Robin Baggett of Alpha Omega Winery and Tolosa Winery Elected 2025-26 Wine Institute Chairman

New Officers and Board Directors Named

SACRAMENTO - Robin Baggett, managing partner of Alpha Omega Winery in St. Helena and Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo, was elected Wine Institute board chairman for the 2025-26 fiscal year at the organization's 91st Annual Membership and Board of Directors Meeting in St. Helena, June 8-10, 2025.

Other officers elected were Gretchen Roddick of Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, first vice chairman; Ben Dollard of Treasury Wine Estates, second vice chairman; Ed Matovcik of Constellation Brands, treasurer; and Christine Wente of Wente Family Estates, secretary. Robert P. Koch is president and CEO of Wine Institute.

Matt Gallo, vice president and general manager of Gallo Vineyards, Inc., headquartered in Modesto, is the outgoing chairman and becomes an ex-officio board member.

"I am eager to capitalize on Wine Institute's long history of success and continue its dedicated efforts to safeguard and promote California's wine community," said Baggett. "At Alpha Omega we have thrived as a result of decades of Wine Institute's work. I look forward to working with the team to help California's vintners succeed in an evolving landscape of policy challenges and emerging wine consumers."

Baggett began his wine career in 1998 as a grape grower, planting more than 750 acres of grapes and establishing Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo. In 2005, Robin and his wife Michelle founded and created Alpha Omega Winery in Rutherford in the Napa Valley. Born and raised in Salinas, Robin attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo on a baseball scholarship. A juris doctorate degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law led to a 40-year career as an attorney and an eight-year stint as general counsel of the NBA's Golden State Warriors.

"We are fortunate to have great leaders within California's wine community," said Koch. "Robin's passion and business and legal acumen will provide exceptional stewardship as we launch new initiatives to support Wine Institute's industry leading advocacy work. Robin and our entire leadership team are committed to ensuring wine's heritage, community roots, increasing sustainability and economic strength are all part of our message and advocacy."

Wine Institute's membership also elected new district and at-large directors and their alternates. District directors and their alternates are elected on a one-winery, one-vote basis in each district.