Jenny Wagner

Coming from a long line of farmers and winemakers, Jenny Wagner of Caymus Vineyards inherited a love of farming, an eagerness to get her hands dirty and a willingness to push boundaries.

As owner and winemaker of Emmolo wines, Jenny has created a distinct style for her Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling, as well as a recently released Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon called Nurseryman. She also oversees production of the family’s Zinfandel and produces several wines from Suisun Valley, an agricultural gem just a short drive from Napa where the Wagners opened a winery in 2022.

Emmolo is named after Jenny’s maternal relatives, who arrived in Napa Valley from Sicily in 1923. For several decades, Jenny’s grandfather Frank Emmolo ran a rootstock nursery that provided grapevines to many of the area’s growers (including Jenny’s dad Chuck, who founded Caymus Vineyards with her paternal grandparents in 1972). Jenny named Nurseryman in honor of Frank, who played a key role in shaping Napa Valley’s transformation into a world-class wine region.

In addition to Emmolo, Jenny produces The Walking Fool red blend under the Caymus-Suisun label. Produced mainly from Zinfandel and Petite Sirah farmed in Suisun Valley, this wine is named after a long-ago relative who was often seen traveling by foot, thus earning his affectionate nickname. Jenny spends many of her days in Suisun, where she oversees several experimental varieties and is active in the community, sitting on the board of the Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association.

Jenny feels extremely fortunate to work alongside her dad, Chuck, and her brother Charlie, embracing new ideas in both the vineyard and her winemaking.