Winegrower & Proprietor Anne Moller-Racke
A native of Oberwesel, Germany, Anne Moller-Racke came to California in 1981 and became vineyard manager for Buena Vista Carneros Winery in 1983. By 1997 she was promoted to Vice President of Vineyard Operations. She helped establish what is now the Carneros Wine Alliance and brought recognition to Carneros as an American Viticultural Area (AVA).
In 1999, Anne purchased a Farmhouse property in southwest Sonoma that included a historical Victorian house, now her home, and a 10 acre parcel that she planted to vine the following year. During that same time Anne founded the Donum Estate and built the reputation of being one of California’s leading Pinot Noir producers. Today, Anne is focused on solely Blue Farm, which she expanded from the Estate Anne Katherina Vineyard, to some of the most respected vineyards in Sonoma County.
Proprietor Tim Mott
Tim is a successful serial entrepreneur and investor. Throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s he spent a lot of his time in Silicon Valley and just a little of his time in Sonoma Valley, but enough that he fell in love with the land, the people, and, of course, the wine. Now he spends most of his time in Sonoma, where Anne planted and farms a small Pinot Noir vineyard, 1861. Anne and he became friends and their friendship has grown into a business partnership.
Tim is fortunate to count amongst his friends several who fell in love with Blue Farm as he had. Gary Borman, Michael Marks, Robert DeGennaro, Scott Harris and Susan Swig, all successful in their own right, have joined him in a commitment to work with Anne so that Blue Farm achieves its full potential.
Estate Director Hannah Gropman
Hannah was born and raised in the town of Sonoma and grew up on the Blue Farm property. Having been exposed to the wine industry and hospitality her whole life, it always seemed like a plausible career, however, it wasn’t until the end of university that she decided to take the leap. After completing her undergraduate degree in Communication at Santa Clara University, she completed WSET courses and worked on the viticulture side of harvest at Hudson Ranch before returning to Blue Farm to work for the family business.