Bouchaine - Chris Kajani

Bouchaine was founded in 1981 by Tatiana and Gerret Copeland, making it one of the oldest, continuously family-owned properties in the Carneros AVA today. Under the Copelands’ leadership, Bouchaine has grown from a pair of ramshackle buildings into one of the leading producers of sustainably farmed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the region. In 2015, they recruited Chris Kajani as general manager and winemaker, along with Erik Goodmanson as associate winemaker. Fueled by imagination, passion and with an eye toward the future, Kajani and her team have since elevated the farming practices and vineyards, modernized the cellar, and developed a new world-class hospitality center and demonstration kitchen. As the winery enters its 40th year, the Copelands, who are based in Delaware, continue to bring an international perspective to the winery with an eye to the future. They invested in this cool-climate region long before it was well known and remain active in the day-to-day operations and strategic plans. The Copelands care deeply about sustainable agriculture and growing elegant wine, while also bringing effortless fun to each of the winery’s touchpoints. If one sentence can encapsulate the energy they bring, it is the words embossed in the floor entrance of the winery’s new Visitor Center: “Wine Makes you Happy.”