Bernard is a senior executive with 23 years of domestic and international experience in the wine and spirits industry. He comes with encyclopedic, as well as first-hand, knowledge of all aspects of the business—from brand development and marketing to all facets of the production process. He has proven, time after time, to be able to create brands that are distinctive and held in the highest acclaim.

Bernard began his wine career at Gallo, then built a formidable network of major industry players as he managed sales teams across the US for Premiere Wine Merchants and later Remy Cointreau. Bernard began managing winery operations for Carneros Alambic Distillery in 1991, and then held the Director & General Manager position for Piper Sonoma. He created the well-respected BearBoat wine brand from scratch, overseeing all aspects of product creation, design, and marketing. Bernard was then brought on as the President of the Darioush Winery in Napa, where he directed all components of starting the boutique luxury brand, which grew to become one of Napa Valley’s biggest success stories.

Currently, Bernard is at the helm of JAQK Cellars, where he has tasked himself with bringing the world a family of first-class wines while having a boatload of fun in the process.