THE DOGPATCH WINEWORKS TEAM
Founders
Dave Gifford
Dave was born in Ohio, but spent his formative years in South Africa. He is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University and a restaurant refugee, having spent the first 15 years of professional life managing restaurants from New York City to San Francisco. In 2002 Dave left the restaurant industry and decided to focus on wine, taking a position at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. Dave's fascination with wine grew exponentially after being given the opportunity to work a harvest for A Donkey and Goat winery a few years later. From 2005 through 2011 Dave was head of sales at Crushpad, one of the original urban custom wineries, leading clients through every aspect of the wine making experience and helping launch dozens of boutique wine brands. Co-founding Dogpatch WineWorks is a culmination of 25 years of experience in customer service and a dedication to sharing his passion for winemaking with other wine enthusiasts. When he is not thieving wine from barrels, you'll find Dave surfing or windsurfing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Kevin Doucet
Kevin is a Canadian ex-pat & the co-founder of Dogpatch WineWorks. He was previously a Managing Director with RBC Capital Markets for 13 years. Kevin made the wise decision to trade his chilly winters and finance work to come make wine in San Francisco. Dogpatch WineWorks will mark his third wine related investment since 2006. Other investments include Crushpad & the Vines of Mendoza (Argentina), where he was also engaged as the company's CFO. Kevin received a Graduate Degree in Oenology from the Curtin Institute of Technology in Western Australia in 2008 & has subsequently made wine in Australia, Argentina & California. He also received accreditation with the International Sommelier Guild and Le Cordon Bleu. Kevin is looking forward to sharing his enthusiasm for winemaking with all Dogpatch WineWorks clients.
Consulting Winemakers
Mike Zitzlaff
Michael brings 30 years of international winemaking experience to the company. He is currently the Director of Operations of 'The Tasting Room', a newly formed wine company specializing in producing smaller sample sized wine bottles. From 2006 to 2010, Mike was the Head of Winemaking for Crushpad in San Francisco & then Napa. He was also CEO and Chief Winemaker at Yarra Valley's Oakridge Estate - a company that he took public in 1996. Michael's wines have been recognized internationally with awards including the Warren Winiarski Stag's Leap Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show, the Wolf Blass Trophy for Best Australian Red Wine of Show at London's International Wine and Spirit Competition, and the award for Best New World Pinot Noir at the International Wine Challenge in London. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Oenology from Australia's Famed Roseworthy Agricultural College.
Founders
Dave GiffordDave was born in Ohio, but spent his formative years in South Africa. He is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University and a restaurant refugee, having spent the first 15 years of professional life managing restaurants from New York City to San Francisco. In 2002 Dave left the restaurant industry and decided to focus on wine, taking a position at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant. Dave's fascination with wine grew exponentially after being given the opportunity to work a harvest for A Donkey and Goat winery a few years later. From 2005 through 2011 Dave was head of sales at Crushpad, one of the original urban custom wineries, leading clients through every aspect of the wine making experience and helping launch dozens of boutique wine brands. Co-founding Dogpatch WineWorks is a culmination of 25 years of experience in customer service and a dedication to sharing his passion for winemaking with other wine enthusiasts. When he is not thieving wine from barrels, you'll find Dave surfing or windsurfing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Kevin DoucetKevin is a Canadian ex-pat & the co-founder of Dogpatch WineWorks. He was previously a Managing Director with RBC Capital Markets for 13 years. Kevin made the wise decision to trade his chilly winters and finance work to come make wine in San Francisco. Dogpatch WineWorks will mark his third wine related investment since 2006. Other investments include Crushpad & the Vines of Mendoza (Argentina), where he was also engaged as the company's CFO. Kevin received a Graduate Degree in Oenology from the Curtin Institute of Technology in Western Australia in 2008 & has subsequently made wine in Australia, Argentina & California. He also received accreditation with the International Sommelier Guild and Le Cordon Bleu. Kevin is looking forward to sharing his enthusiasm for winemaking with all Dogpatch WineWorks clients.
Consulting Winemakers
Mike ZitzlaffMichael brings 30 years of international winemaking experience to the company. He is currently the Director of Operations of 'The Tasting Room', a newly formed wine company specializing in producing smaller sample sized wine bottles. From 2006 to 2010, Mike was the Head of Winemaking for Crushpad in San Francisco & then Napa. He was also CEO and Chief Winemaker at Yarra Valley's Oakridge Estate - a company that he took public in 1996. Michael's wines have been recognized internationally with awards including the Warren Winiarski Stag's Leap Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show, the Wolf Blass Trophy for Best Australian Red Wine of Show at London's International Wine and Spirit Competition, and the award for Best New World Pinot Noir at the International Wine Challenge in London. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Oenology from Australia's Famed Roseworthy Agricultural College.
