Meet The Family
Lisa & Bryce, Owners
Lisa and Bryce embarked on their biggest adventure yet when they purchased Cana in October 2018. With their interest in agriculture and business, they knew that Cana was the perfect fit for them. When they aren’t catching up with friends at the winery, or exploring new travel destinations, they are enjoying their serene farm in Rappahannock County. They currently grow hay on the property for neighboring farms and hope to plant vines there in the coming years to supplement Cana’s 8-acre vineyard. Lisa seems to be following in the footsteps of her great grandfather, Frank Nick, who owned a small vineyard in Iowa with a close friend. He cultivated mostly Concord grapes and made wine for the family to enjoy.
Lisa worked for the government and in the hospitality industry before taking the reins at Cana. Bryce has been in the computer industry for over 20 years. He is currently the Owner and President of Velocity-X Inc., a computer software company that specializes in AI and blockchain analytics. Both are Virginia Tech alumni. They have a daughter who will start at Syracuse University in the fall and son who’s a sophomore in high school.
Lisa and Bryce take great pride in the exceptional staff at the winery, who truly love what they do. Stop by and chat with our team about why they love working in the wine industry! Lisa’s favorite wines grow with each new vintage and are currently Cana’s Unite’ Reserve and Rose’ of Cabernet Franc. Bryce loves the mixed berry flavors of our smooth, medium-bodied 2019 Malbec.
Melanie, Winemaker
Melanie’s journey in winemaking began as an intern in 2009. For two years she split her time between her first career in physical therapy and her new found passion in wine. In 2011, she took the final leap to enter the wine world full-time as the assistant winemaker at Fabbioli Cellars. Melanie joined Cana in 2015 to take the reins as winemaker and vineyard manager. She has advanced the wine program at Cana to produce several award winning wines and in 2017 was the first Virginia winemaker to be named Woman Winemaker of the Year at the Women’s International Wine Competition. Melanie strives to produce acid driven wines with elegance and finesse. She is a dedicated Rosé lover who’s on a mission to show the world the beauty of an intentional and focused Rosé.
Don, Tasting Room Manager
Don got bitten by the wine bug when he retired from government work and moved out of the DC suburbs to Haymarket. That was 18 years ago. His involvement progressed from volunteering for bottling wines, part-time Tasting Room Associate, and finally to Tasting Room Manager. During that time, with tasting room training, independent research, and asking a lot of questions, he enhanced his knowledge of wine. He will be the first to tell you that there is always more to learn. The best part of the job is interacting with people and making them smile.
Meagan, Sales and Events Manager
Meagan (above, left) has been in the events industry for more than 12 years and has a Bachelors of Business Administration from Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. She is also a graduate of Leadership Fairfax’s Emerging Leaders Program. Meagan’s favorite wines are full-bodied reds.
Alison, Hospitality Manager
Alison (above, right) joined Cana in 2013. She is WSET 3 certified and studying for her WSET diploma – tough job to taste all the wines of the world! She loves the artistry that goes into each bottle of wine and the deep connection you can discover with the land, environment, and people. When not pouring at the winery, she’s enjoying dry Rosé (especially Cana’s Rosé), bubbles, and Piedmont reds.
Brittany, Sales and Events Coordinator
Brittany joined the Cana team in 2023. She graduated from Virginia Tech with her Bachelor’s in Hospitality and Tourism Management and a minor in Event and Experience Management. She has been learning the ropes to all things wine and events since joining Cana. In her spare time, Brittany enjoys photography, baking, and hosting dinner parties with friends – serving Cana wine, of course!
Matthew, Bar Captain
A graduate of Northern Virginia Community College’s Fine Arts program, Matthew first dipped a toe into wine culture in 2012, informally building a knowledge base through excursions to wineries in Virginia and California and hosting themed tasting events for close friends. Following a successful stint at the Museum Shop of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Matthew joined Cana as a Tasting Associate in early 2018. Combining his love of food and wine, Matthew often considers pairing the two when making suggestions to customers. He generally prefers dry white wines such as Albariño.
Janel, Bar Captain
Janel joined the Cana family 4 years ago and has developed knowledge and a love for wine. Her favorite wines are Rose’s. She has been in the hospitality industry her whole life and thrives on making customers feel right at home when visiting the winery. During the week, Janel manages a “class A” office property located in Fairfax, VA; she has been in property management for over 20 years. She has lived in Virginia most of her life and has two daughters Ashleigh and Maddie who are attending college and pursuing their dreams. When she isn’t working, Janel enjoys working out, the outdoors, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Kristin, Tasting Associate
Kristin has been with Cana for over seven years. While working here, she has developed a passion for wine and enjoys sharing that passion with Cana guests. Kristin earned her Certified Specialist of Wine title from the Society of Wine Educators in 2015. She has lived most of her life in Virginia, from Virginia Beach, to Springfield, and now Haymarket. In her spare time, Kristin enjoys knitting, listening to music, writing, and, of course, wine tasting.