Our Winemaker Team

Vint Hill Craft Winery is privileged to have an expert team of five winemakers with educations and experience that span the globe.  For our winemaking programs, we bring deep experience, totaling over 50 years, combined. Just as our winemaking experience is unparalleled, so is the quality of the professionals who will guide the process as we make your wine, together.

Executive Winemaker – Chris Pearmund

Chris Pearmund is one of Virginia’s most widely recognized and highly decorated winegrowers and winemakers.  He has 24 years experience as a winemaker, vineyard manager and winery operator.  In addition to being Managing Partner of Vint Hill Craft Winery, he also manages Pearmund Cellars, the Winery at La Grange and Meriwether Vineyard.

Chris has been President of the Virginia Vineyards Association, Chairman of the Virginia Wine and Food Society and a Board Member of the Virginia Wineries Association.  He regularly speaks at wine and vineyard seminars and conferences and is published frequently in both the regional and national wine media.

Chris is a nationally certified wine judge by the American Wine Society, has taught the Higher Certificate Education course for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and has organized and taught numerous courses to both amateurs and professionals on various aspects of the wine industry. 

Winemaker – DJ Leffin

DJ has moved up in the world of fermentation. With humble starts in beer production, he has moved to winemaking with 2 crushes at Pearmund Cellars and is now our full time enologist and partner at Vint Hill Craft Winery.

With Army officer training, a degree in science and sense of humor from his acting days, DJ is always a charm to work with and a good person from whom to learn.  His days as a school teacher and the fact that he is just about to finish a program in viticulture and enology from U.C. Davis make him a great asset for the teaching and learning environment of Vint Hill Craft Winery.

Winemaker – Kelly Dent

Kelly Dent holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Central Florida. She quickly found her way to winemaking and has worked as a winemaker and harvest specialist in New Zealand, Australia and Sonoma County, California.  Kelly has worked in both restaurant and retail wine sectors and is Master Court of Sommelier Certified.  Kelly worked with us through this harvest seas

Winemaker – Seth Chambers

Seth Chambers joined our team in 2010 and supports winemaking operations at Pearmund Cellars, the Winery at La Grange, and Vint Hill Craft Winery. Prior to accepting a permanent position with us, he gained several years experience in vineyard management and winemaking, working with nine Virginia wineries.

Seth began his winemaking career by interning with Chris Pearmund during the summer of 2006 and that year, worked through his first harvest and crush. He continued his education at Penn State, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in organic chemistry and microbiology; he is currently working towards a certificate in enology from Washington State University.