Our Team
WINEMAKER
MATTHIEU FINOT
Matthieu was born in Crozes Hermitage in the Rhone Valley of France. Coming from a family of viticulturists and wine lovers, Matthieu was predisposed to continue his family’s pursuit of making and enjoying wine. He first studied viticulture and oenology at Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy. After graduating in 1995, Matthieu worked in many different wine regions around France including Rhone Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Provence, and Jura. He then worked in Italy and South Africa to gain experience around the world before settling in Virginia. Since arriving in 2003, Matthieu has worked with wineries throughout the state and, more recently, is a founding member of the Winemakers’ Research Exchange and Board Member of the Monticello Wine Trail. He enjoys being active the local winemaking community and challenging his skills through experimental design at King Family, working with different terroir at Turk Mountain Vineyards, which he currently manages, and partnering with his brother to establish and expand Domaine Finot in two regions in France. Matthieu enjoys skiing, entertaining, home renovating, traveling, and cooking together with wife Erin, son Gabin, and daughter Tessa.
ASSOCIATE Winemaker
CONNOR JOOSTE
Vineyard manager
Eric Clouse
Eric was born and raised in Sonoma Valley on his family’s vineyard, where he grew up learning the craft of vineyard management from an early age. He went on to attend Colorado State University, earning a degree in horticulture with a concentration in viticulture and enology.
After graduation, Eric spent several years “harvest hopping” around the world, gaining hands-on experience in diverse wine regions, and it was during that time that he met his wife, Holly. He eventually returned to Sonoma, where he farmed vineyards throughout Sonoma and Napa counties.
For the past few years, Eric has called Virginia home, embracing the opportunity to learn and cultivate the distinctive terroir of Virginia vineyards. He and Holly are now raising their two sons, Jack and Beau, and are grateful to be putting down both professional and personal roots in the region.
General Manager
Caroline Smith
Caroline joined King Family Vineyards as the Tasting Room Manager in 2024 and rose to the role of General Manager in November 2025. A Charlottesville native, she is happy to fit right back into her hometown. She attended the University of Mississippi and has spent more than 15 years building a dynamic career in hospitality, driven by a passion for thoughtful service, strong team leadership, and creating memorable guest experiences.
Her professional career includes five years in Napa Valley, where she worked at a high-end boutique winery in St. Helena. There, she deepened her knowledge of wine and service operations, refining a well-balanced hospitality style. That experience, combined with her dedication to cultivating welcoming environments, shapes her leadership at King Family Vineyards today.
Outside of the winery, Caroline enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, and spending time outdoors hiking. Most of all, she loves time spent with her family and her golden retriever, Wesley.
Accounting & Payroll
Ann-Rodman Shook
Ann-Rodman began her career in banking after graduating with a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill. She transitioned to bookkeeping and has been in her profession for nearly 30 years. She recently relocated to Charlottesville with her husband, four children and two dogs. When out of the office, she enjoys gardening, watching sporting events and spending time on the water.
Director of Marketing
Cole Boylen
Cole was born and raised just outside of Staunton, Virginia, only a short drive from King Family Vineyards. Many of his favorite childhood memories were made at the vineyard, spending afternoons with family and friends at Sunday polo matches. Having ridden and shown horses from a young age, he always felt a special connection to the farm, making it even more meaningful to now be part of the KFV team.
After earning a B.S. in Marketing and Brand Management from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Cole entered the wine world managing a boutique wine bar in downtown Staunton. A brief stint in tech marketing ultimately led him back to his passion for wine and hospitality, and he joined King Family Vineyards in November 2023. Since then, he has deepened his connection to the growing Virginia wine industry, earning his WSET Level 2 certification and continuing to expand his knowledge to bring an informed voice to wine marketing. He is passionate about thoughtful brand storytelling, capturing the spirit of the farm, vineyard, and guest experience while sharing the story of Virginia wine with an evolving audience.
Outside of work, Cole enjoys spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, opening new-to-him bottles of wine, and the occasional hike in Shenandoah National Park with his Treeing Walker Coonhound, Ryker.
Events Director
Gail Winsor
Gail is a New Hampshire native who has now found her home in Virginia. With a wealth of experience gained over her years at King Family Vineyards, Gail is thrilled to step into her role as Events Director. Having previously worked with various planning and catering teams, she brings a deep understanding and enthusiasm for helping clients envision their events at King Family. When she’s away from the vineyard, Gail loves exploring the outdoors, spending quality time with loved ones, discovering new vineyards and hiking trails, and ensuring her dog, Shadow, enjoys the very best life.
FARM MANAGER
JEFF CAMPBELL
Jeff was born and raised in Nelson County, Virginia just down the road from King Family Vineyards. After attending Nelson County High School, Jeff worked for Nelson County before joining the King Family Vineyards Team. Jeff is happily married to his wife, Sylvana Campbell, and they have two children and two grandchildren. In his free time, Jeff enjoys hunting, fishing, and grilling out with friends.
Tasting Room Manager
Joanna Hooker
Hailing from Warrenton, Virginia, Joanna joined the King Family Vineyards team in November of 2025. Joanna began her academic journey at Roanoke College, earning a degree in Fine Arts with a focus in painting. She later went on to complete her Master’s degree in Psychology at Purdue University.
She entered the wine industry during COVID, initially as a way to get out of the house, but quickly discovered a true passion for hospitality and the community surrounding Virginia wine. Over the years, she held management roles at Thatch Winery, Jefferson Vineyards, and Early Mountain, gaining valuable experience across a range of respected wineries before joining the team at King Family Vineyards.
She shares a home in the country with her younger brother (who also works in the wine industry) along with two cats and her beloved senior dog. In her free time, she enjoys watching true crime documentaries, working on jigsaw puzzles, and exploring the many wineries along the Monticello Wine Trail.
WINE DIRECTOR
KARINE MALIFARGE
Karine was born and raised in Bordeaux, France, where wine is a way of life. With five generations of Right Bank winemaking in her family and a WSET Level 3 certification, she developed a deep understanding of wine production and tasting, mentored by her father, an oenologist.
A French-American dual citizen, Karine built her career in the United States, representing her family’s estate and other French boutique wineries in South Florida. She worked in sales, marketing, and brand development, cultivating strong relationships with restaurants, retailers, and distributors, while also leading tastings, winemaker dinners, workshops, and corporate events as a wine educator.
Driven by a desire to reconnect with terroir and her Bordeaux roots, she moved to Virginia wine country in September 2025 to join the King Family Vineyards team in the Monticello AVA as Wine Director.
Karine is the proud mother of three: Philippe, who works in the wine industry in Chicago; Alexy, in finance in Boston; and Camille, a recent college graduate.
