Steve Shepard President

Steve Shepard is the winemaker at Raylen Vineyards in Mocksville, NC.  His winemaking career began in 1980 in Pennsylvania and he has been making wine in the Yadkin Valley since 1989.  Steve served 12 years on the Board of the North Carolina Grape Council and has served on the Board of The North Carolina Winegrowers Association.

Patricia McRitchie Vice President

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Murphy Moore Secretary

Murphy began her wine career nearly fifteen years ago at a small winery in the southern Willamette Valley of Oregon. Hired on as crush help, she fell in love with the work and quickly moved onward and upward, attaining her first winemaking position in seven short years. After eight wineries in four different states with vastly different growing conditions, Murphy’s pioneering spirit ultimately brought her to the Yadkin Valley where, in 2005, she took over as winemaker of Shelton Vineyards. “I was looking for my next challenge and found it in the up and coming industry of North Carolina. I believe we have the potential to produce wines that can compete with those of any region in the world!”

Mark Friszolowski Treasurer

Award-winning Winemaker, Mark Friszolowski is General Manager and Winemaker at Childress Vineyards. A native of Long Island, Mark came to Childress from Pindar Vineyards, the largest premium winery on Long Island, where he apprenticed under famed California enologist Dimitri Tchelistcheff. At Pindar, he rose from cellarmaster to become the winemaker and general manager for 650 acres of grapes and production of 100,000 cases annually. Winning over 300 awards in his career, Mark has served on judging panels and seminars around the world. Currently, Mark teaches two courses on viticulture and enology at Davidson County Community College in Lexington and sits on the Board for the NC Grape Council.

Amy Helton Past President

Amy has been involved with grapes and wine since 1996 after a honeymoon to the South of France. Amy and her husband Michael own Hanover Park Vineyard in Yadkinville, NC where they have been producing wine since 1999. A former art teacher, Amy now dedicates all of her time to the wine business. Producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Mourevdre, Chardonnay and Viognier for starters, Amy and Michael project to make up to 3,000 cases of wine per year from Hanover Park.