Thought Leaders

Mimi Casteel

Owner & Winemaker, Hope Well Wine

Mimi grew up on her family’s vineyard, Bethel Heights. Growing up working in the vineyard and winery, Mimi gained such an appreciation for the industry that she promptly left home after high school. Armed with a BA in History and Classics from Tulane University, Mimi spent the next year working in various National Forests across the west. Her adventures fueled her passion for studying botany, forestry, and ecology. Mimi earned her MS from Oregon State University in Forest Science, and spent the next several years working as a botanist and ecologist for the Forest Service, living in the backcountry. Her work in the forests led her to realize that the greatest threats to the future of the planet and all species had to be addressed at its root – in the agricultural and working land base. Mimi returned to Bethel Heights in 2005, where she implemented new farming systems and began a journey of experimentation and discovery. In 2016 Mimi left Bethel Heights to grow and make wine at her home vineyard and living laboratory, Hope Well. Hope Well is the living model for a habitat-based regenerative model for agriculture. Mimi’s experiments are all with the goal of producing the most nutrient-dense, healthy food and wine, while recovering the natural systems of nutrient cycling, improving biodiversity and species retention, and maximizing the function and output of a diverse ecosystem.

Jordan Lonborg

Regenerative Consultant & Manager, CVCA

Jordan Lonborg serves as Regenerative Consultant and Manager of Organic, Biodynamic & Regenerative Viticulture for Coastal Vineyard Care Associates (CVCA). In this newly created role he leads the firm’s initiative to scale regenerative viticulture across the California Central Coast, guiding the conversion of vineyards to organic, regenerative, and biodynamic systems, advising on soil-health protocols, cover-crop integration, biodiversity practices and certification pathways.

Jordan began his career at Monterey Pacific Inc. where he assisted in the management of nearly 4,000 vineyard acres, advancing from Viticulture Technician to Pest Control Advisor and Viticulturist.

In 2016 he joined Tablas Creek Vineyard, where he played a key role in piloting the Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) program and helped Tablas Creek become the first vineyard globally to earn ROC certification.

Based on the Central Coast of California, Jordan is known for blending traditional viticultural practices with innovative regenerative frameworks—advocating for diverse ecosystems, soil resilience and a vineyard approach that looks beyond yield to long-term ecological health. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Science in Fruit Science from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo.

Caine Thompson

General Manager, U.S. Operations,

Saga Robotics

Caine Thompson is a highly skilled leader with over 20 years of experience in the wine industry, focusing on sustainability and commercial operations. He has been recognized as one of Wine Enthusiast's Future 40 and a Wine Business Monthly Sustainability Steward.

Thompson is the only US board member of the Regenerative Viticulture Founddation, where he leads regenerative viticulture globally.

His recent appointment as General Manager for U.S. operations at Saga Robotics marks a significant step in the company's commercial expansion, particularly in the wine industry.

Chiara Shannon

Co-Owner, Groundstar Vineyard

Chiara Shannon is an influential figure in the wine industry, known for her expertise in sustainability, mindfulness, and wine. With a Bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, an Executive MBA in Global Wine from Sonoma State University, and the Level 4 Diploma certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) in London, Chiara has a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, retail management, education, and leadership.

Shannon's signature program, Mindful Wine: Taste With Intention™, has educated and inspired thousands to approach wine with greater awareness and stewardship. Her consulting practice supports clients nationwide in achieving their highest wine business aspirations.

Chiara splits her time between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County, where she and her husband regeneratively manage and steward Groundstar Vineyard.

Regeneration & Resilience Generalist

Anna Brittain

Anna brings over 20 years of systems-level thinking to environmental challenges—bridging science, economics, and practice to advance sustainability, nature-based solutions, and regenerative agriculture.

Anna has worked nationally and internationally on climate solutions and policy with organizations including Resources for the Future and the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development. Her 15 years of wine industry experience have focused on translating whole-systems approaches into rigorous, performance-based certification standards and actionable frameworks (including the Six Pillars of Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership), while directly supporting growers and vintners through dozens of community-building events and on-the-ground implementation.

Anna guided Napa Green's evolution over 10 years, serving as lead consultant (2015-2019) before stepping into the Executive Director role (2019-2025). During her tenure, she catalyzed regional climate leadership through the RISE Climate & Wine Symposiums, convening 700+ participants and 65+ expert speakers to galvanize the industry to take action. Under her leadership, Napa Green became the first vineyard certification program to focus on regenerative farming, climate action, and caring for people; the first to phase out Roundup; and among the first to partner with the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation to launch the One Block Challenge.

Anna was recognized as a Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemaker and Wine Business Monthly Wine Industry Leader (2023) and among The Imbibe 75 (2024). She holds a master's degree in Environmental Science & Management from UC Santa Barbara's Bren School, with specialties in Economics & Policy and Water Resource Management.