ANDREW BACKLIN

PRESIDENT

Andrew Backlin, a native Northern Californian, has been surrounded by winegrowing and winemaking for much of his life. During high school, his first job was working on a bottling line after school. Andrew always had an interest in foraging for wild plants and fermentation. It started with kombucha brewing, which then led to homebrewing, and eventually, he fell in love with winemaking. Andrew began his Michigan wine career at Lawton Ridge Winery before briefly returning to California to work for Duckhorn wines. In 2018, he and his family returned to Michigan to become the winemaker at Modales in Fennville where he focuses  90% of winemaking processes to Native Fermentations and adopting a hands-off approach. Modales is now transitioning their vineyards to organic viticulture.

BARRY O’BRIEN

VICE PRESIDENT

Barry O’Brien is a seasoned wine trade professional with over 4 decades of experiences from his work as Sommelier, Marketing Brand Manager, Winery Regional Manager, National Sales Manager, Wine Importer, U.S. Agent, Viticulturist, Wine Grower and Michigan Wine Producer under his ŌBrien Vineyards label on the Old Mission Peninsula. He is comfortable working with restaurants, retail stores, wineries, wholesalers and vineyard owners to develop distribution of our Michigan wines. His experience will drive greater exposure and sales through the wholesale and retail/restaurant tiers throughout the state. Barry is passionate about raising the profile of the world-class sparkling, aromatic white wines and racy, elegant red wines coming out of Michigan’s vineyards and wineries.

In 1997, Barry founded Select Fine Wine Imports to begin importing and distributing wines from New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and Spain. Following his marriage to Laura Minervini, the company was moved to Traverse City where they bought property and planted a vineyard on the Old Mission Peninsula. Barry’s interest in Cool Climate Viticulture resulted in planting Pinot noir, Riesling and Gewürztraminer with a focus on Sparkling wines and dry farmed dry table wines. Following a return to MSU for a degree in Viticulture, Barry has recently launched ŌBrien Vineyards and has opened a tasting room at The Village at Grand Traverse Commons in Traverse City.

PETER KING III

TREASURER

Peter King III has been making wine for the past 8 years. He is one of three founding partners of Drew Ryan wines based out of Southfield Michigan. The partners are in the process of opening a tasting room in the city of Detroit and have planted the first vines this past spring on a small lot off of the Detroit river where they are growing Cabernet Franc grapes.

BRIAN LESPERANCE

SECRETARY

Brian joined the Fenn Valley in 2012 after nearly a decade in technology sales and marketing. Brian’s background in operations and management coupled with Fenn Valley’s vast experience allowed him to assume the title of Winemaker in 2015, a spot held by his co-founder Douglas Welsch since the winery’s inception in 1973. Today Brian not only heads up production, but oversees overall operations of the business. When not at work Brian enjoys downhill skiing, cycling and travel. Brian has two children and lives on the farm in Fennville.