RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN
OUR COMMUNITY
We are grateful for our relationships with you - our customers, restaurants serving our wines, our growing partners, our relationships in the industry. These relationships inspire us to to make high quality wines for you to enjoy. Thank you for supporting Poundstone and making it what it is today.
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OUR
INSPIRATION
Poundstone is a family owned and operated winery producing small lot wines from the Carneros region of Sonoma and Napa Valley.
Melody's family has been farming in Northern California for multiple generations. Growing up, Melody experienced the hard work and challenges of farming first hand through multiple harvests.
Poundstone was inspired by Melody's grandmothers. Jessie Doris Poundstone and Eula Marie Johnson were instrumental in Melody's life. Jessie and Eula ran the family ranches farming the land and modeling the way to be strong, nurturing leaders. We honor their memory and our family history each day.
OUR
JOURNEY
Siblings, Melody and Bryan grew up getting their hands dirty on the family farm. They learned how to drive tractors and help with harvest as kids. Northern California soil is in their blood. They respect the land and focus on sustainable farming.
Inspired to create the next generation of farming, Melody purchased 4 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines in Sonoma. She made her first wine in 2008 and the family business began. Melody made wine under multiple labels before launching the Poundstone label in 2013.
When Melody started making wine, she sought out a collaborator and partner. Bruce Devlin and Melody have been working together to make wines they both love since 2007. Bruce is a mentor, friend, and critical part of Poundstone's success.
Bryan married Cristen. Bryan and Cristen joined Melody in 2011 and family business expanded. The family collaborates on all aspects of the business, staying true to the farming roots. The rest as they say is history.
MELODY MECKFESSEL
PROPRIETOR
Melody is the heart of Poundstone, pouring her expertise and love into all aspects of the business. She leads the family in fruit selection, winemaking, operations, and sales. A software engineer by training, Melody brings a bit of art and science to the creation of Poundstone wines. Her approach is centered on responsible farming, engineering experimentation, and a strong family tradition.
In 2007, Melody purchased a 4.0 acre vineyard in Carneros where she made her first wines, estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Melody is also a CEO and co-founder of a software company. She is a proud mom and studied history and biology at UC Berkeley. Go bears!
CRISTEN MANN
SALES & MARKETING
Cristen leads sales and marketing. Cristen began studying wine as part of the family business in 2014. She spends her days meeting with Sommeliers, Wine Directors, and Restaurant owners. Cristen leads all online channels. Cristen is also responsible for direct to consumer sales keeping all of our thirsty friends' glasses full and cellars stocked.
She studied computer graphics at CSU Chico and worked as a developer in the tech industry for many years.
BRYAN MANN
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Bryan is selflessly devoted to our customers. As a wife and husband team, Bryan and Cristen work together on sales and account management. Since 2004, Bryan has been working in sales and is committed to strong customer relationships.
Bryan served as an active duty Marine for four years. Bryan expanded his understanding of wine near Oregon’s Willamette Valley while earning his degree from the University of Oregon.
Bryan grew up on the farm with his sister, Melody. He brings a unique farming expertise to Poundstone. He is committed to ensuring fellow Americans have a memorable wine experience.
BRUCE DEVLIN
WINEMAKER
Bruce is the winemaking genius behind Poundstone. He works closely with Melody to produce a wine they both want to drink.
Bruce Devlin was born in San Jose, California, but his birth certificate might as well been a passport. Bruce's first real experience with wine and wine making was in 1994, when he went to Germany with a student work internship program working in the Pfalz at Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl. After returning to the U.S. he obtained a degree from the University of California at Davis in Fermentation Science. While at Davis, Bruce worked for Lagier-Meredith vineyards part time. He worked directly with the owner to establish and maintain an ultra-premium Mt. Veeder Syrah program. Outside of studies he managed a virus research vineyard on the campus at U.C. Davis, and conducted studies that were eventually published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.
After graduating in 1997, Bruce worked in Sonoma County at Geyser Peak Winery. He decided to gain experience with an international perspective. He spent the 1998 Southern Hemisphere harvest working for Boschendal Wine Estates in South Africa and the 1998 Northern Hemisphere harvest working for Weingut Louis Guntrum in Rheinhessen, Germany. The 1999 vintage was spent working for Tatachilla Winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia.
Bruce returned to the U .S. in the summer of 1999 and began working for Ballentine Vineyards. His background brings both old world and new world style to handcraft wines specific to each variety and vineyard site. Bruce also owns and operates Three Clicks Wines with his wife, Danielle Cyrot.