Chappellet Appoints Sam Sayad Vice President of Client Services

Luxury hospitality leader to oversee all aspects of guest experience and direct-to-consumer engagement at the iconic Pritchard Hill estate

ST. HELENA, Calif. – APRIL 21, 2026 – Napa Valley’s Chappellet Winery today announced the appointment of Sam Sayad as vice president of client services. In this role, Sayad will lead all aspects of Chappellet’s direct-to-consumer strategy and guest experience, overseeing the winery’s tasting room, wine club, private client services, events, and outbound sales teams.

Sayad brings more than a decade of leadership in luxury hospitality, guest experience, and relationship-driven service across both the wine industry and world-class sports and entertainment organizations. Most recently, he served as vice president of guest experiences at Foley Family Wines & Spirits, where he oversaw hospitality operations across multiple winery properties.

Prior to transitioning to the luxury wine industry, Sayad spent four years as director, guest experience for the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center, where he built and led a 400+ member hospitality and guest relations team. Before that, he served as director, guest experiences for the Sacramento Kings. Across these roles, he led large-scale teams, implemented innovative new programs, and helped shape cultures defined by empathy, excellence, and continuous improvement.

At Chappellet, Sayad will play a key role in advancing the winery’s direct-to-consumer strategy, with a focus on deepening client relationships, enhancing membership engagement and retention, and evolving the estate’s already acclaimed guest experiences. His leadership will support a holistic, relationship-first approach to hospitality, ensuring that every touchpoint, from initial engagement to long-term membership, reflects the winery’s commitment to excellence and authenticity.

“The relationships we build with our customers have never been more important. They are central to both our long-term vision and the continued success of our business,” said David Francke, President of Chappellet. “With Sam overseeing client services and leading our DTC program, we see the opportunity not only to strengthen our connection with our clients, but to build on the momentum we are already seeing. He brings a rare combination of leadership, operational expertise, and a deep understanding of hospitality to Chappellet that will ensure our DTC program is second to none.”

For Sayad, who earned a degree in environmental studies and economics, joining Chappellet aligns with both his personal and professional values. “Chappellet is one of Napa Valley’s great family estates, with a legacy defined not only by extraordinary wines, but by a deep respect for the land and a genuine sense of stewardship,” said Sayad. “I am honored to join this remarkable team and to help build meaningful, lasting relationships with our guests and members by bringing the Chappellet story to life in new and compelling ways.”

Central to Sayad’s vision is a continued investment in immersive, personalized experiences that deepen emotional connections to the winery and its acclaimed wines, while expanding Chappellet’s presence beyond the estate through in-market engagement and private client experiences. By strengthening one-to-one relationships and investing in team development, he aims to further cement Chappellet’s position as a leader in luxury wine hospitality.

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 establishing 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.