WINE NEWS: Domaine Carneros CEO Eileen Crane to Retire
Sparkling wine industry pioneer Eileen Crane, CEO and head winemaker at Domaine Carneros, will be stepping down from her role as CEO this summer. In 1987 she was selected by Claude Taittinger, President of Champagne Taittinger, to develop the winery. From the beginning, Crane has been an innovator in winemaking, hospitality, direct-to-client services, open book management and environmentally sound practices. Crane has always been ahead of the curve with respect to leadership practices and winemaking excellence.
Prior to joining Domaine Carneros, Crane was hired in 1984 to construct Gloria Ferrer and make their early cuvées. Her first job in the wine industry was as a tour guide at Domaine Chandon. Crane’s desire to become a winemaker was born out of her early experiences in New Jersey where she learned about wine via her father’s extensive wine cellar. She fell in love with champagne with her first sip as a child. After having earned a Master’s degree in nutrition as well as professional training at the Culinary Institute of America, Crane drove across the country to California in 1978 to enroll in oenology and viticulture courses at the University of California, Davis. Told there by a male professor that she would never get a job in the wine industry as a woman could not do barrel work, with determination and the support of Professor Ann Noble at Davis, Crane forged ahead, eventually becoming known as the “Doyenne of Sparkling Wine” by noted writer and author Karen MacNeil. Over her career, Crane has received wide international praise for her refined wines as well as her effective management of the highly reputed winery.
Of Crane’s contributions, Champagne Taittinger President Director General Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger stated, “From the time my uncle Claude interviewed Eileen till today, for the past 33 years, she has been a guiding, steady and creative hand at the helm of Domaine Carneros. It is an internationally renowned brand due to her commitment to excellence and ability to create memorable and elegant wines.” Crane shared, “My dream from the age of eight was to make delicious sparkling wine. From a little girl in New Jersey through a path of many adventures with twists and turns, eventually I found the career that has been more than a dream come true. And it has been a great pleasure to work with the Taittinger family for 33 years.”
Stepping into the role of sparkling winemaker will be Zak Miller, who has worked for over a decade with Eileen as a member of the winemaking team.
ABOUT DOMAINE CARNEROS
Founded in 1987, Domaine Carneros reflects the hallmark of its founder, Champagne Taittinger, in creating a vision of terroir-driven sparkling wine and preserving the quality tenets of the traditional method production. Located entirely within the Carneros AVA, between Napa and Sonoma counties, the six estate vineyards total approximately 400 acres with 125 acres planted to Chardonnay, 225 acres planted to Pinot Noir, with the remaining acres currently in development. The winery focuses on making ultra-premium Carneros sparkling wines largely estate grown and limited production Pinot Noirs.
Domaine Carneros’ château has become a landmark and symbol of the region. The architecture and interior design were inspired by the 18th century Château de la Marquetterie, the historic Taittinger family residence in the Champagne region.
