Our People Winemaker Alison Rodriguez From the steep slopes of the Rheingau and Nahe valleys, to the alpine foothills of the Alto Adige and across Napa Valley, Alison Rodriguez honed her wine making skills in diverse growing regions around the world. At Silverado Vineyards, Rodriguez oversees all winemaking activities for the luxury winery and its four estate vineyards in Napa Valley’s top AVAs including the Silverado Vineyard in Stags Leap District, Mt. George Vineyard in Coombsville, Miller Ranch Vineyard in Yountville and Borreo Ranch in Napa. Rodriguez is proud to carry on the legacy of the Disney-Miller Family as only the third winemaker in Silverado’s history. Silverado Vineyards became part of the Foley Family Wines portfolio in July 2022. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Rodriguez remembers wine always being part of her family table (even if the bottle was labeled “Hearty Burgundy”) which inspired her passion. After graduating from Duke University with a degree in International Relations, she began her career path with an entry-level job in wine sales. After five exciting years in global wine sales and marketing in San Francisco, Portland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Rodriguez decided to follow her childhood dream of working in the natural sciences. She worked her way through Germany’s premier winemaking and viticulture school, the Fachhochschule Geisenheim, with winery and vineyard internships including winter pruning in the snow, and working as a Sommelier at the Hotel Krone in Assmannshausen. After roles in the cellars and sustainable/organic vineyards of Quivira Vineyards (Sonoma), Schlossgut Diel (Nahe), Weingut Graf von Kanitz (Rheingau), Manincor (Alto Adige), and a practical thesis at Schloss Johannisberg (Rheingau), Rodriguez decided to put down roots in Northern California. She started in Sonoma County as harvest enologist at Gallo Sonoma in Healdsburg, followed by a position as enologist at Acacia Vineyards in Carneros. Rodriguez then joined Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga as associate winemaker working alongside consultant Paul Hobbs, moving on to Beringer Napa Valley to work on single vineyard and reserve tier Cabernet Sauvignon with Laurie Hook and Mark Beringer. Before joining Silverado Vineyards, she spent six vintages as winemaker at The Hess Collection, perfecting her skills in almost 900 acres of estate Napa vineyards with winemaker Dave Guffy and consultant Celia Welch. Proprietor Bill Foley Proprietor Bill Foley acquired Silverado Vineyards from the Miller family in July 2022. Bill, his wife Carol and daughter Courtney will continue the vision and legacy put forth by the Miller family and propel Silverado’s estate grown wines and exceptional hospitality center into the future . In addition to his role as vintner, Bill Foley is the Chairman, CEO and Governor of the National Hockey League’s 31st franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights. Foley is also the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fidelity National Financial Inc. (NYSE: FNF), and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE: FIS). Foley devotes time to many educational and community organizations, serving on boards including the University of Washington School of Law the Florida Forum Advisory Board for Wolfson Children’s Hospital Women’s Board, and as a Trustee on the Boards of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. He also serves Chapman University School of Law both as a member of the Dean’s Council and as an Endowed Chair of the William Foley Chair in Corporate Law & Taxation. In 1997, Foley was chosen as Orange County, California’s Business Person of The Year, honored with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Semper Fidelis award and inducted into the Florida Council of Economic Education’s First Coast Business Hall of Fame in 2006. Foley received his B.S. degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He received an M.B.A. degree from Seattle University and earned his J.D. degree in 1974 from The University of Washington School of Law. He served in the U.S. Air Force, where he attained the rank of Captain. Today, Bill and Carol live in Northern California part-time and are active philanthropists for many causes, especially those in support of veterans and children’s education. A native of Baton Rouge, LA, Rodriguez remembers wine always being part of her family table (even if the bottle was labeled “Hearty Burgundy”) which inspired her passion. After graduating from Duke University with a degree in International Relations, she began her career path with an entry-level job in wine sales. After five exciting years in global wine sales and marketing in San Francisco, Portland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Rodriguez decided to follow her childhood dream of working in the natural sciences. She worked her way through Germany’s premier winemaking and viticulture school, the Fachhochschule Geisenheim, with winery and vineyard internships including winter pruning in the snow, and working as a Sommelier at the Hotel Krone in Assmannshausen. After roles in the cellars and sustainable/organic vineyards of Quivira Vineyards (Sonoma), Schlossgut Diel (Nahe), Weingut Graf von Kanitz (Rheingau), Manincor (Alto Adige), and a practical thesis at Schloss Johannisberg (Rheingau), Rodriguez decided to put down roots in Northern California. She started in Sonoma County as harvest enologist at Gallo Sonoma in Healdsburg, followed by a position as enologist at Acacia Vineyards in Carneros. Rodriguez then joined Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga as associate winemaker working alongside consultant Paul Hobbs, moving on to Beringer Napa Valley to work on single vineyard and reserve tier Cabernet Sauvignon with Laurie Hook and Mark Beringer. Before joining Silverado Vineyards, she spent six vintages as winemaker at The Hess Collection, perfecting her skills in almost 900 acres of estate Napa vineyards with winemaker Dave Guffy and consultant Celia Welch.
