Meet the Early Mountain Vineyards Team

Meet The Team

Jean

Owner

Jean Case is an actively engaged philanthropist and investor; and a pioneer in the world of interactive technologies. Jean spent more than two decades as an executive in the private sector, where she led marketing and branding efforts for AOL, before she and her husband, Steve Case, created the Case Foundation in 1997. A 30-year Virginia resident, Jean believes strongly in the potential for the state to be amongst the world’s top wine regions. Jean and Steve opened Early Mountain Vineyards in 2012 to showcase their passion for the best wine and food that Virginia has to offer.

Peter

CEO / General Manager

Born and educated in Switzerland, Peter is a true world traveler. He’s managed hotels and resorts around the world for 30 years, from the Caribbean to California to Virginia, to North Carolina. Virginians, however, know Peter as a former executive at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville, where he fell in love with and promoted Virginia wines. Having grown up near vineyards experiencing the magic that transforms delicate grape buds into complex wines, Peter is driven by a sense of purpose to advocate for the region and the beverage that fascinates him.

Dave

General Manager

Dave has been enamored with Virginia wine since relocating to the area more than a decade ago. He previously served as general manager of Charlottesville's specialty food store Feast, and understands the vibrant local food and wine landscape and its significance to Virginia. Before entering the world of food and wine, Dave spent time in marketing and public relations for tech start-ups and financial companies in Silicon Valley and Manhattan respectively. In his role at the vineyard, Dave's goal is to ensure that each visitor experiences top-notch Virginia wines in an exceptional atmosphere.

Erich

Head of Strategy

With a passion for wine and enthusiasm for helping to establish Virginia as one of the top wine regions in the world, Erich leads strategy and partnerships for Early Mountain Vineyards. In his role, Erich heads up EMV's Best of Virginia efforts, with the goal to elevate, celebrate, and champion Virginia wine. Bringing more than 20 years of strategy, business development and marketing expertise, Erich is a senior executive with the Case Foundation and Revolution, focused on identifying new ways in which individuals, foundations, and non-profits can leverage innovative technology and business models to drive social change.

Michelle

Sommelier & Best of Virginia Liaison

Michelle has worked as the Sommelier for celebrity chef John Besh’s empire of restaurants in her native New Orleans, as well as for the revered Inn at Little Washington in Virginia. Now her passion for great food and wine brings her to Early Mountain Vineyards, where she serves as sommelier and travels the state hand selecting and promoting Virginia’s best wines. By curating a portfolio, she wants to use wine as a way to bring people together to learn about and enjoy their community.

Steve Monson

Assistant Wine Maker

Steve earned his Master’s from the University of Missouri where he was in charge of the creation and operation of the school’s experimental winery. Upon graduation, Steve worked as an intern at a small, premium Bordeaux blend producer just outside of Portland, Oregon. He is now excited to return to a more familiar climate and become part of the Virginia wine family. Steve and his wife, Alex, enjoy cooking, homebrewing, and being walked by their dogs Natty and Bacon.

Jonathan

Vineyard Manager

Jonathan’s family has worked in wine for generations. And since immigrating to the United States from Germany, the family has been instrumental in pioneering Virginia wine. Following in the family tradition, Jonathan went to the highly-esteemed UC Davis program to study viticulture and oenology. After graduating, he worked at different California wineries before moving to Germany to start his own. The promise of making high-quality wine brought him to Early Mountain Vineyards and he is thrilled to work with a group that shares his vision for true quality in Virginia.