasting room. She takes great pride in creating memorable experiences for guests and is often found at the tasting barn, personally serving food and wine.

Clay Hurst

Tasting Room Manager

Clay was born and raised in Healdsburg, an agricultural community. He feels very fortunate to have grown up in the wine country, and appreciates the local farmers and produce including the grapes used for making wines in the area and for Truett Hurst Winery. He attended local schools in Healdsburg and Sonoma County and worked at VML winery (our sister winery) during the summers as a “cellar rat.” Clay graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2017 with a major in psychology.

Upon graduating from USF, Clay commenced his career at the Truett Hurst tasting room. To enhance his expertise, he subsequently gained experience at various other tasting rooms, including Thomas George Estates, DeLoach, and Rockpile, before returning to manage Truett Hurst.

Clay enjoys riding his motorcycle down Dry Creek Road, appreciating the sunshine and vineyard views. He has a lifelong passion for animals and cherishes time spent with his dog, Maya, and cat, Archie. Truett Hurst has been his home for many years, and he looks forward to working there every day.

Natalie Hurst

Wine Club Manager

Natalie wears just about every hat at Truett Hurst – managing the wine club, customer service, marketing, sales, reporting, and about seven email accounts (and that’s before noon).

Natalie was born and raised in Marin County. She met Clay in high school. Natalie had transferred schools two years earlier but returned to watch her former class graduate at Sonoma Academy. Neither could have guessed they’d one day build a life – and a business – together…10 years later.

After earning her degree in Film and Television at the Savannah College of Art and Design, she headed to Hollywood, working as a film editor and certified stunt driver. (Favorite gig: jumping a car over a Prius for Vin Diesel’s stunt team.)

Eventually, the pull of home, family, and a different kind of adventure brought Natalie back to Sonoma County. Now married, and working alongside Clay and her brother, Rex, she’s helping carry on the Hurst family legacy, building something worth losing sleep over (sometimes until 4 AM).

When she’s not at the winery, you’ll usually find Natalie at the barn with her horse (the honorary Truett Hurst mascot), hanging out with Clay and their cat, Archie, and dog, Maya, or soaking up a rare slow afternoon under the Sonoma County sun.

Karina Lochner

Assistant Wine Club Manager

Karina assists in all things wine club at Truett Hurst—helping manage club operations, inventory, customer service, creative projects, marketing support, and the occasional hosting shift when things get busy. Born and raised in Sonoma County, Karina studied Computer Animation and Visual Effects for Film at The Los Angeles Film School. After a few months abroad, she first learned to appreciate wine while in Bulgaria—where it was often poured straight from the barrel, into 2-liter bottles, labels optional. When she returned home, she was determined to find wines that captured the same magic. She found them in the VML Pinots, and later fell for the full Truett Hurst portfolio, especially the Zinfandels and Petite Sirahs. Today, she loves being part of a winery that feels more like family than work. When she’s not at the winery, Karina spends her time riding horses, oil painting, creating 3D animations, reading, and gaming.

Alex Giovannoli

Tasting Room Associate

Alex was born and raised in Marin County and in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco California.

After going Sir Francis Drake High School in Marin County, Alex attended Santa Barbara City College to study Film Production and Media. Upon completion, he was accepted into Sonoma State University’s Hutchins Program of Liberal Arts and Humanities.

Alex has worked in the wine industry for over 7 years, and has held positions in almost every facet of the business.

Favorite hobbies include: mountain biking, playing guitar, and travelling to new places.

Favorite aspect of working at Truett Hurst, is that the team is not just a team, but a family.

Rex Collenette

Sales & Marketing Coordinator

After graduating from high school in his hometown in California, Rex studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Following his time in Manhattan working in public relations, he returned to Northern California, where he fell in love with the wine industry and the region’s remarkable wines. Since moving back to California, he has experienced nearly every facet of the wine business—from social media and marketing to working harvests and hosting—and he has enjoyed it all. His time working at Truett Hurst is made even better by their incredible Zinfandels and getting to work alongside his family and fantastic coworkers. An avid mountain biker and kayaker, Rex loves spending his spare time outdoors and writing books.