René Schlatter joined Merryvale in 1995 as a cellar worker. Over the next 13 years he worked his way up through the ranks to become president in 2008. “Doing everything from filling barrels to calling on accounts has given me a deep understanding of all aspects of the winery.” A native of Switzerland, René has lived in the U.S. since 1987. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and his Master’s Degree from Arizona’s Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management. Growing up in Switzerland, René was exposed to wine at an early age. “My dad was an avid collector with a sizeable cellar of local and international bottlings. We always had wine at the dinner table. His interest led him to acquire Merryvale in 1996. My in-laws are also in the industry and have been producing fine wine for five generations.” Since joining the winery, René has made significant contributions to Merryvale’s sales, marketing, finance and farming efforts. In 2005, he was involved in his family’s acquisition of a 49-acre vineyard in Carneros planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.

“I want Merryvale to be considered among Napa’s elite producers of Bordeaux varieties, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. We all know that great wines come from great sites. That’s one of the reasons we purchased and continue to upgrade our Profile Estate Vineyard in the eastern foothills of St. Helena. We feel it is one of the top vineyards in California. In the future, we might add more high-level properties to our portfolio to ensure a steady stream of first-class fruit.” In 2011 the Wine Enthusiast named René as “Person of the Year” at its Annual Wine Star Awards with these comments: “Since 2008, the president of Napa’s Merryvale Vineyards has pioneered green initiatives while preserving the winery’s family legacy and excellence in producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.” Under René’s direction, the St.Helena and Carneros estate vineyards have been Napa Green Farm certified. “I enjoy drinking wines from all over the world – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Tuscany and, of course, California. No matter what the origin I look for purity of fruit, personality, character and a sense of place. For a wine to be great it must stand the test of time.” René’s hobbies include skiing and tennis. He and his wife Laurence live in St. Helena with their three daughters, Jenna, Jade and Corinna.

At the helm of Merryvale since 1996, the Schlatter Family has established deep roots in the Napa Valley in their quest to make wines that represent the best of every harvest. They have cultivated longterm partnerships with some of the best wine grape growers from Calistoga to Carneros and developed two estate vineyards: the 25-acre Profile Estate Vineyard on an eastern ridgetop overlooking St. Helena — ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot; and the 40-acre Stanly Ranch Estate Vineyard in Carneros perfect for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

A native of Switzerland, family patriarch Jack Schlatter’s lifelong love of wine drew him to the Napa Valley in 1991. “Napa Valley’s diversity of soils and microclimates allows us to grow high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir just a few miles from Cabernet Sauvignon. There’s no other place in the world like it,” says Jack. Merryvale Vineyards offered the quintessential St. Helena location with its historic winery building, the first to be built following the Repeal of Prohibition, and its prime location on Highway 29. If you ask Jack about his background as a cotton classer in Mexico, coffee taster in Brazil, or any of his other fascinating experiences and he’ll quickly steer the conversation back to the wines of Merryvale Vineyards. As Jack’s son René reflects, “Jack wanted to find a way to integrate one of his passions—skiing, sailing or
wine—into a thriving business, and the rest is history.”

René Schlatter upholds his family’s integrity in his role as President and CEO. Having worked his way up the Merryvale ladder the old-fashioned way, he has held progressively more responsible positions since joining the company in 1995. Born in Switzerland, René has lived in the U.S. since 1987 and earned his MBA from ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix. As President, René oversees all aspects of the business on a daily basis, from grower relations to sales management.
Active in the community and with their three daughters, René’s wife Laurence focuses on the guest experience at Merryvale. She works with the hospitality team to offer inventive and entertaining events and manages all of the social media interaction for the family of wine brands. Her eye for design and interesting local artisans keeps things fresh for visitors and guests. That Laurence’s family has owned a winery in Switzerland for six generations provides a special sense of tradition. “It’s very rewarding to continue this family heritage at Merryvale,” says Laurence.

For nearly three decades, the Schlatter Family’s dedication to quality has propelled Merryvale forward, producing an unparalleled Bordeaux-focused portfolio of complex, balanced and classic wines that are truly reflective of the region’s terroir. Employing sustainable farming practices in the estate vineyards and superior standards at the winery ensures that the wines live up to their full potential. Both the winery and estate vineyards are Napa Green Certified supporting the Schlatter Family’s commitment to the environment and to future generations.