The Bartholomew Foundation welcomes Rick Toyota as its inaugural Executive Director. With more than two decades of executive leadership in winery hospitality, direct-to-consumer operations, and community leadership, Rick brings deep expertise in strategic planning, revenue development, team building, and place-based storytelling—paired with a career-long commitment to California winemaking and its history.
Most recently, Rick served as Vice President of Direct-to-Consumer & Hospitality at Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville, where he led all DTC channels, tasting room operations, large-scale events, and experiential programming at one of Sonoma County’s most visited destination wineries. His career spans hospitality leadership at premium estate wineries across California, Oregon, and Washington—including Foley Family Wines, Columbia Winery, Niner Wine Estates, and A to Z Wineworks/Rex Hill—each role defined by meaningful organizational growth, team development, and the integration of guest experience with brand mission.
Rick’s leadership in Sonoma County extends well beyond his professional roles. He has served as President of the Alexander Valley Winegrowers, Chairman of Creative Sonoma’s Advisory Board, and as an advisor to Strategic Sonoma, the county’s economic development initiative. A Certified Wine Educator and Advanced Sommelier, he has long incorporated the history of Agoston Haraszthy and the Bartholomew estate into his teaching—and sees this role as an opportunity to bring that story to life for a new generation. His career has been defined by a core belief that authentic, place-based experiences are the foundation of lasting community engagement—a philosophy he now brings to Bartholomew Park and Estate Winery.
To learn more about the Bartholomew Foundation, visit bartholomewpark.org.
