The release of our 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon marks the beginning of our partnership with winemaker Jean Hoeflinger.

Jean Hoefliger, born and raised in Switzerland, embarked on a winemaking journey that took him from his homeland to some of the most renowned wine regions in the world, including Bordeaux and South Africa. His early career saw him honing his craft at prestigious estates such as Château Lynch-Bages, Château Carbonnieux, and Meerlust. After earning a degree in winemaking and viticulture from the Swiss Federal School of Changins, Jean made his way to California, where he spent five years as the winemaker at Newton Vineyard.

Following his successful tenure at Newton, Jean was approached by Alpha Omega, a new venture that offered him the dual role of Winemaker and General Manager. This opportunity allowed him to establish strong relationships with Napa Valley’s top growers and gain invaluable experience in building a Direct-to-Consumer business with national distribution.

In 2005, Jean expanded his influence as a Consulting Winemaker, collaborating with wineries and chateaus across the globe—from Napa Valley to Switzerland and Italy. His portfolio includes work with renowned brands such as Clark Claudon on Howell Mountain; Decades 5, specializing in 100% Petit Verdot from Stagecoach Vineyard; Armanino Family Cellars, known for its Pinot Noirs from Santa Lucia Highlands, Russian River, and Santa Rita Hills, as well as Cabernet from Napa Valley; and Speratus, a small production winery dedicated to funding scholarships for De La Salle High School.

Jean’s passion, deep knowledge, scientific training, and innate talent enable him to transform the finest grapes from around the world into wines of exceptional quality. We are truly fortunate to have Jean with us at Yount Ridge.