July 9, 2025 (Rutherford, CA) — Dana Estates is proud to announce the promotion of Maura Johnson to Director of Winemaking. A rising star on this planet of advantageous wine, Johnson brings a worldwide perspective, deep scientific acumen, and a ardour for terroir-driven winemaking to the helm of the property’s celebrated program.
Born and raised in Southern California, Johnson started her winemaking journey on the age of 18 whereas learning Arithmetic at UC Davis. It was there she found the Viticulture and Enology program—an ideal mix of scientific rigor and hands-on craftsmanship—which might form the inspiration of her profession. After graduating, Johnson gained expertise at high wineries throughout Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and Napa Valley, refining her method and philosophy with each classic.
In 2018, she joined Dana Estates as Assistant Winemaker and spent the following a number of years working intently underneath the mentorship of Winemaker Chris Cooney and famend advisor Philippe Melka. In 2025, she was named Director of Winemaking, overseeing manufacturing throughout Dana’s acclaimed property vineyards with a give attention to sustainability and minimalist practices that permit the purity of the fruit to shine.
“I’m extremely honored to step into the function of Director of Winemaking at Dana Estates,” mentioned Johnson. “Since 2018, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Chris Cooney and Philippe Melka—two extraordinary mentors whose dedication to precision, stability, and expression has deeply formed my very own philosophy. I’m excited to hold ahead the custom and spirit of Dana, persevering with to craft wines that replicate each the property’s outstanding terroir and its enduring dedication to excellence.”
The promotion of Maura Johnson follows intently on the heels of the announcement of a brand new single-vineyard wine from Montagna Winery on Pritchard Hill, which joins the vineyard’s single-vineyard bottlings of Helms, Hershey, and Lotus Vineyards.
About Dana Estates
Based in 2005 and nestled on the base of the Mayacamas Mountains in Napa Valley, Dana Estates is devoted to crafting world-class wines by means of meticulous winery administration, natural farming practices, and a philosophy of precision and restraint within the cellar. The property encompasses three distinguished property vineyards: Helms Winery in Rutherford AVA, Lotus in Crystal Springs AVA, and Hershey Winery in Howell Mountain AVA. Dana’s limited-production wines are celebrated for his or her purity, class, and expression of website, and the property is broadly thought to be one among Napa Valley’s fashionable benchmarks for excellence.
About ONDA and VASO Wines
Along with its single-vineyard choices, Dana Estates produces two distinctive wines that showcase the variety of Napa Valley:
ONDA: Crafted within the Bordeaux custom, ONDA is a mix that brings collectively fruit from Helms, Hershey, and Lotus Vineyards, plus a fourth winery known as Crystal Springs, which sits under Lotus Winery within the Crystal Springs AVA. Characterised by its purity, class, and precision, ONDA affords a harmonious expression of the property’s terroirs.
VASO: VASO represents Dana Estates’ dedication to producing wines which might be each approachable and reflective of the property’s excessive requirements. Underneath the VASO label, Dana Estates releases a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Proprietary Pink Mix, and a Sauvignon Blanc.
