THE TEAM
The Hands Behind the Wine
Every vine tended with care. Every vintage shaped by people who love this land.
Meet the People of Airola Road Vineyards
Great wine begins with great people. At Airola Road Vineyards, every bottle carries the fingerprints of a small, dedicated team from the family who stewards the land to the hands that tend each vine. These are the people who wake before dawn, who read the weather in the fog, and who pour their care into 61 acres of Gold Country soil every single day.
We don't just work here. We belong to this place.
GEORGE & BIRGIT KLAUSE
VINEYARD STEWARDS
A Promise to
the Land
What began as a handwritten letter between California and Austria became a love story, and eventually, a vineyard. George and Birgit Klause didn't come to Gold Country looking to build a brand. They came looking for a place to put down roots, quite literally.
As Vineyard Stewards, George and Birgit set the vision and the values that shape everything at Airola Road. They believe in honoring what was here before them, in tending the land with patience rather than force, and in building something that will outlast any single vintage.
Their promise was simple: care for this land as if it were family. It is.
CHRIS EHRENBERG
WINEMAKER
Crafting Gold
Country's Finest
Chris Ehrenberg's love of wine was born at his father's table, a German-European household where wine was poured with reverence and every dinner came with a story. That early appreciation became a calling. Starting with a single barrel in his garage, Chris was mentored by the legendary Ken Rosenblum, the "Godfather of Zinfandel," spending five years learning the craft that would define his career.
Chris went on to found his own award-winning winery in Livermore Valley, earning Double Gold and Gold medals and a reputation as one of the region's most respected palates, serving as a professional wine judge for the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition of American wines in the world. Now, as winemaker at Airola Road Vineyards, he brings that depth of expertise to Gold Country, coaxing the best from seven estate-grown varietals, from ultra-rare Sagrantino to bold Cabernet Sauvignon.
“I want to make a wine that when you smell it, you don’t have to drink it because it smells so good and lasts so long. And then, when you drink it, you don’t have to take another sip because the flavors last so long.”
JOHN SASS
ESTATE MANAGER
The Engine Behind
the Estate
Behind every seamless day at Airola Road Vineyards is John Sass. As Estate Manager, John oversees the daily operations that keep the property running at the highest standard, from coordinating the vineyard and grounds teams to ensuring every corner of the 61-acre estate reflects the care and intention the Klause family is known for.
John brings the kind of quiet, steady leadership that a working vineyard estate demands always present, always anticipating, always making sure the land and the people who tend it have what they need.
SUSAN KELLEHER
VENUE EVENTS MANAGER
With a keen eye for detail and a calm hand behind the scenes, Susan Kelleher ensures every event at Airola Road Vineyards unfolds seamlessly. From coordinating vendors and managing timelines to anticipating the needs of each couple and their guests, Susan brings the kind of warmth and precision that turns a beautiful setting into an unforgettable experience.
Crafting Beautiful Moments
The Heart of the Estate - The Team
-
Francisco
VINEYARD MANAGER
The vines are his language. He reads the seasons in the soil.
-
Nicole Sass
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Seasonal, locally inspired cuisine that honors the land and the occasion.
-
Ricardo & Margarita
GROUNDS KEEPERS
The pride of the estate grounds - every path, every garden, every detail.
-
Rosa
RESIDENCE CARETAKER
The warmth behind every welcome. She makes the estate feel like home.
These Are the People
Behind Every Glass
From the vineyard rows to the cellar, from the grounds to the residence, every person at Airola Road Vineyards pours their care into this place. The wines we make carry their intention. The land we tend reflects their devotion.