Don, a successful entrepreneur, and Bettina, a performing artist, film producer and art curator, met through their mutual appreciation of the arts and it remains a thread woven throughout their lives. As long-time collectors, they understand the importance of art in bringing beauty, perspective and hope to the individual and to the world. They also share an unwavering commitment to excellence in every endeavor they undertake.
Born and raised in Nashville, Bettina Bryant was inspired by art and wine at an early age by her parents who immigrated to the United States from Maienfeld, Switzerland, a picturesque town nestled in the mountainous wine-producing canton of Graubünden.
An independent art curator and producer with initial training in classical music and dance, Bettina was selected by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join the American Ballet Theatre at age 17. Bettina toured extensively in the United States and abroad, performing both classical and modern dance repertoires crafted by legendary choreographers such as Agnes DeMille, Sir Kenneth Macmillan, Antony Tudor and Twyla Tharp. While performing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, Bettina attended Columbia University and received honors in Art History. Bettina then migrated towards corporate and private art collection management, and produced the acclaimed feature documentary film Our City Dreams celebrating the lives of five decades of contemporary women artists.
In 2007, Bettina's future husband Don Bryant invited her to join BRYANT ESTATE and in 2014 she was appointed Proprietor and President of the winery. Dedicated to maintaining the legacy established by her husband, Bettina has devoted herself to producing wines of the highest caliber, an ethos that begins with responsible stewardship of the land followed by intense focus on technical precision in winemaking. Bettina has embraced a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food and nutrition espoused by Dr. Rudolf Steiner. In addition to overseeing the continued meticulous production of the acclaimed Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from their Pritchard Hill estate, Bettina has been instrumental in expanding the portfolio to include the BETTINA Proprietary Red Wine and DB4 Red Wine blends, which are sourced from properties managed by the estate’s vineyard manager and great friend David Abreu. With the 2016 vintage, Bettina also propelled the production of a limited edition Cabernet Franc from their Pritchard Hill property.
Appointed BRYANT ESTATE’s winemaker in 2018, Kathryn “KK” Carothers honed her winemaking acumen working in vineyards and wineries in the Napa Valley, Corsica, France and Margaret River, Australia. Returning to Napa for an opportunity to join the Bryant team, Kathryn was promoted from intern to enologist to assistant winemaker, working alongside oenologist Michel Rolland and viticulturist David Abreu. Kathryn then spent two years biodynamically farming and making the wine at Napa Valley’s ADAMVS before returning to BRYANT ESTATE. KK earned her B.S. from the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University studying viticulture and enology.
Michel Rolland has been a valued member of the BRYANT ESTATE team for more than 10 years. Considered the most esteemed wine consultant in the world, Rolland provides a wealth of experience, an outside perspective, as well as an expert palate. His exceptional talent in the blending process has solidified the BRYANT ESTATE signature style.
David Abreu is a third generation Napa Valley native whose interest in farming dates back to his youth. He founded David Abreu Vineyard Management in 1980, and has since built a reputation for meticulous vineyard care with the sole aim of making the best wine possible from any given site. Having worked our vineyard for nearly two decades, David and his team have intimate experience with the property and farm it meticulously. David’s knowledge, standard of excellence and superb palate make him a tremendous asset to the BRYANT ESTATE team.
Tavo hails from Atacheo Michoacan, Mexico and began working with David Abreu Management in 1990. After working many Abreu ranches including Inglenook, Staglin, Colgin and Harlan, Tavo became foreman at BRYANT ESTATE in 2007. Tavo’s favorite part about the vineyard is the natural balance of the site. He is responsible for prepping and planting all of the lower blocks.
After obtaining a B.S. in Biotechnology from UC Davis, Alana was recruited to join E&J Gallo's research team. From there she traveled to Argentina to complete a harvest at Bodega Catena Zapata in Mendoza, before settling in Napa. In Napa, Alana’s experiences included running Brasswood Cellar's custom crush laboratory, handling Kapcsandy Family Winery's direct to consumer sales, and creating her own wine and label. At Bryant Estate, Alana strives to bring the passion behind the winemaking process into all facets of the business.
Edmund is the former CEO of Collective Hospitality, a regional, and global hospitality brand, with 32 properties. As CEO of Destination Eats, he managed a team of 1,500 staff and steered brands like Hard Rock into emerging markets, with a focus on franchising and real estate acquisitions. Following an MBA in International Business from the Coggin College of Business and a Finance degree from Harvard’s Extension School, Edmund became a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers. In 2020 Edmund was inducted into the Forbes Business Council.
A Napa Valley native, Joe Welch joined the BRYANT ESTATE team in 2011 after a career in construction. Joe assists the team with harvest and cellar duties, and has been particularly indispensable with his mechanical and facility maintenance skills.