Leadership team

Mark Garaventa brings professional success which spans more than three decades. His career began in his family business, before he moved on to manage national sales for a large corporation. He then transitioned into the wine business in 2009, joining Rack & Riddle when the company was still in its infancy.

An integral part of the executive team, Mark has risen from vice president of sales to general manager, a role he embraces as he makes it a point to meet and learn about every employee. As a lifelong baseball player who still competes in Northern California leagues today, Mark is a natural team player, and like most committed athletes he recognizes the importance of every team member, as well as the collective power of the win.

A native of the North Bay Area, Mark earned his degree from St. Mary’s College in 1988. Curious and adventurous, he has visited 48 states. Initiatives in which Mark has been involved include the original move of Rack & Riddle to their main Healdsburg location in 2014; company acquisitions including production facilities in Alexander Valley, Geyserville, and Lodi; the development of multiple custom wine brands; and the vast evolution of producing primarily Méthode Champenoise, to adding state-of-the-art technologies, as well as multiple sparkling beverage production capabilities including Charmat and premium canning.

Superpower: Strength, endurance, resilience.

Favorite Sparkling Beverage: Beer is the honest answer, but also am fond of the Rack & Riddle Blanc de Blanc.

Sparkling wine life moment, memory, experience or turning point? When I joined Rack & Riddle, I was not a sparkling wine drinker. Now I always have a bottle of sparkling wine chilled in the refrigerator, ready for any occasion!

Kimberly Benson has focused her career in the wine and spirits category, gaining a deep understanding of both financial services and consumer packaged goods. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in strategic planning, capital management, acquisition analysis and financing, cost and inventory accounting, and leadership development to the executive team.

Prior to joining Rack & Riddle, Kimberly held several senior finance and accounting leadership positions, including interim CFO and vice president of finance at Crimson Wine Group, and vice president of finance at Vintage Wine Estates.

Known for building and leading highly successful teams, Kimberly is also skilled in financial modeling and project management. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Managerial Economics from the University of California Davis and holds an MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University.

Kimberly resides in Windsor with her husband, Oliver, daughter, Maya, and their beloved dog, Norman. She enjoys the outdoors, camping and boating with her family, and applying her creativity and precise approach while experimenting in the kitchen.

Superpower: My family would say my superpower is my mastery of making crepes for Sunday brunch, served with bubbles of course!

Favorite Sparkling Beverage: My favorite sparkling wine hands down, is a refreshing Blanc de Blanc. I absolutely love a French 75 cocktail with fresh Meyer lemon.

Sparkling wine life moment, memory, experience or turning point? Our family spends a lot of time boating with our friends, particularly during the warmer summertime months. It has become our tradition to start the day off right, with a bottle of perfectly chilled sparkling wine!

Stephan Micallef is the executive leadership team member responsible for production operations, supply chain, logistics, facilities and maintenance at all Rack & Riddles sites. He supports Rack & Riddle’s exceptional wine quality at every level, while continuously bolstering innovative sparkling wine production.

Stephan is a native of Auckland, New Zealand, where he was born, raised, and helped his father build their family home. He began his career as an apprentice at a large steel company where he learned the multiple, complex facets of electrical and mechanical engineering. More than a decade in many engineering departments created the opportunity for Stephan to earn his national qualifications, and then transition into production and supply chain management before completing his education in operational science and business management.

In 2001 he moved into the wine industry, working for Montana Wines – Allied Domecq Wines NZ, New Zealand’s largest winery, to expand facilities, implement new technologies and support the still and sparkling winemaking teams, with trials and advancing efficiency and quality.

Stephan then moved his family to California in 2005, and for 16 years worked for wine companies including Gallo, Beam Wine Estates and ultimately Francis Ford Coppola Winery, where he excelled with expansions, acquisitions, and process improvements. These skills fit naturally with his move to Rack & Riddle in 2022. In the short time Stephan has been with Rack & Riddle, he has supported the acquisition and integration of two additional Charmat production facilities, successfully guiding both sites through new ownership transitions, while initiating new ERP and business systems.

The nuance of traditional Méthode Champenoise winemaking inspires Stephan, who enjoys the teamwork at Rack & Riddle where he shares his experience and knowledge to employ a high operational standard that aligns with the strategic plan. He enjoys supporting teams in ways that allow them to be creative and focus on continual improvement.

Stephan resides in Windsor along with his wife Georgie, both who prioritizes family and spending time with their two adult children. When he is not at one of Rack & Riddle’s wineries, he can be found gardening, riding his motorcycle all about Sonoma County, and tapping into the home-building experience of his youth, renovating, and doing projects around their home.

Superpower: I try to enjoy the journey of life, and I like building and renovating. I have had the opportunity to build two of my own homes!

Favorite Sparkling Beverage: I enjoy lighter, Charmat-style sparkling wines, and I do like Sauvignon Blanc, influenced from living in New Zealand.

Sparkling wine life moment, memory, experience or turning point? I started in the wine industry as an engineering manager for the largest sparkling wine producer in New Zealand, then called Montana wines. One summer the company launched a refreshing sparkling wine that had a hint of pure Strawberry essence. For me, this was a pivotal moment as I was surprised by how great it tasted and how quickly the popularity grew for this summertime wine.

Brett Vankoski is an experienced business professional who began his career working in a global capacity in finance for institutions such as American Express and Fidelity Investments. He then moved on to work in the wine business, first in retail, and then as vice president and wine director for Latitude Beverage Company, creators of the brand 90+ Cellars.

A graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government (where he also played NCAA Division 1 baseball), Brett earned an MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University. A team player throughout his career he has been recognized for leadership, innovation, creativity, and connections in the alcoholic beverage world, qualities which match the forward and progressive direction of Rack & Riddle.

Brett is responsible for driving overall sales growth for the company. This includes developing and implementing sales strategies, leading the sales teams, measuring and monitoring success, and implementing new revenue generating opportunities. He brings more than 15 years of experience in the wine industry covering sales, marketing, brand development and operations.

Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Brett now lives with his wife and two sons in Brookline, Massachusetts. He coaches youth baseball, takes morning runs all year around New England’s Charles River, and serves as the President of Harvard Alumni in Wine & Food. Brett also prides himself on being one of the nicest Philadelphia Eagles fans you will ever meet.

Superpower: While I am calm in difficult situations, and have demonstrated resiliency by always moving forward, my definite superpower is dancing at weddings. Back in the day, prior to an unfortunate and serious sports injury, I was known for killing it on the dance floor!

Favorite Sparkling Beverage: White Port and Tonic, a Portuguese version of a spritz made with white port, tonic water and fresh lemon juice. This is a low-alcohol drink that is refreshing enough to cool you down in the blistering Portuguese heat.

Sparkling wine life moment, memory, experience or turning point? My favorite sparkling wine moment was driving through the vineyards of Champagne in the winter and seeing a singular vigneron, all alone, sitting on a little stool out in the vineyard, pruning his vines. This memory made me realize that as celebratory and extravagant as Champagne and sparkling wine can be, there is something very personal, humble and timeless about its origins.

Kim Kulchycki is a seasoned global brand strategist with over 30 years of experience in the wine, spirits, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries. Joining Rack & Riddle felt like a natural next step in her career, given her extensive background in brand management, market research, and supply chain operations. Her impressive portfolio includes key roles at iconic companies like Constellation Brands, Robert Mondavi Winery, Gallo, Driscoll’s, BevMo!, and the import division of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.

Known for her results-driven approach, Kim is recognized as a versatile leader with sharp analytical skills and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. She excels in leading diverse teams and managing complex, multi-faceted projects, seamlessly blending marketing expertise with financial acumen.

Kim holds an MBA from the University of California, Davis – Graduate School of Management, and a BS in Production and Operations Management from California State University, Stanislaus, where she also minored in Philosophy—a nod to her thoughtful, strategic mindset.

At Rack & Riddle, Kim is at the helm of all marketing initiatives, driving growth, brand recognition, and market success. She oversees the Custom Label Line of Business Development (PLCL), Company Branding, Public Relations, and broader Commercial Strategy, positioning the company for sustained success.

Originally from State College, Pennsylvania (WE ARE!), Kim now lives in Napa, California with her husband Jay and their dog Maru. Her grown daughter Jessica lives nearby in Vallejo and they visit often. In her free time, Kim is an avid yogi, runner, and outdoor enthusiast, enjoying everything from hiking and camping to nature photography and fishing.

Superpower: The act of revealing my superpower renders it … powerless. It is a subtle form of persuasion that works best when you don’t even know it’s happening.

Favorite Sparkling Beverage: She adores a French 75, or its ‘Not-So-French’ counterpart made with premium California sparkling wine. She also enjoys a good Manhattan or a Scotch with enough peat to make you feel like you’re standing in the bog.

Sparkling Wine Moment: My first trip to Champagne was as brand manager for Nicolas Feuillatte. Their cooperative business model allows hundreds of small, multi-generational, family-owned vineyards to remain in private hands and to be profitable year after year. Each lot is tracked separately, so that growers can use a portion of their crop for their own label, with the balance sourced for Nicolas Feuillatte. This approach fosters a sense of collective pride and commitment to sustainability. It is a story that I love telling again and again, the power of many that come together as one.