Our People

Meridith Mims

Founder & President

Meridith leads Ninth Acre with full responsibility for wine production, execution, compliance, and overall quality.She maintains direct oversight across vineyard sourcing and production, ensuring every decision meets the standard set for the estate. Her role is translating vision into reality—holding the line on quality, managing the details, and ensuring that every bottle reflects discipline, consistency, and intent.From vineyard selection through final release, she is accountable for execution at every stage.She operates with a focus on structure, precision, and long-term integrity, ensuring the estate remains aligned with its founding principles as it evolves.Beyond the estate, she maintains a strong commitment to health and wellness, with a focus on balance, recovery, and long-term well-being, and is deeply engaged in women’s health and wellness initiatives.

Andrew Sokol

Founder & Creative Director

Andrew leads the vision, design, and long-term direction of Ninth Acre.His background is rooted in structuring and growing companies across healthcare and legal infrastructure, with a focus on systems, execution, and capital efficiency. At Ninth Acre, that foundation is applied with restraint—prioritizing permanence, discipline, and long-term brand equity over scale.He was the youngest Judo black belt in New Jersey and went on to compete at the international level—an early foundation in focus, discipline, and consistency that continues to shape his work.He maintains a strong commitment to health and wellness and spends much of his time on the golf course, drawn to the precision and patience the game demands.He oversees the estate’s creative direction, ensuring a cohesive standard across brand, experience, and membership.

Shawn Johnson

Winemaker

Shawn Johnson leads winemaking at Ninth Acre, with responsibility for translating the vineyard into bottle with precision and restraint.His path is shaped by both discipline and place, with roots in Texas and California’s Central Coast. After studying Business Management at California Lutheran University, he moved to Napa Valley to pursue viticulture and winemaking.From 2002 to 2012, he trained under some of the Valley’s most respected winemakers, developing a deep respect for site, structure, and longevity. By the mid-2010s, he was producing highly regarded wines defined by balance, clarity, and aging potential.His approach begins in the vineyard, with an emphasis on soil health and responsible farming, and carries into the cellar with minimal intervention—crafting wines that are layered, structured, and expressive of site.His work at Ninth Acre reflects a shared commitment to discipline, clarity, and enduring quality.

Chris Kittel

Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating OfficerChris leads operations at Ninth Acre, with responsibility for execution across production, logistics, and member fulfillment.Born in South Carolina and spending part of his childhood in France, his early exposure to agriculture and culture shaped a lasting perspective on land, discipline, and stewardship. He attended Clemson University before serving as an infantry company commander in the United States Army, achieving the rank of Captain and leading troops through multiple deployments.That experience defines his approach.He operates with a clear standard of accountability—focused on execution, alignment, and delivering against every commitment made by the estate.At Ninth Acre, he ensures that what is envisioned is carried through precisely—from vineyard to member experience—without compromise.Chris is a husband and father, bringing a long-term, stewardship-driven mindset grounded in responsibility, continuity, and building something that endures.

Lyndsi Lopez

Director of Hospitality

Lindsi leads the private experience at Ninth Acre, with responsibility for how the estate is presented and how each visit is delivered.Her background includes working with highly regarded, multigenerational wineries, where she developed a deep appreciation for Napa Valley’s history and the importance of genuine connection.At Ninth Acre, she oversees the experience end-to-end—from introduction through departure—ensuring every interaction is thoughtful, intentional, and aligned with the estate’s standard.Her approach combines warmth with precision—creating a high-touch environment that feels personal and natural, while consistently reflecting the quality and care behind the wines.She looks forward to welcoming guests, introducing them to the estate, and ensuring each visit is both memorable and meaningful.

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