People
Greg & Robin Krill
Proprietors
Pellet Estate is a family owned winery. Greg and Robin Krill came to Napa Valley in 2000 for a weekend get-away in wine-country. They, like many, fell in love with the town of St Helena and the wine culture, drawn to the history of the valley and the quality of wines that were emerging from small vineyards up-valley. Initially purchasing vineyards in central south St. Helena, they soon focused on the west side, and in 2005 their dream of re-establishing one of the valley's most historically significant vineyards began.
Greg is considered one of the nation's top commercial Rare-Coin and Currency dealers in the US. He had an early fascination with collecting coins that led him to ask for a job at the age of 13 at his local coin shop, which turned out to be one of the highest-volume Coin and Precious Metal Companies in the United States, and by 19, he was running the retail side of the business. Greg is a member of the prestigious and industry-leading Professional Numismatists Guild, and is a life-time member of the American Numismatic Association, served four consecutive terms as the President of the Southern California Professional Numismatists Association, and is a current Board Member of the California Coin and Bullion Merchants Association. Greg and Robin live on the beautiful Estate in St. Helena with their two children.
Tom Rinaldi
Winemaker
Raised in San Francisco, Tom made frequent trips to Napa on his motorcycle, buying wines directly from the wineries of the day. After four years in the Navy, Tom enrolled at UC Davis along with notable classmates Mike Martini, Tim Mondavi, Randy Dunn, and Bob Levy.
Tom's career began at Freemark Abbey, an experience he calls "a great job, and a great honor." In 1978, Tom became the founding winemaker at Duckhorn Vineyards. After 22 vintages of creating some of Napa's most celebrated wines, in 2000 Tom helped launch Provenance Vineyards and Hewitt Vineyard from the ground up. Tom's recent 2010 Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was named to the Wine Spectator's Top 10 in the world for 2013, and the #1 Wine in California.
Always the avid learner, Tom loves everything from anticipating the vineyards' seasons to experimenting with new methodologies and technologies, always open to innovative practices alongside traditional methods. Tom resides with his wife and daughter in St. Helena, where you will either find him in the vineyard, the cellar, or riding his bike throughout the Napa Valley.
Eric Risch
General Manager & Director of Winemaking
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Eric was raised working in the family residential construction business, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems Management from the University of San Francisco, with careers at Wells Fargo Bank, the R&D division of Apple Computer, and Medior, Inc. In 1992, Eric founded an internet technology design and marketing firm, Grapevine, and grew the corporation to be one of the top eight web marketing firms in the Bay Area in just six years serving start-ups and Fortune 1000 companies.
At the turn of the millennium, he fulfilled his dream of living in the Napa Valley and moved with his three children to St. Helena. He returned to his entrepreneurial roots to pursue the wine business, and created Krill Family Vineyards for Greg and Robin – establishing its vision, legal, business and operational components. Eric also created the Pellet Estate brand & wine portfolio, which he continues to expand from its flagship Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, producing the Henry's Reserve program, an Estate Merlot and Rose, and two styles of Chardonnay from the acclaimed Sunchase Vineyard
Eric oversees the winemaking direction and portfolio, day to day winery operations, and sales and marketing. He enjoys every opportunity to connect with customers locally and at regional events all over the country, and appreciates hosting visitors for tastings and vineyard tours, often discussing his passion for wine and food. Eric currently serves on the Board of Directors for Appellation St. Helena, helping promote and advance St. Helena grape growing and winemaking.