Management Team
Dave Moser
Chief Operating OfficerAn MBA and Digital Marketing expert by trade, Dave spent the first half of his career helping Fortune 500 companies build their businesses online before deciding he wanted to dedicate the rest of his career to his true passion: Wine. Dave’s unique perspective on the wine industry is rooted in being a longtime wine connoisseur and collector, and a visitor to more than 300 wineries across the world. Prior to joining Sunstone, Dave founded a winery marketing and customer experience company and built the DTC business at Santa Barbara County’s largest winery, including bringing to market a new brand, a first-of-its-kind online wine personalization app, and an award-winning winery tour experience. A speaker at the DTC Wine Symposium for the past three years (2018 to 2020), Dave has also won a “Vinnie” Award for Excellence in Wine Marketing and earned the Court of Master Sommeliers Level 1 Certification.
Brittany Rice
Director of WinemakingThe daughter of Sunstone’s founders, Fred and Linda Rice, Brittany helped plant the first Merlot vines on the family property in 1990. At the age of 16, she began serving wine to visitors and guests in the Sunstone tasting room. At 21, she worked in the cellar alongside Sunstone’s winemaking team and learned from her mentor Dan Gehrs from 1999-2006. Brittany continued as Sunstone’s winemaker until 2010, when she decided to launch her own her own high-end, small portfolio wine brand, Millesime Cellars. Millesime was designed to be a to showcase her photograph she took during the Millennium in France. Brittany’s background in fine arts, small business and being a cordon bleu trained chef has helped to influence her wine and food education through her knowledge of the artistic approach in the discoveries of chemistry within the food and wine creations she and her team produces
Alicia Valenzuela
Sr. Manager, HospitalityAlicia was born and raised in Santa Barbara. Growing up her dream was to sing on the TV show “Star Search”! When the show was cancelled, she knew her dreams would have to change, and decided to pursue a degree in business. On her 21st birthday, Alicia stumbled across the wine industry and immediately fell in love. She quickly picked up a part-time tasting room position in 2004 and changed her major from business to wine sales and marketing. Over the past 16 years, Alicia has worked her way through the ranks from Part-Time Wine Server to General Manager. Her love and passion for hospitality, customer service, and great wine has led her to join the Sunstone team, managing the tasting room. Alicia is actively studying for her WSET certifications and plans to share that knowledge and passion with anyone who is willing to share a glass of wine with her.
Joann Saldana
Estate Experience ManagerJoann’s career began in the culinary business, working at her grandmother’s restaurant when she was a teen. While balancing her career with raising her kids, Joann eventually landed in the dental industry, doing sales and customer service and attending conferences all over the country. Joann started working in the wine industry by accident. When Master Sommelier Paolo Barbieri, whom her mom was working for at the time, needed some extra help pouring wine at an event, she obliged. After working part time for Barbieri for two years, Joann knew she wanted to be in the wine industry full time. She joined Sunstone and the rest is history. Joann manages the Sunstone estate, including the world-famous Sunstone Villa, while also handling event sales and VIP customer experiences.
Tasting Room & Wine Club Team
Jessica Lim
Tasting Room Lead
Debbie Chavez
Estate Experience Lead
Khaeli Brumfield
Wine Club Lead
Elva Guerrero
Administrative Assistant
Shannon Hall
Tasting Room Associate
Josue Mejia
Tasting Room Associate
Mario Leon
Tasting Room Associate
Shawna White
Tasting Room Associate
Monica Gaitan
Tasting Room Associate
Erika Vogt
Tasting Room Associate
Gina Verkamp
Tasting Room Associate
Berenice Mejia
Tasting Room Associate
Megan Dant
Tasting Room Associate
Mimi Osborn
Tasting Room Associate
Gladis Barboza
Tasting Room Associate
Genesis Negrete
Tasting Room Associate
Mac Bruce
Tasting Room Operations
Ruby Ortiz
Tasting Room Operations
Layla Valenzuela
Tasting Room Operations
Izzy Hall
Tasting Room Operations
Ethan Verkler
Tasting Room Operations
Emily Ayala
Tasting Room OperationsWINEMAKING TEAM
Brittany Rice
Director of WinemakingThe daughter of Sunstone’s founders, Fred and Linda Rice, Brittany helped plant the first Merlot vines on the family property in 1990.
Jon Flores
Assistant Winemaker
Jose Gomez
Cellar Master
Lupe Chavez
Assistant Cellar Master
Maricela Gomez
Cellar AssistantESTATE OPERATIONS TEAM
Nick Ocampo
Groundskeeping & Maintenance
Alicia Ochoa
Housekeeper
Jason Webster
Groundskeeping & Maintenance
Cynthia Bissinger
HousekeeperBoard of directors
Gary Smith
Chairman
Teddy Cabugos
President, Director
Djamila Cabugos, Esq.
Director
Fred Rice
Founder, Director
Dave Moser
Chief Operating OfficerAn MBA and Digital Marketing expert by trade, Dave spent the first half of his career helping Fortune 500 build online businesses.