shopping basket
Our Story
Our Team
Jeff Vernon
WINEMAKER
Jeff grew up in Westfield, NY, the “concord grape juice capital.” He studied viticulture at Cornell and has been Chamard’s Wine Maker for 2 and a half years. He is the proud father of his 2 teenage sons, Clay and Morgan. Outside of the vineyard Jeff spends his free time at the beach playing volleyball and kite surfing. He has a number of hobbies including rugby and mixed martial arts training, but is a self-professed, “Jack of all, master of none.” Jeff’s goal is to make Chamard a leader in the Northeast wine industry and to produce and serve the best wine possible.
Favorite wine: Bordeaux Blend
Bridget Riordan
DIRECTOR OF SALES AND BRAND MANAGEMENT
After Rothberg purchased the vineyards in 2006, he hired on Bridget Riordan as the Director of Sales and Brand Management. Bridget originally from Syracuse, attended Boston University where she earned a B.S in Hotel and Food Administration and Business. She was hired by Rothberg to evolve Chamard vineyards into a Connecticut destination. Bridget is an avid runner and coaches cross country at her son, Gus’s school. Bridget’s daughter, Georgia, works alongside her at the winery. Her passion in life is wine but she also enjoys a good local goat cheese as well.
Favorite wine: Chablis
Laura Jackson
RESERVATIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNER
Attended Florida Gulf Coast University
Mario Lupone
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Mario is a Clinton native, who is attending UCONN where he studies nursing. He has worked as a Trade Representative at Chamard for 3 years. He had always loved wine and supporting local business/produce, so Chamard was a perfect home. Mario enjoys working out, softball and traveling. New Zealand is his favorite country so far but he has traveled to over 20 countries and counting. One of his favorite quotes is from Albert Einstein, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”
Favorite wine: 2005 Chamard Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Tom Mannello
CELLAR MANAGER
Works as a consultant for M&M Winegrape Company in Hartford, CT and for Chamard Vineyards. He is the chairman of the Hartford chapter of the American Wine Society. Tom has been a wine judge for a number of wine society events and for competitions.
Ray Ambrose
ASSISTANT CELLAR REPRESENTATIVE
Martin Carerra
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Stephanie Romano
TASTING ROOM ASSISTANT
Stephanie has worked at Chamard as a Tasting Room Assistant for 3 years. She recently received her graduate degree at Southern in School Counseling. Outside of the vineyard she works at Derby High School in New Haven, CT and as a private college consultant. Her favorite movie is Bottle Shock and her quote to live by is “Life is what you make it, always has been, always will be.”
Patrick Leal
TASTING ROOM ASSISTANT
Patrick, originally from San Diego, CA moved to Milford, CT in 2005 with his wife Tina. Formerly he worked in the corporate world as a political consultant but decided to leave it all behind to do what he had always dreamt of, working at a vineyard. Chamard was Patrick’s first stop on the Connecticut wine trail back in 2005 and now he is a Tasting Room Assistant at Chamard. When he is not at Chamard, Patrick makes his own wine, in his own cellar at home.
Favorite wine: Red Zinfandel
Kristen Chantrell
TASTING ROOM ASSISTANT
Kristen is the newest member of the team. She started in October 2011 as a Tasting Room Assistant. She grew up in Preston, CT but now lives in East Lyme with her husband Tom and her 2 young sons, Tyler and Ethan. Kristen grew up drinking wine; her grandfather lived in Belarus when he was forced in to a labor camp. It was there that he learned to make wine. He brought this knowledge back to his family and they have been making there own wine ever since. Kristen enjoys hiking, camping and spending time with her family.
Favorite wine: Pinot Noir