Our People

Michael Davies | Executive Winemaker

A small-town New Zealander, Michael completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Scandinavian Studies and Political Science at the University of Auckland leading to some unusual jobs, before returning to Lincoln University for a post-graduate diploma in Viticulture & Enology. Prior to joining A to Z, he served as Vineyard Manager and Assistant Winemaker for 6 years at Chehalem, as well as in Burgundy, California, the Hunter Valley of Australia and numerous regions of New Zealand.  Michael and his winemaker wife, Anna Matzinger, make Matzinger Davies wines.

Jennifer Willis | Director of DTC Sales & Operations

Jennifer began with Erath in 2010 and recently transitioned into her current role overseeing the DTC programs at Erath, Rex Hill, and A to Z Wineworks. With over 18 years of wine industry experience, her role gives her involvement in daily tasting room operation, wine club, e-commerce, and events growth strategies via leadership and program development and implementation, and setting DTC goals through successful sales strategy development for all three brands and tasting spaces. Outside of the wine world, Jennifer enjoys spending time at her remote cabin and planning and going on adventure trips with her family and identical twin boys.

Mark Smith | Hospitality Manager

Mark is a sixth-generation Oregonian who spent his childhood on beaches or in forests. After studying philosophy and geology at the University of Oregon, he moved to NYC and discovered wine. After years as a Sommelier and Wine Director at Michelin starred restaurants, he felt called back to the rugged beauty of Oregon and his family.

Doug Rankin | Tasting Room Manager

Doug comes from the restaurant world where he managed events and front-of-the-house operations at multiple Portland establishments. Doug has spent most of his career in hospitality and finds joy in creating great guest experiences. When Doug isn’t creating amazing guest experiences, he dotes on his backyard chickens and grows tons of veggies that he pickles, dehydrates & cans. Doug loves to cook and he also has a passion for board games, of which he has a self-attested ‘huge’ collection.

Jonathan Lampe | DTC Hospitality Lead

Jonathan originally joined REX HILL part-time in the tasting room to expand his knowledge of Pinot Noir and wine in general. Those weekend shifts intensified his passion for wine so much that he decided to leave his decade-long career in insurance and join the team full time. He has since become a Certified Specialist of Wine and has passed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 Certification. Jonathan is happy to share interesting wine knowledge in the tasting room.

Billy Brownlee | Head Chef

Billy grew up on the Gulf Coast, then moved to New Orleans where he spent several years in the food industry. Since then, his culinary pursuits have taken him all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond through Italy, New York City, Denali National Park, and Alaska, to name a few. Billy appreciates the interactivity that comes with being Winery Chef for REX HILL, especially getting to know our guests! Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the trails of the Pacific Northwest.

Brianna MacMillan | Assistant Chef

Growing up in her family’s restaurant on the California Coast, Brianna has always had a passion for cooking and bringing people together with food. As an interest in wine studies naturally followed, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Wine and Viticulture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, dabbling in both the cellar and the tasting room. She recently relocated to Portland, Oregon, and worked as a line cook before striking the perfect balance as Assistant Chef here at REX HILL, advancing in the culinary arts as well as in wine. Outside of the kitchen, she is an avid athlete participating in soccer and flag football.

Sierra Beri | DTC Operations Manager

Sierra started her career in the fashion industry but as her curiosity for wine increased, she decided to pursue wine education and change her path. A native Oregonian, she received her degree from the Art Institute of Portland and has completed the WSET Level 2 course. In her free time, Sierra enjoys exploring the outdoors, gardening, and traveling internationally to regions known for their wines to broaden her wine knowledge.

Rylee Sinclair | Events Specialist

After graduating from Portland State University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management & Leadership, Rylee Sinclair jumped straight into working in the Willamette Valley wine industry. Her first stop was WillaKenzie Estate & then Brooks Winery. Rylee developed a passion for wine while working in the wine, event & hospitality industry and has since passed her WSET 2. Rylee is a native Oregonian and grew up loving to cook (not bake), which she has parlayed into a cooking club with her mom & friends.