Melanie's love of the Napa Valley began as a child with frequent family vacations to the valley from her home in Kansas. After completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management she followed her heart and moved to the Napa Valley where she fell in love with a lifestyle that celebrates world-renowned wines and epicurean cuisine. Melanie first put her degree to work as an intern at the Fairmont Sonoma Valley Mission Inn and Spa, blending her balance of hard work, passion, and pleasure in sharing with others all that wine country has to offer.  

Melanie pursued her career in the wine industry by becoming Hospitality Coordinator at Franciscan Estate in St. Helena, and eventually joined premium distributor Chambers & Chambers in San Francisco. She was also General Manager at her family’s estate winery, Oakford Vineyards, on the Futo Estate in Oakville, working with iconic winemaker Heidi Barrett (Screaming Eagle, Paradigm, and Dalla Valle Vineyards) and prominent grape grower and vineyard manager David Abreu (Harlan Estate and Bryant Family Vineyard). Melanie eventually began producing a signature wine under her own label, MW Wines, and produced 1,000 cases annually of Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  

In 2021, after 26 years of living and working in the Napa Valley, Melanie began the Master of Business Administration for Executives Degree Program at Sonoma State University, focusing on the wine industry. In 2022, she was given the incredible opportunity to become a Partner, and the Vice President and Director of Sales for Legacy Barrel Services. 

Legacy Barrel Services offers customized leasing solutions to the wine and spirit barrel industries by providing financing of oak barrels to optimize cash flow, as well as the tracking of inventory during the barrels’ aging cycle, and managing the collection and resale at the end of each barrel’s useful life.

Get in touch with Melanie: melanie@legacybarrelservices.com