2025 SCV Board of Directors Election
Please Vote by January 22
Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) is conducting our Board of Directors Annual Slate. This slate is intended for a winery principal or the person that each winery member has indicated as responsible for SCV membership. Each winery is allowed one vote.
We invite you to take part in this important process. For 2025 we have five nominees. Our ballot form includes the ability to submit a write-in candidate, if so desired.
Responses must be submitted no later than January 22, 2025. Bios for all candidates are included on this page.
2025 SCV Board of Directors Slate
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Jennifer Higgins
Vice President, Winemaker, and General Manager, Lambert Bridge Winery
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Jennifer Higgins immersed herself in winemaking while working with the legendary Zelma Long of Simi Winery. After earning a degree from UC Davis in Biochemistry, Jennifer worked in Italy for two years before returning home to take a tasting room job as she studied for her medical school entrance exam. Before long, Jennifer abandoned her aspirations for medicine and dove into the cellar, learning the artistic complexities of the winemaking process from Zelma and her team.
Jennifer took on her first official production role working with Jill Davis at William Hill Winery in Napa Valley. During this time, she worked tirelessly, learning the ropes at a large Napa Valley winery prior to her eleven-year tenure at Lancaster Estate where she collaborated often with the iconic winemaking consultant David Ramey.
In early 2010, Jennifer joined Lambert Bridge and the rest is history.
In 2023, Jennifer was promoted to Vice President, Winemaker, and General Manager. Among other things, she is responsible for overseeing the winery’s day-to-day operations, setting long-term goals, and ensuring Lambert Bridge’s continued success. Her personable, hands-on style is immeasurable as she has laid the foundation for her team’s success. In her tenure, she has elevated the standards of winemaking and guest experience through innovative techniques and meticulous attention to detail.
Tony Lombardi
Founder/Proprietor, Lombardi Wines and Lombardi Marketing
Tony grew up in Sonoma County and graduated from Saint Mary’s College with a degree in Business Management. His first job in wine came in 1998 when he joined the hospitality team at Clos Du Bois Winery, located in Geyserville, CA. During this time, he formed great friendships with colleagues that shared his passion for all things food and wine. He shared this enthusiasm with consumers, trade partners and media that would come to learn about Alexander Valley wines.
In 2001, Tony joined the public relations team at Allied Domecq Wines. This is where his career in public relations began, overseeing 12 international and domestic wineries with responsibilities in brand positioning, message development, media relations, event management, and strategic planning.
A series of mergers and acquisitions followed, where Allied Domecq was purchased by Fortune Brands and Tony assumed the role of Public Relations Manager with the new company, Beam Wine Estates, managing PR efforts for seven prestige brands within the portfolio. After the purchase of Beam Wine Estates by Constellation Wines U.S. in 2007, Tony spent a short time working with Russian River Valley Sparkling and Pinot Noir specialist, J Vineyards & Winery in the role of Marketing and Public Relations Manager. In June 2008, he helped launch Healdsburg start-up company, Ascentia Wine Estates as Director of Public Relations spearheading efforts for its five California and three Pacific Northwest brands.
Tony joined the exceptional team at Kosta Browne Winery as its Brand and Public Relations Director in 2010. For the next five years he was tasked with helping build brand awareness for the ultra-premium Pinot Noir specialist, its exceptional wine quality and the Kosta Browne experience for its consumer, media and trade audiences and assisted in its sale at the end of 2014.
Tony founded Lombardi Wines in 2013, in a pursuit to honor his family’s rich history of wine, food, and tradition. Together, with winemaker Cabell Coursey, they make small lots of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from some of the finest vineyards in Sonoma County. The Pinot Noir is crafted with care from a family of growers in Petaluma, where the Lombardi family has been since 1947.
In 2015, Tony started a boutique consulting company offering Marketing, Public Relations, and Sales services to the benefit of small family wine businesses in need of this expertise. With over 30 years of experience in management, production, sales, marketing and public relations, Lombardi Marketing is a trusted source to the benefit of wineries operating in the luxury wine category. Current and Past Clients include: A.P. VIN, Arista Winery, Blue Farm Wines, Browne Family Wines – CIRQ/CHEV Wines, Bucher Wines, Chenoweth Wines, Cornerstone Cellars, Coursey Graves, Donum Estate, Flanagan Vineyards, Geodesy Wine, J. Cage Cellars, Keller Estate, Kobler Estate Winery, Kreck Wines, Maxville Winery, Pellegrini Wine Company, Jigar & Sedition Wines, Ram’s Gate Winery, Roger Roessler Wines, Sangiacomo Family Wines, Saxon Brown Wines, Serres Ranch Wine, Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery, Three Sticks Wines, Valette Wines, and Work Vineyard.
When he is not busy promoting the wonderful stories of exceptional Sonoma County and Napa Valley wine, Tony enjoys spending time with his wife, Christine and sons, Drew, and Aidan.
Mark Mathewson
General Manager, Knights Bridge Winery
Mark Mathewson is the General Manager at Knights Bridge Winery where he provides vision and leadership for the entire organization, including estate vineyard, winemaking, production, sales, marketing, and the guest experience.
With over 30 years in the wine industry, Mark spent much of his career at Jackson Family Wines as Vice President of Hospitality and Direct to Consumer sales. There he oversaw a broad swath of the business, including culinary, hospitality, and DTC programs across the company’s iconic properties, including the Kendall-Jackson and La Crema Estates. His dynamic imprint is seen everywhere at JFW, evident in the world-class culinary programs at many of the estates, and in the Wine Center greenhouses that cultivate heirloom vegetables for the region’s top restaurants. Mark also held executive leadership roles at Sterling Vineyards and Rodney Strong, launching innovative culinary and concert initiatives while there.
Mark earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and an MBA from Sonoma State University. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine, a Level 1 Master Sommelier, and an active member of the wine community, serving on industry boards such as the Sonoma County Hospitality Association and the Santa Rosa Junior College Wine Studies Advisory Board. When not working or contributing his expertise and experience to the wine industry, Mark enjoys cycling the backroads of Sonoma County and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Alexandra O’Gorman
Vice President, Community Relations, Foley Family Wines & Spirits
As Vice President of Community Relations at Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS), Alexandra O’Gorman oversees community and industry engagement efforts across all nine regions where FFWS operates, including Sonoma County, Napa Valley, California’s Central Coast, the Willamette Valley, Walla Walla, and a distillery in Minden, Nevada.
In her role, Alexandra drives initiatives that strengthen FFWS’s connections with its local communities and the broader wine industry, focusing on social impact, sustainability, and fostering meaningful relationships. Her leadership ensures FFWS is not only a producer of exceptional wines & spirits but also a champion of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and community collaboration.
With over two decades of wine industry experience, Alexandra has held senior leadership positions at iconic Sonoma County wineries such as Ramey Wine Cellars, Hanna Winery, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and Korbel Champagne Cellars. Since joining FFWS in 2021, she has leveraged her expertise and passion to build partnerships that align with FFWS’s values and long-term goals.
Alexandra holds a BA and an MBA from Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute and is a certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. A California native, she grew up in Carmel and has lived in Sonoma County since 2002 with her husband and two children.
Julie Rothberg
President, Medlock Ames
Julie Rothberg is a New York native who discovered her passion for wine while living in London in the early 2000s. While traveling across Europe, she had the opportunity to try numerous styles of wine from around the world. Upon her return to the states, Julie earned her Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University in 2007 then briefly worked in management consulting. Before leaving New York, Julie managed the luxury portfolio for Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, where she directed a team that oversaw 20 domestic and imported brands with a combined revenue of $80 million. She also holds a Diploma certification through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and earned her Bachelor’s in History and Psychology from the University of Rochester.
Julie is the President of Medlock Ames, where she manages the 340 acre Bell Mountain property, 50 acres of vineyards, winery, hospitality centers and a team of 25. She evolved Medlock Ames’ mission of sustainability and land preservation after much of Bell Mountain burned in the 2019 Kincade Fire. Julie works towards increasing sustainability practices and combatting the impacts of climate change at the winery as well as fostering an atmosphere of curiosity and ambition with her team. In 2022, Medlock Ames became the first winery in Sonoma County to earn Regenerative Organic Certification.
Julie also founded Odyssey Wine Academy in 2021 to provide Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) certifications and other wine education courses in Sonoma County. When Julie is not enjoying wine and running a winery, she is an avid cyclist, a history buff and spends time with her twin daughters in Healdsburg.
About Sonoma County Vintners
Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) connects Sonoma County wine and the global marketplace for the sustainable growth and prosperity of our members and community. SCV represents over 250 wineries throughout the county. The organization actively promotes Sonoma County and its world-class wineries through educational programming and marketing initiatives; advocates for its members at local, state and federal levels; and contributes to the local communities through the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation. Sonoma County Wine Celebration, its annual fundraiser, benefits nonprofit organizations throughout the region. To learn more about Sonoma County Vintners, visit sonomawine.com.