JON STAENBERG - EL JEFE
A native cornhusker (Nebraskan), Jon Staenberg is the founder of Hand of God Wines. Twenty-six years ago, Jon visited the Napa Valley and like Santiago, he became smitten with wine. This passion extended to Malbec and Argentine culture during a trip to South America in 2005. Jon and Santiago, alums of Stanford Business School, discovered a bond through wine, and a partnership was born. Jon’s life revolves around his daughter, food, wine and the endless inspiration from each that he zealously loves to share with friends. He divides his time between Seattle, San Francisco and Mendoza, Argentina.
SANTIAGO ACHÁVAL -
THE MASTER OF MALBEC
Santiago Achával is the co-founder and winemaker for Hand of God Wines. Santiago fell in love with wines and winemaking during frequent visits to Napa Valley while earning his MBA from Stanford. Achával-Ferrer, his winery in Mendoza, boasts four of the five highest rated wines from Argentina (two 99’s and three 98’s), as awarded by Wine Spectator, and the highest rated Argentine wine to date by Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate.
JEANIE INGLIS - CHIEF OF OPERATIONS
Jeanie Inglis, a native of Seoul, Korea, has worked in the Washington wine industry for most of her adult life. Early on, Jeanie trained to be a concert pianist, and during college her passion for philosophy led her to constitutional law studies. At age 21, her philosophical views skewed upon being introduced to fine wine when a friend landed a job as a cellar rat for a local winery. Classical piano and law made way for wine. ‘The rest’, they say, ‘is history.’ In addition to overseeing operations in Argentina, California and Washington, Jeanie enjoys anything to do with food and drink, fine art, music, travel and her family.
GRETCHEN ALLEN - SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR
Gretchen Allen brings over 25 years of wine sales, service skills, and relationships to Hand of God. Gretchen's experience stands to enhance the long-term growth and vision of Mendoza's newest premium Malbec. Having worked in top restaurants across the country (Auberge du Soleil in Napa, Valentino Las Vegas, Urban Farmer in Portland), as well as upscale wine shops (Capitol Cellars in Granite Bay, Corti Bros in Sacramento), it was a natural evolution that she would bring her experience, including several years at the distributor level (Southern Wine and Spirts in San Diego, Gallo Wine Co. in New York) over to the supply side with Jon Staenberg and Santiago Achával, partners and former Stanford alums, and the force behind the Hand of God label.
ANGELO GONZALEZ - GENERAL MANAGER, HAND OF GOD TASTING ROOM
Angelo Gonzalez, who has both Argentine and American roots, oversees the tasting room in Mendoza. The career path that Angelo followed to Hand of God was not exactly a straight one. Although he originally called New York City home, Angelo migrated south to earn his Business Administration degree at University of North Florida. For 14 years, Angelo worked in the corporate world for big name companies, but his hunger to delve into the food industry led him to start a catering company in Florida while also pursuing a culinary degree. Love brought him to Mendoza, where Angelo kept busy by starting his catering company with an American style pizza restaurant, and was the Executive Chef of a brew pub before becoming the General Manager of the Hand of God Tasting Room. Angelo lives with his wife and stepson in Lujan de Cujo, in the heart of Mendoza wine country.
