Hours
Open Daily 10am - 5pm.
1-951-694-8855
35053 Rancho California Rd
Temecula, CA 92591
Meet the Ponte Winery Management Team
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Jayna Warila
Assistant Tasting Room Manager
Jayna is our Assistant Tasting Room Manager with a true passion for making people happy. She prides herself on always giving 100% in order for her daily "reward" of a guest's smile or positive comment on their experience at Ponte Winery. Discovering some creative flair while working as a cashier initially, Jayna now has a knack for interior design as she aides in merchandising many of the Ponte's brilliantly adorned and festive tables. This talent will come in handy as she plans her wedding for Fall of 2010. It seems that Jayna's time at Ponte Winery has definitely reflected in her personal life. After Ponte's Half Marathon and 5K last summer, Jayna has become an avid runner.
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Ty Tyler
Assistant Tasting Room Manager
Ty is Ponte Winery's leader in entertainment giving our Tasting Room guests lively tours with his energetic Southern charisma. Originally a minister from New Orleans, Ty moved to Murrieta with his wife and two daughters following Hurricane Katrina. The Tyler family has made Ponte Winery like a second home with Ty being the third sibling to join our Ponte family. Described as Ponte Winery's "American Idol," Ty is known to treat our guests to an operatic rendition of "Happy Birthday" in the Tasting Room. A rollercoaster enthusiast who rides his scooter in the mountains for relaxation, Ty is definitely full of life and always ensures our guests are having a fun and relaxing day at Ponte Winery.
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Lana Trammell
Controller
Lana is responsible for all the accounting, human resources and computer maintenance responsibilities. We don't know what we would do without her. Lana comes to the valley from Utah where she has lived the majority of her life. She currently lives in Temecula with her two daughters' ages 14 and 6 and is a true soccer mom (even though the sport is softball). So while not crunching numbers Lana is attending every softball game you can imagine cheering her daughter on.
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Lauren Todd
Tasting Room Manager
Lauren is our Tasting Room Manager and Marketplace buyer. Her style and eye for décor is really phenomenal. "What started out as a job has really turned in to a passion for me," says Lauren. "Being able to come to work everyday and use my creative talents to enhance our guests' experience is really incredible." While not creating, Lauren spends her time, well, you guessed it, shopping. She has also just recently taken up snowboarding and loves it. Lauren resides in Carlsbad.
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Claudio Ponte
General Partner
Claudio oversees every aspect of the winery, spending a lot of time monitoring service standards and guest satisfaction. He enjoys working with all our associates and inspires us with constant reminders of our values and our promise to our guests. He resides in Camarillo and visits us once or twice a week, going back and forth in his small airplane. He is active in our local Winegrowers Association, and is a supporter of several local and regional charities (his favorite is Angel Flight). An avid aviation fan, he recently retired from competitive sailplane flying and now splits his free time between his three kids' various activities and the golf course, where he struggles to maintain his handicap. He's a voracious reader (leaning toward non-fiction) , and a lover of wine, food and foreign travel.
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Terry Pepin
Facilities Manager
Terry Pepin graces the Ponte team and guests alike with his Midwestern charm. He moved to the Temecula area 7 years ago from Wisconsin, where he founded and managed a state-of-the art precision machine shop. Terry is in charge of the entire Ponte facility. From keeping up the beautiful landscaping to making sure our ovens are working properly; Terry really does it all. While not holding down the fort, Terry enjoys international travel. He's spent a Christmas in the French Alps, tasted hand-pressed olive oil in the hills of Italy and goes to Thailand whenever possible to help his good friend Fr. Mike Shea working with aids orphans in NE Thailand.
(www.SarnelliOrphanage.org)
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Ragan Erickson
Direct Sales Manager
Ragan is in charge of our Direct Shipping Department which includes the Wine Club, Online Store and Marketing. She loves her job. "Who wouldn't love working in a beautiful environment with an extremely talented team while helping guests enjoy a wonderful day in the country - this is truly a dream job." Ragan lives in Fallbrook with her husband of 8 years and 4 year old daughter Ella. She is a home-makeover guru and will do anything to get her hands on a rundown house to bring it back to life. You may also have seen Ragan featured on HGTV's show Designing Cents where her living room was transformed from "nice" to "WOW!"
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Lindsey Dick
Marketing Coordinator
Lindsey is the face behind Ponte Winery's daily "tweets" and Facebook updates. She is in charge of writing creative copy for our newsletter, running photo shoots and managing our social marketing efforts. "Not many people can say that they have their dream job. I love the strategic creativity, the beautiful environment and the lively interaction with our guests." Lindsey is a social, outgoing, bright woman with a passion for wine, food, family and living life to the fullest. When she is not typing away or shooting videos to upload, she is planning the next dinner party between family and friends. "Of course with Ponte wines to sip on."
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Robert Cartwright
Winemaker
Robert is the man behind all of Ponte's delicious wines we produce. With a passion for blending and a true love of wine, Robert really makes the winemaking experience an exciting one. Robert currently resides in Temecula with his wife Maria and 5 year old daughter - who of course is the apple of his eye. When not performing chemistry experiments in the winemaking office Robert is the Dad of the year. "My family really is the most important thing in my life. We spend the weekends enjoying each others' company."
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Karon Cartwright
Food and Beverage Manager
Karon is Ponte Winery's Food and Beverage Manager. While Karon heads the Smokehouse Restaurant, kitchen and event department her true passion is revealed with her wealth of expertise as she heads our Weddings department. Karon brings experience, knowledge, and an overwhelming amount of peace and calmness to our bridal couples. A gardening enthusiast, Karon is known around Ponte Winery as the woman who trumps Martha Stewart. Karon is married to local wedding minister Michael Cartwright. Between the two of them they eat, drink and sleep weddings and LOVE it. "I've been very blessed to choose my career path in this life."
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Sara Buzza
Wine Club Manager
Sara is in charge of fulfilling any and all things related to Ponte Winery's Wine Club. Always the friendly people person, Sara enjoys talking and interacting with our Wine Club Members and providing excellent customer service to them. "It makes me happy when I know I have helped provide our guests with a wonderful experience at Ponte Winery." Residing in Murrieta, Sara enjoys dinner and movie dates with her husband of almost 4 years and traveling to the desert for weekend trips with their Boston Terrier, Belle.
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Lynn Barnes
Restaurant Manager
Lynn is the Restaurant Manager of the Smokehouse Restaurant. A self-proclaimed "foodie," Lynn is a lover of fine food, great wine, and of creating dining experiences that are unforgettable. With over 25 years of experience in the professional food service industry, Lynn has made flourishing and positive changes to the quality of service offered at the Smokehouse Restaurant.
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