George Blanckensee

George Blanckensee

NVHF Co-Founder and Advisor

NVHF Role: Co-Founder and Advisor

After many years of continuous service since the start of the Forum and creation of a Board, George serves in an advisory capacity to the current board members, providing valuable input in his 15 plus years of wine hospitality industry work.  He continues to work on the administrative aspects of the board needs, and helps organize the annual event

Estate Director - Chateau Montelena

Email: GBlanckensee@montelena.com

Bio:

As Estate Director at Chateau Montelena, George oversees all DTC and export

sales at the Chateau, including events, guest experiences, and property

grounds. A Bay Area native, George grew up in San Francisco before heading to

Southern California, where he attended and graduated from the University of

California, Irvine, with a degree in Political Science.  While in school, he started

working in the hotel business, where he stayed for over 20 years – most of which

time was concentrated in the food and beverage operations at resorts in both

Southern and Northern California, Florida, and Colorado.

George realized his passion for wine and entered the wine industry as opening

General Manager for Press Club, a unique wine tasting venue in downtown San

Francisco. With a long-time relationship with Chateau Montelena as a buyer and

supporter, he eventually joined the team at Montelena in 2009.

Along with his tenure at Chateau Montelena, George has been active within the

Napa Valley Community, sitting on the Executive board of the Calistoga

Winegrower’s Association for over 8 years, and currently on the board for the

Calistoga Chamber of Commerce.

Along with the late Kerry Andrews, George helped create the Napa Valley

Hospitality Forum over 12 years ago, realizing the need to have like minded

professionals in the wine industry gather and discuss the operational

opportunities and challenges we face in the valley; finding and sharing common

solutions and ideas.