Chappellet Affirms Ry Richards' Leadership as Winemaker, Phillip Corallo-Titus Transitions to Senior Winemaking Advisor

Drawing on years of collaboration, Richards and Director of Vineyard Operations Andrew Opatz will lead the next chapter of the famed Pritchard Hill estate.

ST. HELENA, Calif. – FEBRUARY 18, 2026 – Napa Valley's Chappellet Winery today announced a thoughtfully planned evolution in its winemaking leadership, as long-time Vice President of Winemaking Phillip Corallo-Titus transitions from day-to-day winemaking operations to the position of senior winemaking advisor. The transition formally affirms Ry Richards' leadership as winemaker and reinforces the winery's longstanding commitment to continuity, excellence, and promoting talent from within.

Throughout nearly 40 years with Chappellet, including the last 35 years as winemaker and vice president of winemaking, Corallo-Titus has established an extraordinary legacy of excellence. A defining force behind Chappellet's rise as North America's preeminent producer of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, during Corallo-Titus's tenure Chappellet earned some of the highest critical acclaim in its history, including multiple 100-point scores. At the same time, he has cemented Pritchard Hill's status as one of the world's most revered winegrowing regions.

Beyond accolades, Corallo-Titus shaped a distinctive winemaking philosophy grounded in site expression, balance, and age-worthiness. His intimate knowledge of Chappellet's Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard, combined with decades of experience across vintages, allowed him to guide the Chappellet winemaking program with remarkable consistency while continually elevating quality to new heights. Equally important, by sharing the institutional knowledge and values that have long defined Chappellet, he played a pivotal role in mentoring Winemaker Ry Richards and the next generation of leaders at the winery.

In his new senior winemaking advisor role, Corallo-Titus will remain deeply involved in the winery's creative and strategic planning. He will continue to participate in blending decisions, harvest activities, production planning, and grape sourcing, while providing guidance and perspective to both the winemaking and vineyard teams. This ongoing involvement ensures continuity of style and long-term vision while allowing him to focus his energy where it is most impactful.

As part of this evolution, Ry Richards continues in his role as winemaker, overseeing day-to-day winery operations and the execution of Chappellet's winemaking program. Having joined the winery in 2006 and risen steadily through the ranks, Richards is one of a handful of individuals who include founding winemaker Philip Togni, Joe Cafaro, Tony Soter, and Cathy Corison, to hold the prestigious title of winemaker in Chappellet's sixty-year history. Over nearly two decades, Richards worked closely alongside Corallo-Titus, developing a refined palate, a deep understanding of Chappellet's Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard, and a leadership style rooted in collaboration and continual improvement.

"Ry is the ideal person to lead Chappellet into its next chapter," says Corallo-Titus. "He's spent nearly 20 years learning the estate from the ground up—the vineyard, its rhythms, its culture, and its values. As Chappellet has continued to evolve and raise the bar, Ry has evolved with it. He has an exceptional palate and a rare combination of instinct and technical skill, paired with genuine curiosity and creativity. Just as important, he is a natural leader. He's collaborative, he elevates the people around him, and he understands that great wines are the result of a strong, unified team. His partnership with both Andrew Opatz in the vineyard and Daniel Docher in the cellar has strengthened every aspect of our winemaking process. Ry embodies the spirit of Pritchard Hill and the long-term vision of the Chappellet family. I have complete confidence that he will continue taking Chappellet to new heights."

Central to Chappellet's next chapter is Richards's close partnership with Director of Vineyard Operations Andrew Opatz. Together, Richards and Opatz form a unified leadership team whose collaboration seamlessly connects vineyard and cellar. Their shared, long-term view of the estate—including future replanting cycles and evolving viticultural strategies—positions them to make lasting contributions on Pritchard Hill, while remaining firmly grounded in Chappellet's traditions.

"For almost 40 years, Phillip has given his all to Chappellet, and by doing so he has helped to cement our reputation as one of the world's great wine estates," says Cyril Chappellet, Chappellet's second-generation chairman and CEO. "He's been so much more than just our winemaker. Phillip is part of our family and always will be. He has taken the vision and values that my parents Donn and Molly instilled at Chappellet and made them essential elements in how we grow grapes and make wine. We could not be more grateful to Phillip, nor prouder of what he has accomplished. We feel incredibly fortunate that we will continue to benefit from his wisdom, decades of institutional knowledge, and commitment to excellence. At the same time, Phillip has earned, and deserves, this opportunity to step back from his full-time role to spend more time with his wife, Laura, and of course fly fishing."

In addition to his senior winemaking advisor role, Corallo-Titus will continue to serve as a Chappellet spokesperson at key dinners and events with members of the Chappellet community. When asked to sum up his feelings about transitioning into his new role, Corallo-Titus said, "In 1981, when Donn Chappellet asked me to join Chappellet, I knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime. It's been that and so much more. My gratitude and appreciation to the Chappellets, and the respect I have for them has only grown over the decades. Through good times, hard times, and all the times in between, they have kept the magic alive on Pritchard Hill."

A lifelong fly fisherman, Phillip is currently planning fishing trips to the Yucatan, Christmas Island, the Caribbean, and the Rocky Mountains.

About Chappellet

In 1967, on the advice of legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff, the Chappellet family settled on the steep slopes of Pritchard Hill, becoming just the second post-Prohibition winery in Napa Valley. A pioneer of high-elevation vineyard planting, Chappellet is renowned for its mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignons and for helping establish Pritchard Hill as one of the world's great winegrowing sites. Family-owned and operated, Chappellet continues to craft wines that reflect the power, elegance, and longevity of its extraordinary estate vineyard.