"We are passionate about our wines and food. We cherish the history, the stories about it, the people who produce it, and our terroir. We welcome you to experience Pippin Hill and look forward to sharing our craft.” - Dean Andrews
People and place
THE PIPPIN HILL STORY
It’s a love story, really. Which is how all good stories begin. And so it is with Pippin Hill—the lovechild of proprietors, and husband and wife team, Lynn Easton and Dean Andrews. Lynn and Dean (as you’ll read below) have a combined wealth of professional experience in luxury properties and bespoke events, and Pippin Hill represents the marrying of their complementary talents, in a place they love—the undulating green hills of Virginia’s wine country. Here they have brought together a team of hospitality pros who share their love of this place. A farm family. A vineyard ripe with people who love people and love what they do—ready to welcome you.
Meet Dean and Lynn
As the CEO and co-founder of Easton Porter Group, Dean Andrews knows the nitty-gritty of five-star hospitality as well as anyone. Before launching EPG, Andrews served as senior operating officer for Orient-Express Hotels, Ltd., overseeing some of the world’s most exclusive properties. He’s acquired, repositioned and operated resorts, small and large luxury hotels and acclaimed restaurants across the globe, helping elevate the standards of hospitality excellence worldwide. Today he loves nothing more than honing the finer points of EPG’s boutique properties, because that’s what three decades in the hospitality industry has taught him: every detail counts.
As creative director and co-founder of Easton Porter Group, Lynn Easton brings her exceptional design eye and event expertise to complement Dean’s business acumen. All EPG properties bear her signature style imprint. As founder of Easton Events, a leading event planning and design company, Lynn’s classic taste and bespoke events and weddings have earned her a devoted following as well as a nod as one of Vogue’s Top 5 Event Planners. Her work has been widely published including Martha Stewart, Town & Country, The Knot, Southern Weddings and Southern Living Weddings.
Combined Expertise
ONE VISION
At Pippin Hill, Dean’s unparalleled background in hospitality management and Lynn’s eye for exquisite detail come together in one vision: a classic winery and culinary vineyard in the hills outside of Charlottesville, a place they love. A place that reflects their combined passions: for estate wines and exciting cuisine, for upscale events and warm hospitality, for an authentic celebration of people and place.
Team Members
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Chris Hill Vineyard ConsultantAcclaimed and Accomplished Vine Whisperer Chris Hill has more than three decades of experience in the vineyard and wine industry, and knows agriculture and the subtleties of grape growing better than anyone in Virginia.
His depth of trial-and-error knowledge includes vineyard design, ideal grape varieties, how to put up trellises, what and when to spray, how to prune and when to pick. Chris serves on the Board of Virginia Vineyard and Winery Associations.
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Michael Shaps WinemakerOne to Whom Grapes Bow Down Michael Shaps is the founder of Michael Shaps/Virginia Wineworks. He has been making wine for more than 20 years, the past seventeen in Virginia and Meursault, France.
In Virginia, Michael was the winemaker at Jefferson Vineyards for 6 years before leaving to start his winery-consulting firm and to produce wines under the Michael Shaps label. The Michael Shaps award winning wines have been recognized by several regional and national publications as some of the best wines made in Virginia.l.
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Lillie Tiscornia Hospitality CoordinatorPippin Hill’s People Pleaser (say 3 times fast!)
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Rhianon Botizan Private Events Sales ManagerCelebration Specialist
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Bryce Bouldin Event Sales CoordinatorFollow-thru Dynamo
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Diane Burns Head Gardener and Certified HorticulturalistGarden Expert and All Things Green
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Caitlin Caserta Sales ManagerDream Creator
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Tori Cosner Sous ChefQueen of the Kitchen
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Kelly Croonquist Event ManagerEvents Extraordinaire
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Celina DeBrito Assistant Gardener and Certified HorticulturalistPippin Hill’s Green Thumb
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Brooks Hoover Vineyard ManagerThe Grape Whisperer
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Elly Jackson Administrative AssistantResy Wizard
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Matt Lovelady Operations DirectorThe Man Behind The Curtain
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Laura Matheny Tasting Room ManagerYour Go-To Gal for the Best Seat in the House
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Jon Pavlosky Event ManagerEvents Extraordinaire
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Carolyn Pifer Wine EducatorWine Demystifier
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Ian Rynecki Executive ChefKitchen Magician and Chief Culinary Artist
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Abbey Venners Sales ManagerParty Perfectionist
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Chris Uher Wine Club DirectorVine Guru and Palate Pleaser Extraordinaire
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Gwynn Ward Assistant Tasting Room ManagerYour Go-To Gal for the Best Seat in the House
