The Clark Family & Winery Team
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+Spencer Clark, Founder / Proprietor
Spencer was born and raised in Houston, Texas. His family owned and operated a large rice drying facility and cultivated thousands of acres of rice in South Texas. As a teenager, he worked summers on the ranch dealing with all aspects of the growing and packaging rice. From an early age, Spencer showed a love of farming and a second passion for music.
He began playing piano and guitar early and went on to study music at University of St. Thomas. He continued a professional music career for over fifteen years until deciding to migrate to Northern California to explore the Napa Valley grape industry. The desire to live in this beautiful part of the country led Spencer, Amizetta and first son Spencer Jr. to settle in the small town of St. Helena in the late 70’s. Spencer quickly became captivated by the art of wine growing and making, and soon purchased a special piece of land deep in the Napa Valley mountains to create his dream of producing hillside red wines. Over the next several years he developed and established the hillside property of Amizetta Estate Vineyards and Winery. Spencer continues today pursuing his two true passions: Wine and Music. His music can be found at songsmith123.com
Amizetta Clark, Founder / Proprietor
Amizetta McFaddin Clark was born in Beaumont, Texas into to one of the earliest Texas ranching families. Her great great grandfather, WPH McFaddin was an original Mexican land grantee. She grew up enjoying weekends and summers with her father and grandfather on the McFaddin ranches.
Her maternal grandfather owned a successful Spice Production Facility called McClancy Company. Both family ventures deeply influenced Amizetta’s appreciation of nature, farming and exquisite cuisine leading to her fascination and love of wine that ultimately fueled her desire to help create the Amizetta Napa Valley Vineyard Estate.
She has raised four children in the agricultural community of St. Helena. Returning to college to enhance her skills in winery financial management, she currently plays an integral roll in daily operations and spends time in both the vineyards and the winery ensuring only the highest quality wines are produced under the Amizetta Estate label.
Perry Clark, President
Earned his undergraduate degree from University of California at Davis in Viticulture and Enology and his MBA from the Graduate School of Management at UC Davis. Perry spent his summers during college working at Sterling Vineyards and Louis Martini Winery. These internships helped him gain a better understanding of how the “bigger” wineries operated.
After completing his degrees, he spent three years working in financial services with Blackstone Funds in New York City. Perry has since taken his wide breath of work experience and focused his attentions back at the family winery as the general manager.
Edward Clark, Winemaker
Working on the same property in Napa Valley where he grew up, Edward became head winemaker at Amizetta in 2011. He is now putting his mark on its signature cabernet sauvignon, working to take full advantage of the family land, with its southern facing slopes at the tail end of Howell Mountain.
“I really want to make a wine people can drink and enjoy right away, with less astringent tannins and more fruit-forward qualities,” says Edward, who is moving away from Amizetta’s earlier, more Old World style. From a young age, he loved spending time in the vineyard and still believes it holds the secret to amazing wine. “The vineyard side can be unappreciated,” he notes, adding that Amizetta’s high sun exposure and rich soil are ideal for growing cabernet grapes. “But for a long time that was my main passion. Now it’s great that I can bring that understanding to our winemaking.”
Edward’s background reflects this dual focus. He holds a degree in viticulture and enology from California State University at Fresno and previously studied viticulture at Napa Valley Junior College. He also brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge. He has lived in Chile and Argentina, exploring the South American grape and wine industries; in 2011, he worked the harvest at renowned facilities such as Mendel Winery in Mendoza. He has also been involved in running Amizetta for many years. “I’m definitely glad to be in a family-run operation,” he says. “It gives us more freedom and leeway to hone our techniques and style.”
Spencer Clark Jr., Property Manager
Spencer Jr. was born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Napa Valley from the age of three. He graduated Saint Helena High school and went on to study at the University of Montana. He returned to pursue viticulture education at Napa Valley College under the eminent Dr. Stephen J. Krebs.
Spencer has worked in the vineyards and at the winery in varying capacities over the past twenty five years. He currently helps to manage the vineyard along with assisting in the winemaking.
Amizetta Clark, MD,
Amizetta Carol Clark was born and raised in Saint Helena, CA. She is Spencer and Amizetta’s only daughter. She is an Internal Medicine-Phychiatry MD. and part owner of Amizetta Winery and Vineyards. She is married and has three children. Her daughter Amizetta, is a 4th generation namesake.
Patrick Volner, Estate Director
Patrick Volner began his journey in wine on the East Coast in 2001. Working as a restaurateur, he opened and operated restaurants in Tampa, St. Louis and Sacramento before making the move to the Napa Valley to pursue his real passion. After a tenure with Honig on the valley floor in Rutherford, he made the move into the Hennessey Hills. He is involved in all aspects of our operation from hospitality to harvest ensuring Amizetta remains at the top of its class. When he is not at the winery, Patrick is spending quality time with his wife, Sarah, and two sons, Bryce and Gavin.
Patrick Volner can be contacted at patrick@amizetta.com.
Jose Rincon, Ranch Manager
Jose has worked at Amizetta Vineyards and Winery since 1992. He is the main ranch manager who is integral to keeping both the vineyards and winery running. Jose assists in the day to day management in the vineyard as well as assisting in the wine making process. The day to day running of the property would be lost without him.
Rachel Sturm, Membership & Marketing Manager
Rachel is our Membership and Marketing Manager, customer service guru and animal whisperer. She handles everything from all our members needs at the winery, to email design and occasionally, you may even find her on the tasting terrace hosting a tasting!
Rachel is a Napa Native, born and raised. With a degree in Biology with an emphases Land Management, she loves all things outdoors, good food, and traveling anywhere she can with her husband, Dustin. She jumped into the wine industry while still in college in 2013 and since then has worked at several well known wineries in Napa Valley.
Rachel Sturm can be contacted at rachel@amizetta.com.
Brandon Tatera, Shipping Coordinator
Brandon joined the Amizetta team in the summer of 2021 as our Shipping Coordinator. Using his degrees from the University of San Francisco, he is excited to manage our in-house shipping and logistics operation, as well as assist with compliance.
Brandon grew up in Southern California and originally worked in the sports industry. He spent his sports career involved with Yahoo Sports, Stanford University, and the NFL before developing a passion for wine. He found his calling in logistics after spending time in various sectors of the wine industry. When he is not at Amizetta, Brandon can be found outdoors with his wife Laura, hiking or swimming.
Brandon Tatera can be contacted at shipping@amizetta.com.
Frankie Salazar, Estate Host
Frankie Salazer joined the Amizetta Winery team in the summer of 2024, bringing with him a genuine enthusiasm for wine, people, and experience-driven hospitality. Passionate about the wine industry, Frankie enjoys deepening his understanding of wines both locally and beyond, drawing inspiration from a wide range of regions and styles.
Outside of the winery, Frankie is most at home outdoors—whether playing soccer or tackling a rock-climbing route. With his parents based in Oregon, he frequently travels and takes every opportunity to explore new wine regions along the way. A devoted fan of live music, performances, and a well-played board game, Frankie approaches both work and life with curiosity, energy, and a readiness to savor every moment.
Frankie Salazar can be contacted at frankie@amizetta.com.
John Tanda, Estate Host
John joined the Amizetta team in the Summer of 2022 as a full time host after spending 9 years working at various wineries throughout Napa Valley. A California native from Santa Cruz, he spent his college years studying Sociology at Long Beach State University and utilizes those skills to make sure every guest has the best experience possible. When not at the winery, you can almost always find John outdoors either hiking, gardening, tailgating or working out. Otherwise, you can find him enjoying his eclectic music collection and sci fi or fantasy movies. Along with his wife of 18 years, Melissa, John aspires to travel to Italy to learn about his Italian roots – spend a tasting with John, and watch those hands fly!
John Tanda can be contacted at john@amizetta.com.
James Prager, Estate Host
James joined the Amizetta team in the Winter of 2025.
Raised in the heart of Napa Valley winemaking, he grew up working alongside his father at Prager Winery, where he developed a deep appreciation for the tradition, craftsmanship, and dedication that define exceptional wines. Those early experiences instilled a lasting respect for the art of winemaking and the role wineries play in preserving history while fostering community.
He believes wine is meant to be shared and enjoyed together, valuing its unique ability to bring people closer through conversation and connection. Outside of the winery, he enjoys traveling, exploring new regions and cultures, and drawing inspiration from the places he visits. He and his wife, Alejandra, recently welcomed a new golden retriever puppy named Enzo, adding even more joy to life beyond the cellar.
James Prager can be contacted at james@amizetta.com.
Melissa Hammack, Event Coordinator & Concierge
Melissa joined our winery family in January of 2022. She comes to us from a luxury brand background and will be on the forefront of our concierge and event programs. She is looking forward to helping make every guest experience beautiful. While she was born and raise in the San Francisco Bay Area, she also spent some time in the Clark’s old stomping grounds: Houston TX. With a passion for art, she received her BFA in Photography from AAU in San Francisco and looks forward to applying her skills at Amizetta. In her downtime, she loves spending time hiking, doing water sports and going to festivals with her husband, Michael, as well as 19 year old daughter, Elise.
Melissa Hammack can be contacted at melissa@amizetta.com.
Jose Rincon Jr., Assistant Winemaker
Jose Jr joined the Amizetta team 8 years ago after growing up on the Amizetta property with his father and family. As the eldest sibling, he spent his childhood running around the property and now knows it like the back of his hand. When Jose Jr isn’t in our Cellar assisting Eddie with the wine making process, you can find him on the property helping his Dad or Spencer Jr. A man of many talents, he enjoys playing soccer and has been an avid player since the age of 5. In his spare time, Jr loves to write songs (rap or hip-hop based) and has quite the voice!
Our Vineyard Team
These amazing members of the Amizetta team work in the background, ensuring the land and winery are taken care of. We couldnt do it without their hard work, passion and expertise.
Starting their days sometimes as early as two am, our vineyard team takes care of and manages every aspect of the estate. From harvest, to landscaping, to winery maintenance, to wrangling our winery dogs (with lots of treats), they make this winery run as smoothly as possible. We couldn’t do it without each and every one of them and their beautiful smiling faces.
From top left to right: Antonio Sandoval, Eleuerio Angel, and bottom left to right, Emmanual (Manny) Garcia, and Daniel (Danny) Bautista.
Vineyard Dogs
Amizetta Vineyards has 3 dogs.
Shelby is our everyday greeter on the estate – a border collie/standard poodle mix. Spencer Jr’s shadow, if he is around, she wont be far behind. Rescued for being “too energetic”, Shelby is in fact an old soul and the sweetest lovebug around.
Zuzu is our energetic golden retriever. At 6 years old, she is always the life of the party. Friends with everyone, she is always happy to help you with your bread sticks or ready to give you her tummy for a belly rub. Zuzu is mostly a family dog and spends her days with Amizetta Clark Jr in Saint Helena, but she sometimes comes up for a visit!
CoCo is our 4 years old golden retriever. Once very shy but now the goofball of the group, she is the biggest sweetheart and loves her ear scratches. Coco spends most of her time with Perry Clark and his family at his family home in Saint Helena. On days she makes it to the winery, she adds an extra level of energy!