Team

Bending Branch has a large and talented team.
Meet just a few of the team members below.

Robert W. Young, M.D.

CEO and Executive Winemaker
Dr. Bob was drawn to the beauty and legacy of wine regions in Europe, South America and the U.S. As a physician, he found the art and science of winemaking intriguing, as well as the increasing research regarding red wine’s impact on health. He progressed from a course in viticulture and enology study to a property search in the Texas Hill Country, near where his daughter Alison was starting a family. He enrolled in the rigorous Winemaker Certification Program at UC Davis, an international leader in winemaker academics and research.

Dr. Bob became a 2009 Renaud Society inductee, and he is a member of The American Society of Enology and Viticulture and the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association. A Phi Beta Kappa, Dr. Young holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, a Doctorate of Medicine, a master’s degree in Public Health in Health Care Administration and is boarded in Preventive Medicine.

Alison Young

President and Master Blender
A Kentucky native, Alison has spent the latter part of her career in Texas. Over the last 15 years in the beverage industry, Alison has been performing critical company functions for Bending Branch. Her work has helped enable Bending Branch’s mission of pushing quality and innovation to deliver world class wines and bourbons. Alison drives the planning and coordination of current and future sustainable development.

As Master Blender, Alison is responsible for sourcing bourbon from Kentucky and other states for both the Bending Branch 1840 and ChickenDuck bourbon lines. She also sources new make for aging in both Kentucky and Texas. Alison is responsible for the aging program and finalizes all blends and proofing decisions. 

Jennifer Cernosek
General Manager
Jennifer leads a team of talented professionals who are making, selling, marketing, and serving exemplary wines and bourbons. Jennifer leads the winery’s operations, brand sales and marketing, DTC programs, distribution, export initiatives, hospitality and events.

Jennifer is WSET 3 certified and certified as an Executive Bourbon Steward. She teaches the Certified Bourbon Steward course across the state. She is also trained in export readiness.

Sara Potter

Marketing Manager

Sara has been with Bending Branch since 2016. She coordinates many facets of the Bending Branch portfolio of brands. She specializes in marketing, events, and communications. Public relations, coordinated marketing efforts, community outreach, and more fall under Sara’s purview.

Sara is a Specialist of Texas Wine Level 2 and a Certified Bourbon Steward.

Greg Stokes and Deborah Elissagaray

Winemakers

Bending Branch’s California wines are made by husband-and-wife winemaking team Greg Stokes and Deborah Elissagaray at Ursa Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills. Greg and Deb bottled the first Tannat wine in California. It was this connection that led Dr. Bob to pursue working with them. In 2014, Bob purchased Ursa, and Greg joined the Bending Branch team.

In 2018, Greg and Deb were awarded Best Winemakers of El Dorado County.

Chad Kurtz

WINEMAKER

Chad Kurtz has been an integral part of the winemaking team at Bending Branch Winery since 2012. Chad manages the production team and daily operations in Comfort, Texas.

Susie Boswell

WINE CLUB MANAGER

Susie has been part of the Bending Branch team since 2014. While she is involved with many tasks, Susie manages the Bending Branch Wine Club and enjoys interacting with members.

Stephen Mergele

TASTING ROOM MANAGER

Stephen has been with Bending Branch since 2013. In addition to tasting room leadership and managing the Ursa Vineyards Gold Rush Club, Stephen plays an important role with Bending Branch and custom crush clients in processing labels for federal and state compliance.

Stephen is certified as a Specialist of Texas Wine Level 1.

Judy Sullivan

HOSPITALITY MANAGER

Judy has worked at Bending Branch since 2018. As Hospitality Manager, she oversees tasting room operations and onsite activities. She also interacts closely with Bending Branch and Ursa club members.

Judy is a Certified Bourbon Steward and a Specialist of Texas Wine Level 2.

Erin Shields

EVENTS AND LOCAL ACCOUNTS COORDINATOR

Erin has been with Bending Branch since 2020. She specializes in organizing and executing events of all kinds. Erin is also the lead team member for local account sales.

Erin is WSET 3 certified, an Certified Bourbon Steward, and a Specialist of Texas Wine Level 2.

Amy Wagner

LAB TECHNICIAN

With Bending Branch since 2019, Amy is an important part of the Bending Branch team, and she performs many highly detailed job functions. In addition to working with Bending Branch wines, she works closely with custom crush clients and their wines.

Amy is certified as a Specialist of Texas Wine Level 1.

Charles Myers

SPECIAL PROJECTS AND EXECUTIVE BOURBON STEWARD

A part of the Bending Branch team since 2018, Charles works on a variety of special projects.

Charles is an Executive Bourbon Steward and executes bourbon production logistics.

Todd Huntress

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Working in Bending Branch production since 2018, Todd is a versatile and key leader in Bending Branch winemaking and production flow.