Our Team
Jean Case
Owner
Jean Case, the Chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Impact Network and the Case Foundation, is a philanthropist, investor and internet and impact investing pioneer who is a passionate believer in the power of business to do good and advocates for the importance of embracing a more fearless approach to innovate and bring about transformational breakthroughs. Her career in the private sector, including as a senior executive at AOL, spanned nearly two decades before co-founding the Case Foundation in 1997.
A Virginia resident for 35 years, she has led a movement to showcase the best foods and wines from across the Commonwealth. She opened Early Mountain Vineyards in 2012 and since then the vineyard has elevated to one of the most celebrated in the state with recognitions from USA Today, Food & Wine Magazine, Wine Enthusiast and more.
Jon Ruel
President
Jon Ruel brings two decades of distinguished leadership in the wine industry to his role as President of Early Mountain Vineyards. With a passion for developing high-performing teams, Jon has dedicated his career to crafting terroir-driven wines and innovative guest experiences. Before joining Early Mountain, Jon served as the CEO of Trefethen Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, where he was instrumental in elevating the brand on the global stage. Under Jon’s guidance, Early Mountain Vineyards is poised to continue leading the Virginia wine industry with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and unparalleled excellence.
Maya Hood White
Winemaker & Viticulturist
Born in California, as a Virginia transplant, Maya found a new passion for wine in central Virginia. With a background in mathematics and engineering, she later earned an M.S. in Viticulture and Enology from U.C. Davis, where her research focused on wine sensory. She gained hands-on experience at several boutique wineries across the state before joining Early Mountain, where she now leads both grapegrowing and winemaking. Known for her low-impact winemaking practices and site-driven wines, Maya was nominated for Wine Enthusiast’s and VinePair’s Winemaker of the Year in 2024.
Julia Graves
Assistant Winemaker
Julia received her M.S. degree in Vine, Wine, and Terroir Management from the Ecole Supérieure d’Agricultures, during which she studied winemaking and sustainable viticulture in Spain, Italy, and France. She completed her thesis at Fresno State University, and her research on how polysaccharides influence the results of polymeric pigment analysis in red wines was published in the ACS Journal of Food Science and Technology. She previously completed her undergraduate degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Georgia and caught the wine bug while studying abroad in Tuscany. Julia has spent the last several years working in Napa and Sonoma but has decided to settle in Virginia a little closer to her family in the southeast. She is excited to continue making high quality wines with minimal intervention and terroir expression. When not at work, you can find her spending time with her dog Daisy and sampling the local cuisine.
Jenny Desormeaux - Farrell
Cellar Lead and Lab Manager
Jenny studied horticulture at Virginia Tech before working at several greenhouses around Virginia. It was her interest in plants and viticulture that led her to pursuing a harvest internship in 2022. Since then she has stayed on and continues to work in the cellar and production laboratory. When she's not in the lab you'll find her hanging out with her two cats, tending to all her houseplants or trying to master a new bread recipe.
Bekah Erkel
Director of Marketing
Bekah’s love for the creative arts began early, laying the foundation for her expertise in visuals and design. She later studied business and marketing, blending strategic thinking with consumer psychology to amplify luxury brands. With over 12 years of experience marketing Virginia wine, she is passionate about elevating the region’s visibility and reputation.
At Early Mountain, Bekah leads our marketing efforts, combining strategic expertise with storytelling to build brand loyalty and broaden our global reach. Outside of work, she enjoys continued learning, mentoring and contributing to various related publications and media outlets.
Ian Rynecki
Director of Sales and Hospitality
Ian brings over 14 years of hospitality and culinary leadership to Early Mountain. Known for his thoughtful, guest-centered approach, he previously served as General Manager at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyard and led culinary operations for Easton Porter Group across premier properties in Virginia and South Carolina. Throughout his career, Ian has built high-performing teams, created immersive guest experiences, and implemented systems that elevate service and efficiency.
At Early Mountain, he oversees all of our hospitality strategy and operations, crafting elevated wine and culinary experiences and events that reflect our commitment to excellence. Outside of work, Ian enjoys playing tennis as often as possible and will never turn down a good book.
Tim Moore
Executive Chef
Tim's culinary journey began in Richmond, where he discovered his true passion for the culinary arts. In 2012, he had the opportunity to join the culinary team at The Inn at Little Washington, marking a transformative chapter in his career. Tim drew inspiration from Chef O'Connell's expertise and the focus on exceptional hospitality and was proud to be a member of the team that achieved three Michelin stars.
As Executive Chef at Early Mountain, Tim showcases his unwavering dedication with every dish he artfully crafts, blending technical expertise, artistic flair, and a profound understanding of ingredients. Raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, Tim loves fishing and spending time outdoors with his family.
Kristen Hall
Chef de Cuisine
With a sweet start as Pastry Chef at The Inn at Little Washington, Kristen worked alongside Chef Tim and was part of the team that earned three Michelin stars. Joining our team in 2019, Kristen has been a leading asset ever since, bringing her impressive background, unwavering dedication, and creative spirit to elevate our culinary experiences. Kristen was born and raised in Culpeper, Virginia, and graduated from the prestigious Johnson and Wales University with both a Baking and Pastry Arts Degree, and a Food and Beverage Management Degree. She loves trying new wines, spending time with family and friends, and playing with her two adorable pups.
Paige Burnett
Tasting Room Manager
Full bio coming soon.
Peggy Kearns Dean
Sommelier & Brand Ambassador
With a WSET Level 4 Diploma, Peggy has been immersed in the world of wine since 2016. Her background includes experience as a Brand Ambassador for a global luxury wine company and as a sommelier in fine dining in Los Angeles.
She recently made the move east to join Early Mountain and she is excited about the momentum building in Virginia wine.
As our Sommelier & Brand Ambassador, Peggy brings together her expertise in hospitality, sales, and wine education. She supports the tasting room experience, represents the winery at events and dinners, and works closely with restaurant and retail partners to expand our presence in the broader wine market.
Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two cats.
Sophia Sharp
Events Manager
Sophia comes to Early Mountain with 8 years of hospitality experience in Washington, DC, Nantucket, and Lake Tahoe. She brings a natural talent for event organization and a deep love of creating special moments to the Early Mountain events team. Alongside Sophia is an incredible group of event staff who ensure that EMV weddings, events, and dinners are elevated experiences down to the smallest detail.
Outside of work, Sophia can often be found crocheting or embroidering with an audiobook playing. She and her husband, John, spend much of their time exploring the local food scene, hiking with their dog, and camping whenever they can.
Nikki Sarver
Event Coordinator
Nikki began her career at Early Mountain as a banquet server, quickly growing into her role as Event Coordinator. Over the past three years, she discovered a passion for weddings and private events, drawn to the energy behind the scenes and the process of bringing each celebration to life.
She works closely with couples from their first visit through the final moments of their day, guiding each step with care and attention to detail. From leading tours of the property to executing the smallest requests, she ensures every event reflects the vision and personality of those she works with.
Jessica Sapin
Sales Coordinator
Jessica brings over 12 years of experience in customer service and hospitality, with a focus on creating thoughtful, elevated guest experiences. Her background spans both healthcare and hospitality, where she developed a strong foundation in service, operations, and client experience. From improving the patient journey in healthcare to leading as a Beverage Director at a Charlottesville restaurant, she brings a well-rounded, people-first approach to her work.
At Early Mountain, Jessica supports direct-to-consumer sales, oversees customer communications, and coordinates logistics to ensure a seamless experience from first touchpoint to final delivery.
Jessica enjoys time outdoors—cheering on her son from the sidelines of a soccer field or exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains on a scenic hike.
Careers
Please submit your resume via email to: JOBS@EARLYMOUNTAIN.COM
Our Vineyards
In a profession so steeped in history, it’s inevitable that we look to the past for inspiration. While our work is informed by knowledge and techniques developed in more established wine regions of the world, we also know a vine in Virginia does not root in the same soil as Europe or spread leaves into the same sun as California. When we understand grapes on their own terms, we create wines with identities that are compelling because the sun, the rain, the plant, the soil, and hands that touch these vines are unique to this place in Virginia.
Our Process
This tactic of understanding drives our wine growing, and every year we learn from each block at each site. We take this to the cellar and do our best to make the wines the grapes want to be. As our vines get older, so do we, and with that comes the wisdom of age and our contribution to the emergence of Virginia’s wine culture.
Our History
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Early Mountain is a pristine 350 acre property surrounded by rolling hills and pastoral farms.
In 2005, Jess and Sharon Sweely planted the first vineyards on the property. Jean Case and her husband, Steve, purchased the property in 2010 and, after some renovations, re-opened it under the Early Mountain brand in 2012. In 2015, Early Mountain expanded its acreage to include Quaker Run Vineyard, 14 miles north of the Early Mountain estate in Madison County. That year, Early Mountain increased its acreage of classic Bordeaux-type varietals such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot and added new varietals including Malvasia Bianca, Sauvignon Blanc, and Tannat.
In 2016, Early Mountain Vineyards was voted the number one tasting room in the nation by USA Today in its 10 Best Readers Choice contest.
Guests may visit our tasting room for our award-winning wines or to dine in our restaurant. Our Wine Club also allows customers to receive our wines quarterly and to attend special events at the winery.
