Meet the Team
For more than two decades, Porthos has helped collectors discover extraordinary wines through personal relationships, independent recommendations, and a deep passion for the world’s greatest producers. Whether sourcing rare allocations, managing logistics, or helping clients build meaningful collections, every member of our team shares the same goal: delivering an exceptional wine experience.
Hal Oates
Hal grew up in Texas with a large, loving family that was passionate about sensational food and wine. His first trip to Napa was at age 10, and his only regret is that he did not return to start Porthos sooner. After college at the University of Virginia and business school at Wharton, Hal spent ten years in consumer advertising and promotions with PepsiCo before relocating to Northern California for a role working with George Lucas and the Lucasfilm management team. Hal later became more interested in wine sampling than film marketing and launched an insiders-only newsletter profiling his favorite undiscovered wineries in Napa and Sonoma. That newsletter eventually led to the development of Porthos after friends and family asked where they could purchase the wines he recommended. Today, Hal and his team are dedicated to providing honest, independent recommendations for the finest small-production wines in California, Italy, and France.
Ryan Lee
Ryan has spent more than two decades helping Porthos clients discover exceptional wines and build meaningful collections. As Senior Wine Buyer, he tastes thousands of wines each year and believes great wine is about far more than scores or prestige. Over the years, he has developed relationships with many of the world's most sought-after wineries and producers, providing Porthos clients access to rare opportunities often unavailable through traditional retail channels. When he's not tasting wine, Ryan is a musician, songwriter, husband, father of two, and mixed martial arts enthusiast, bringing the same curiosity, discipline, and appreciation for craftsmanship to wine that he does to the rest of his pursuits.
Julie Meszaros
A Northern Michigan native, Julie has called Napa Valley home for many years and has been with Porthos since 2010. As Vice President of Finance, she enjoys solving complex financial challenges and helping lead a team that's committed to excellence. One of her favorite parts of the job is working alongside talented colleagues in an industry filled with people who are passionate about what they do. When she's not at work, you'll likely find her enjoying time with family and friends.
Taylor Morgan Walters
Taylor is a Sommelier and WSET Level 3 whose passion for wine began while studying in Tuscany before leading her across the country to Napa Valley with her dog, Pinot, to pursue a career in fine wine. She built her expertise through luxury hospitality, hands-on experience in Napa, and directing the wine program for a boutique tasting salon specializing in highly rated California producers. Today, Taylor specializes in Napa's cult Cabernets and hidden gems while helping Porthos clients discover exceptional wines, build thoughtful cellars, and uncover new favorites from California, France, Spain, and Italy.
Daniel Barron
Daniel is a longtime wine insider with a particular passion for Napa Cabernet, Pinot, Bordeaux, and Aussie Shiraz. Over the past 15 years, he has sold wine for Michelin-starred restaurants in New York City, built wine programs and elite lists for restaurants in California, and worked with top Sonoma wineries in production, hospitality, and VIP client sales. He brings a passion for wine curation and a broad range of experience to the personal collections of Porthos clients. When not in the Porthos office, Daniel can often be found in the Pacific Ocean as a passionate open-water swimmer, tapping into his roots as a native of Australia’s east coast.
Kimberly Perricelli
Kimberly spent the first half of her career in private aviation in New York, Boston, Chicago, and Denver before transitioning to food and beverage by way of the Culinary Institute of America. She has leveraged her client-service and operational leadership experience with luxury brands, along with her passion for food and wine, to maximize sales and service excellence at The Pebble Beach Company and boutique wineries in Napa Valley. She now handles Sales Communications and Strategy for Porthos, supporting the Wine Concierge team. When Kimberly is not working, she can be found trail running in the mountains of Northern California.
Amber Lenzi
Amber’s interest in wine began in Marin County, where she was born and raised. Her passion for the wine industry truly took off after moving to San Luis Obispo to pursue degrees in Agriculture Business and Wine & Viticulture. After working as a lab technician in Edna Valley, she returned to the Bay Area and honed her expertise in luxury wine sales. Amber joined Porthos from a leading wine data asset management company, where she provided ecommerce and consultancy services to some of the most sought-after wine brands in the country. Today, her knowledge and appreciation for wine from many corners of the industry translate seamlessly into her role at Porthos.
Jose Diaz
Jose is a California Bay Area native and joined the Porthos team in 2010. His attention to detail, combined with an incredible memory, make him the perfect fit to manage our warehouse and ensure every order is processed accurately and on time. When not on the clock, Jose enjoys spending time with his family and expanding his vast palate, and collection, of sensational wines.
Juan Caycho
After more than 15 years working in fine dining, Juan landed at Porthos, combining his studies with hands-on experience in the direct-to-consumer wine market. Jose and Juan, or “The Grumpy Old Men” as our team calls them, run warehouse operations in below-60-degree temperatures with humor and precision. When not tending to his garden on the weekends, Juan enjoys rock climbing at the closest gym.
Contact your Wine Concierge directly, or reach out to Porthos and we’ll connect you with the right member of our team.