OUR TEAM

Wine is, at its core, a human endeavor. Behind every bottle of Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine — and every memorable moment in our tasting room — is a team whose collective expertise is matched only by their shared commitment to craft, place, and purpose. They come from different corners of the wine world, but they arrived at the same conviction: that Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills has something singular to say, and that every guest deserves to experience it firsthand.

ANDY
LYTLE

........
FOUNDER

ANDREW
DAVIS

........
DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING
LYTLE-BARNETT

ISABELLE
MEUNIER

........
DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING
AUBAINE

PADEN
WEST

........
WINEMAKER

STEVE
McGUIRE

........
CELLARMASTER

JAMIE
KOTLER

........
DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY

HALLIE
WHYTE

........
GENERAL MANAGER

KATTIE
ZIELINSKI

........
FINANCE / OPERATIONS

COURTNEY CUNNINGHAM

........
MARKETING DIRECTOR

LAUREN
DELANCELLOTTI

........
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

MORGAN
GOUCHER

........
HOSPITALITY LEAD

TROY
MYERS

........
HOSPITALITY LEAD

ANDY LYTLE

FOUNDER

Andy Lytle is a champion of Oregon wine. Drawing on over three decades in the beverage industry, he brings a perspective that fuses deep technical expertise with an educator’s passion for sharing the story of the region’s distinctive terroir. His journey—from working with major producers to establishing his own estate vineyards—has equipped him with both the knowledge and credibility to elevate the Willamette Valley on the world stage.

For Lytle, winemaking is inseparable from place. He’s devoted to helping enthusiasts understand what makes the Eola-Amity Hills AVA so exceptional, where his two estate vineyards, Anahata and Windfall, benefit from cool oceanic influences and ancient volcanic soils. Andy believes wholeheartedly that conditions here are ideal for preserving the bright acidity and elegant nuance inherent in world-class wines. Whether welcoming visitors to his vineyard properties or presenting to sommeliers and collectors, he seizes every opportunity to illuminate the singular characteristics these sites express in each bottle.

Coming from three generations of Pacific Northwest tree farmers, Andy understands that exceptional wine begins with responsible stewardship and long-term vision. His dedication to Method Oregon sparkling wine production—vintage-dated releases with extended lees aging—reflects his conviction that the state can and should define the American standard for traditional method sparklers. Through Lytle-Barnett and his still wine label Aubaine, he’s crafting more than beverages; he’s building a legacy that honors the region’s award-winning reputation while cementing its position among the world’s finest wine destinations.

ANDREW DAVIS

DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING
LYTLE-BARNETT

Andrew Davis brings a combination of academic rigor and hands-on expertise to Oregon’s sparkling wine scene. After earning his oenology degree in New Zealand with a specialized focus on sparkling wine production, Davis returned to Oregon and dedicated years to perfecting the intricate technical demands of méthode champenoise at Argyle Winery. His training encompasses everything from vineyard selection and harvest timing to the delicate art of assemblage and the precise science of secondary fermentation, giving him command over every nuance of traditional method production.

Recognizing the barriers facing smaller producers seeking to make traditional method sparkling wine, Davis founded The Radiant Sparkling Wine Company in 2014, a mobile service that helped Oregon’s bubbly production surge. Radiant’s near overnight success established Andrew as a driving force in setting quality standards for the industry, educating consumers about traditional method sparkling wine, and advancing Oregon’s reputation as a serious sparkling wine region.

The full breadth of Andrew’s experience—from his academic foundation to his years of technical mastery to his industry-wide impact—comes together in every bottle at Lytle-Barnett. Here, he produces vintage-dated wines aged a minimum of three years before release, allowing him the time and creative freedom to craft sparkling wines that fully express the Willamette Valley’s potential. Lytle-Barnett provides the ideal platform for Davis to prove what he has long believed: that Oregon is not merely capable of producing world-class sparkling wine, but is a region destined for continued greatness. Through his meticulous work and uncompromising standards, Davis is writing the next chapter in Oregon’s sparkling wine story, one bottle at a time.

ISABELLE MEUNIER

DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING
AUBAINE

A native of Quebec, Isabelle Meunier studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Dijon in Burgundy, and in New Zealand at Lincoln University. For years, she honed her craft under the mentorship of some of the world’s most revered winemakers: French-Canadian Pascal Marchand at Domaine de la Vougeraie in Burgundy, Blair Walter at Felton Road in New Zealand, and Dominique Lafon of Domaine des Comtes Lafon.

It was Marchand who recommended her to Lafon for his then-new Oregon consulting project, Evening Land, and Isabelle arrived in the Willamette Valley in 2007. What followed was a defining chapter for Oregon wine. Her wines earned a place on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of the Year every year from 2009 through 2015 — a remarkable run that included producing both the highest-rated Oregon Pinot Noir and the highest-rated Oregon Chardonnay the publication had ever recognized. The arc reached its peak in 2015, when her 2012 ‘La Source’ Pinot Noir was named the #3 wine in the world.

She oversaw Evening Land until 2014, and shortly after launched her own venture, LAVINEA — an artisan production of distinctive single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. LAVINEA set the stage for Isabelle to join Andy Lytle in 2019 to lead the winemaking efforts for Aubaine, focusing on single-vineyard bottlings of estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA.

Today, Isabelle brings the full measure of her global experience to the Eola-Amity Hills, crafting wines that honor both her Burgundian training and the distinct character of Aubaine’s estate vineyards. Her restrained approach and masterful hand allow each vintage to express the genuine interplay of place, season, and artistry — wines that speak the vineyard’s truth as well as her own.

PADEN WEST

WINEMAKER
LYTLE-BARNETT | AUBAINE

Winemaker Paden West got his start at Lytle-Barnett in 2016, learning the fundamentals that still guide him today: balance, restraint, and letting the vineyard speak for itself. Since then, he’s spent years honing his craft at some of the Willamette Valley’s most respected wineries—from De Ponte to Failla to Benza, where he built a sparkling program from the ground up. Now he’s bringing a decade of expertise back to where it all began.

Together with Andrew and Isabelle, Paden strengthens our commitment to terroir-driven wines crafted by a winemaker who knows our vineyards intimately. It’s the same philosophy, now with expanded vision—the same dedication to craft, now enriched by years of experience across distinguished Oregon wine programs.

What makes this reunion special? Paden brings a rare dual mastery of both still and sparkling wine production—expertise that few winemakers possess.

His musician’s ear for timing and obsessive attention to detail mean he knows exactly when to intervene and when to let the fruit do the talking. Paden’s return marks a homecoming that brings Lytle-Barnett full circle—reuniting a winemaking team whose philosophies align around a shared pursuit of excellence and whose collective experience is unmatched in Oregon.

STEVE McGUIRE

CELLARMASTER
LYTLE-BARNETT | AUBAINE
Steve’s path to winemaking began in the laboratory. After graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in biochemistry, he set out to unite his passion for science with a hands-on craft – one that balances precision, patience, and creativity. Wine was the perfect fit. He continued his education at the University of California, Davis, earning a master’s degree in viticulture and enology, where he developed a deep understanding of the winemaking process from grape to bottle. Steve believes that great wine is built on attention to detail at every stage, which led him to seek experience across all facets of the craft.
 
His journey has taken him through vineyards across Sonoma and into cellars in Napa, Spain, and Argentina, where he gained perspective on both long-standing traditions and innovative techniques. These experiences reinforced his belief that great wines begin in the vineyard and that thoughtful farming is the foundation of quality. Steve eventually found his way to the Willamette Valley, where he continues to refine his love for vibrant, expressive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Today, Steve’s winemaking philosophy is rooted in craftsmanship, experimentation, and respect for place—creating wines that are precise, beautifully balanced, and deeply connected to the vineyards they come from. Steve is honored to play a part in creating the world class wines of Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine.

JAMIE KOTLER

DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY
LYTLE-BARNETT | AUBAINE
As Director of Hospitality at Lytle-Barnett, Jamie Kotler brings deep experience and a genuine passion for fine wine. With a background in high-touch hospitality, she focuses on creating memorable, welcoming experiences for every guest who walks through the door. Jamie has a particular love for sparkling wine and enjoys sharing the stories and craftsmanship behind each bottle in a way that feels relaxed, thoughtful, and engaging. She leads the hospitality team with warmth, enthusiasm, and a commitment to making every visitor feel truly cared for.

HALLIE WHYTE

GENERAL MANAGER

Bio coming soon!

KATTIE ZIELINSKI

FINANCE & OPERATIONS

 

Bio coming soon!

COURTNEY CUNNINGHAM

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Courtney is Oregon-born and a 25 year veteran of its wine industry. Following stints in National Sales at Domaine Serene and Lange Estate Winery, she was hired by famed Napa winegrower and Etude Winery founder, Tony Soter, to develop an infant direct sales program and establish the wine club as Director of Hospitality for Soter Vineyards. In the wake of that success, Tony became her first client when she founded Glint Creative in 2012, putting her comprehensive understanding of the wine industry and extensive marketing skill set to work for the broader wine community. In 2016, Courtney managed the re-branding of the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, implementing a fresh, new look and feel curated by Owen Jones Partners in Portland, Oregon. She stayed on as graphic designer and web development specialist for the Association, ultimately becoming Creative Director for the WVWA in 2022. 

At the Lytle-Barnett Windfall dinner in July of 2025, the Aubaine Chardonnays made such an impression that Courtney offered her marketing services to General Manager, Hallie Whyte, in trade for wine. When the opportunity to accept a more prominent role on the team presented itself in September, she did not hesitate. Courtney is thrilled to be creating for a brand she’s proud to represent, where craftsmanship and integrity are at the forefront of a philosophy that leads with joy.

LAUREN DELANCELLOTTI

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Bio coming soon!

MORGAN GOUCHER

HOSPITALITY LEAD
Bio coming soon!

TROY MYERS

HOSPITALITY LEAD
Bio coming soon!