Heidi von der Mehden

A Sonoma County native and trained scientist who spent more than two years in the Peace Corps in Africa, Heidi is both determined and open-minded in her approach. After receiving a degree in chemistry from Santa Clara University in 1997 and teaching high school chemistry in Tanzania, she returned to Sonoma County to work as a lab technician and then enologist for Kenwood Vineyards. After three years as assistant winemaker at Mauritson Winery, Heidi jumped at the opportunity to work with Richard Arrowood as associate winemaker in 2007 before taking over as winemaker in 2010. Five years later, Merry tapped Heidi as her successor, and the two worked side by side until Merry’s retirement in 2020.