Veteran Bonterra Organic Estates Winemaker Announces Retirement

HOPLAND, CALIFORNIA June 25, 2024 — Bonterra Organic Estates, the largest Regenerative Organic Certified® winery in the United States, announced today that veteran winemaker Jeff Cichocki will retire at the end of June, after 17 years with the company.

“We could not be more grateful to Jeff for his many years of hard work, strong leadership, and exceptional wines,” said John Kane, general manager of Bonterra Organic Estates. “As a winemaker who grew up through the cellar, Jeff has an incredible gut feel for winemaking decisions. You can see him putting a blend together in his mind – the 10,000-hour rule in action. His talent and passion will be sorely missed.”

An Environmental Studies major at Sonoma State University, Cichocki began his career in environmental planning in Sonoma County but soon found himself spending time in the wine cellar. Beginning as an apprentice at Mill Creek Winery in Healdsburg, he moved up to Cellar Master at Matanzas Creek Winery in Bennett Valley, then on to Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley, B.R. Cohn in Sonoma Valley, and Jeriko Estate Winery in Hopland, not far from Bonterra Organic Estates’ iconic McNab Ranch. In 2007, Cichocki successfully merged his passion for environmentalism with his winemaking career by joining Bonterra Organic Estates, a leading winery committed to regenerative organic agriculture practices and environmental stewardship.

During Cichocki’s tenure with Bonterra Organic Estates, he was instrumental in developing the winery’s diverse portfolio of award-winning wines crafted from organically grown grapes. Bolstered by growing demand for organic wine, the Bonterra brand has more than doubled in size since Cichocki joined the company, achieving a production of half a million cases in 2023. This remarkable growth underscores the exceptional quality of wines crafted under his guidance.

“Our winemaking team at Bonterra is a great group of passionate individuals who share a deep commitment to organic and Regenerative Organic Certified practices,” says Cichocki. “I will miss being part of this collaborative group every day, but I’m confident they will continue to produce exceptional wines that contribute positively to the world.”

Recently, Bonterra Organic Estates announced powerhouse winemaker Margaret Leonardi-Pruett will helm the brand’s beloved Bonterra Collection as Senior Winemaker, beginning with the 2024 vintage. She will collaborate with Senior Winemaker Sebastian Donoso in fueling the brand’s burgeoning momentum. Learn more about our winemaking team.