Michael Updegraff

Michael’s love of wine began during his college years in Boston, working for a wine shop that promoted the newly-emerging California brands in the years when the east coast market still looked toward Europe as the source of outstanding wines. Having this grounding in what was happening in California, Michael headed off for Sonoma County immediately upon graduating with a business degree. Thirty-plus years later, his experience spans the spectrum, having worked in all aspects of primarily small, family-owned, estate wineries: from tasting room to vineyards, from cellar worker to sales representative, from hospitality director to general manager. In his current role as Managing Director of Lail Vineyards (since 2008), Michael is involved in all aspects of company activities while focusing extensively on national and international trade relationships. He travels around the world spreading the good news of Lail’s deep roots and bright future.