Jesse Katz

About Jesse Katz

• Born in Boulder, Colorado, son of wine photographer Andy Katz, whose photographs appear on every Aperture label; he grew up tagging along to famous vineyards on his father's shoots.
• Studied viticulture and enology at Fresno State, then worked harvests at Petrus in Bordeaux, Screaming Eagle and Robert Foley in Napa, and Vina Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina.
• Hired in 2010 as head winemaker at Lancaster Estate in Alexander Valley, billed as the youngest head winemaker in the U.S., where he also oversaw construction of the Roth winery.
• Founded Aperture Cellars in 2009 with his father to grow Bordeaux varieties in cooler Sonoma sites.
• Aperture bought a historic Healdsburg vineyard in 2016, built its winery there in 2019 and opened its visitor center in 2020; in 2021 it added the 75-acre Farrow Ranch in Alexander Valley, the source of his Devil Proof Malbec.
• Devil Proof's 2018 Farrow Ranch Malbec received 100 points from both The Wine Advocate and Jeb Dunnuck, one of the first perfect scores for an American Malbec.
• Was the first winemaker named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list (around 2014), and has also been a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker.
• Wine Enthusiast named him 2025 Winemaker of the Year at its Wine Star Awards (presented January 2026).
• Also makes custom wines for clients including SingleThread, Montage Resorts and the Yellowstone Club, plus celebrity labels such as Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake's Prophet & Poet; sits on the SommFoundation board.

Jesse's own wines

• Aperture Cellars · since 2009
• Devil Proof Vineyards

Wineries Jesse has made wine for

Consulting relationships change often; these are clients past and recent as reported over the years.

• The Setting Wines
• Aesthete Wines
• Valette Wines
• Prophet & Poet
• Lancaster Estate
• Roth Estate

Notable wines and scores

• 2018 Devil Proof Farrow Ranch Malbec: 100 pts, Robert Parker / Wine Advocate (also 100 Jeb Dunnuck)
• 2020 Aperture Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Jeb Dunnuck
• 2021 Aperture Del Rio Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: 100 pts, Jeb Dunnuck

Recognition

• Wine Enthusiast Winemaker of the Year, 2025 (presented January 2026)
• Forbes 30 Under 30 (first winemaker named), c.2014
• Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker

Taste Jesse's wines in wine country

Aperture welcomes visitors by appointment at its Healdsburg estate. Tell us which wines you would like to taste and your chauffeur will book what is possible and build the day around it. See our Napa Valley wine tours and Sonoma County wine tours, or plan a private tour.

Sources

aperture-cellars.com · devilproofvineyards.com · wineindustryadvisor.com · thedrinksbusiness.com