Our Team

Five adults stand outdoors on a sunny day, smiling and talking together. They are casually dressed, with trees, greenery, and a wooden fence in the background.

Ron Krausz

Ron is a California native and lifelong wine enthusiast. In 1988, he and his wife Susan seized the opportunity to purchase a parcel on Howell Mountain—an acquisition that, over many years of care and dedication, became the Arkenstone Estate.

Exposed from an early age to Napa’s formative wines and classic Bordeaux, Ron committed himself first to establishing a vineyard of the highest quality and then to building a production facility that would honor and match the vineyard’s excellence. Today, Arkenstone Estate stands as a reflection of Ron and Susan’s respect for the land and their pursuit of uncompromising winemaking craftsmanship.

Susan Krausz

Susan is a Minnesota native and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1980 and in the Napa Valley since 1992. Growing up a bike ride from lakes, parks and hiking trails along the Mississippi, she appreciated living where the natural surroundings and the enjoyment of the turn of the seasons was easily accessible and hoped to find that same ease in nature wherever she landed in life. In her 20s, the first time she saw NapaValley, rolling down into Oakville from the Grade, she was overwhelmed with the beauty and surprisingly felt like she was “home”. It was some years later, that this was to become a reality. In her early thirties,while working in the birth field and family counseling, and busy raising children,she and husband Ron (who were squiring away wines that they loved, one bottle at a time in their “under the stairs”wine cellar), unexpectedly found themselves, in 1988, with the opportunity to purchase the beautiful site that was soon to become Arkenstone. Although Howell Mountain was the very firstsub-AVA of Napa, it was still pretty quiet in the mid 1980s. However, the fruit and wines coming off the mountain were spectacular, and Susan and Ron soon learned that their Arkenstone site was perfectly suited for supporting world class vineyards and subsequently spectacular wines. The decision to throw it all in and drastically shift the trajectory of their lives by committing full-time to the creation and growth of Arkenstone, however, was terrifying. But one fateful blizzard up hereon the mountain on the very last day of escrow (Susan needed a sign), put their concerns to rest, and they have never looked back. Arkenstone has had a long,slow, careful evolution, to maintain the beauty and integrity of both the site and the wines. Susan has been part of all aspects of this process and has enjoyed working towards and overseeing the dream as it continues to evolve. Although notan easy or fast process, the love of wine and the role it plays in the enjoyment of family, friends and guests, along with the beauty of the land, and the alchemy of making wine through the seasons from vine to bottle has been a sustaining backdrop for us for nearly 40 years.

Sam Kaplan

Sam has been making wine in the Napa Valley since 1998. Family-owned wineries, a passion for organic farming, and the drive to make world class wine landed him at Arkenstone for their first commercial vintage in 2006. Sam was part of the design and construction of the winery and oversees all winemaking and vineyard operations at the Estate on Howell Mountain. Sam is also passionate about the wines of the Sonoma Coast, and in 2015 he and his wife Nancy launched their small production MAXEM wines which he produces at Arkenstone as well.

Roberto Alfaro

Roberto Alfaro grew up in Michoacán, Mexico, and moved to Napa Valley at the age of 17, where he began his career working in the vineyards for renowned viticulturist David Abreu. There he helped plant and tend some of the valley's most celebrated vineyard sites, gaining a deep understanding of viticulture at the highest level. After several harvests and a cellar position at The Hess Collection, Roberto joined Caldwell Vineyard in 2005 as Cellar Lead, where he worked hands-on with small-lot, high-end wines and discovered his passion for winemaking.It was at Caldwell that Roberto met Arkenstone winemaker Sam Kaplan. During the 2006 and 2007 vintages—before Arkenstone's winery was completed—its wines were produced at Caldwell, giving Roberto the opportunity to work closely with Sam and earn his trust in the cellar. When Arkenstone prepared for its first harvest in its own winery in 2008, Sam invited Roberto to join the team as Assistant Winemaker. Since that first crush, Roberto has been an integral part of Arkenstone, working with the estate's Howell Mountain vineyards and exceptional fruit sources across Napa Valley.

Jake Krausz

Jake Krausz grew up in the Napa Valley, where an early immersion in vineyards and the rhythms of mountain farming shaped his appreciation for wine and the land that produces it.

After spending a decade in the music industry, Jake returned to Napa Valley in 2010 to rejoin his family’s estate and immerse himself fully in the world of wine. Eager to deepen his understanding from vine to glass, he worked closely alongside winemaker Sam Kaplan in both the vineyard and cellar while also completing the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certified Sommelier exam.

Today, Jake serves as Arkenstone’s Estate Director and international brand ambassador, overseeing all sales, business development, marketing, and hospitality for the winery. He works closely with collectors, trade partners, and members of the Arkenstone Collection around the world, sharing the story of the estate and helping guide guests through the wines with an approachable, personal style.

While much of his work connects Arkenstone to the broader wine community, Jake remains deeply involved in the day-to-day life of the estate, reflecting the hands-on, family-driven spirit that defines the winery.

To request an in-home or private tasting with Jake, please contact the winery at Info@Arkenstone.com or +1 (707) 965-1020.

Galen Becker Drace

Galen Becker Drace joined Arkenstone in 2021 as Director of the Arkenstone Collection, where he oversees member services and leads customer engagement for the estate. He is focused on building lasting relationships and delivering dedicated support to the Arkenstone community.

Galen also serves as Executive Director of the Napa Valley Hospitality Forum (NVHF), a volunteer-run trade organization providing free resources and programming to the industry. He works with 150+ member wineries to raise hospitality standards, coordinate growth strategies, and expand professional development opportunities.

A Napa transplant from the Culinary Institute of America, Galen’s introduction to wine came during a tasting at Corison Winery. He later worked at Stony Hill Vineyard, where he learned the value of personal connections and servicing long-term, emotionally invested clients.

Active in his community, Galen reads weekly to students at Calistoga Elementary through the Soroptimist Read Aloud Partners program. He enjoys woodworking, gardening, and cooking for friends.

Ron Krausz

Susan Krausz

Sam Kaplan

Roberto Alfaro

Jake Krausz

Galen Becker Drace

Our Story

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