Meet the Team
Stefanie Longton
General Manager
Stefanie is a Bennett Lane Winery veteran, helping to open the tasting room in 2003, and gained winery experience prior to that overseas in the Margaret River region of Australia. With nearly 20 years at the winery, Stefanie has seen Bennett Lane grow from a new kid on the block to an established Napa Valley Cabernet House.
While originally from the East Coast, her heart is in the Napa Valley. Stefanie grew up near Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina with a Science degree. Her role began at Bennett Lane by opening the tasting room and starting the wine club, side by side with owners Randy and Lisa Lynch. Over time, she later took over the role of DTC manager, and untimately General Manager. She takes pride in everything that happens at Bennett Lane, from the wines we release to the tasting room experience for guest, and everything in between. She proudly serves as a board member for Calistoga Wine Growers and was recently a part of Napa Valley Vintners innaugural Leadership group. Residing with her family in Healdsburg, she enjoys wine, travel and the outdoors.
Travis Elder
Tasting Room Manager & Professional Fun Haver
Travis Elder has been with Bennett Lane Winery since 2013. He is our resident "professional fun haver". His sixteen year career in wine taught him wine business from the bottom up, and he brings that to the table as hospitality director.
Travis has a BA in Anthropology from California State University Chico. His knowledge of the history and cultures of wine offers insights to any conversation on wine otherwise overlooked by other wine professionals. He has a passion for the philosophy of wine and strong belief that the wine grape has expanded human perception since the earliest wine was made.
Amy DeTrinidad
Customer Service Manager
Amy started her hospitality career at a young age, working restaurants in the Sacramento and Bay area she quickly learned the Art of engaging with guests and creating memorable experiences. She started working in Calistoga in 2013 in the hotel and spa business and fell in love with this charming town. One day a magical connection occurred in the form of a champagne bottle (sparkling wine to us Californians) which popped new life and direction in her career path. One sip and she was hooked. After creating new roots in a small town near the world re-known Napa Valley, she knew Wine was in her blood. She has enjoyed sharing her love for the liquid poetry with friends, family and tourists alike. She resides in Hidden Valley Lake with her Husband who is also in the wine industry and her two cuddly kitties. She spends her leisure time by the lake, cooking with friends and family, and listing to music on her deck with a glass of Bennett Lane Wine.
Bill Braddock
Tasting Room Sales & Hospitality
From Oakhurst, New Jersey, Bill's culinary career started at the age of 14 as a short order cook. Living on the "Jersey Shore", he found work in multiple kitchens and trained under a variety of chefs in multiple specialties. That is where he met his wife Amy.
He eventually moved on from restaurants to the premier gourmet grocer, Dean & Deluca. During his time with them, he worked in New York City at both of their locations, 85th & Madison and the flagship store on Prince & Broadway in SoHo. Bill and his family was moved out to Napa Valley to run the St Helena location. Having fallen in love with Calistoga, he declined a move to the East Coast to stay in Napa Valley. Being in one of the world's best food and wine regions, he moved onto other restaurants, eventually landing at a small Italian restaurant in Calistoga, then to the local grocery store.
Bill had come across Bennett Lane Winery years earlier and had loved coming to the property as a guest, and was over joyed to be able to move into a hospitality position in the tasting room. If not in the tasting room, you might find him in downtown Calistoga with his wife, Amy, and children, Emily & Cameron. Don't hesitate to join him for glass of wine where you can here him shout, "Tutti a tavola a mangiare, Cin Cin!"