Our Team

Daniel and Helen Ferrelli, Winery Owners

In 2001, Daniel and Kevin started a new tradition of bottling and labeling their garage wine. With state-of-the-art wine-making equipment, they imagined, “We could just make a couple of barrels.” Making a couple of barrels spiraled into EFESTĒ winery.

Back in Chicago, Daniel’s family cooked for the neighborhood every Sunday requesting that each guest bring his or her own fork since there weren’t enough to go around. Today Daniel and Helen carry on the tradition of cooking for gatherings by preparing amazing feasts for EFESTĒ wine club events. No fork required.

Daniel and Helen Ferrelli can be contacted at daniel@efeste.com.

Kevin and Angela Taylor, Winery Owners

When Angela isn’t driving her two boys around to all of their sporting activities you can find her on the tennis court. Although work keeps him busy, from time to time Kevin can be spotted on the golf course, hunting, or trying to reel in the big one while fishing.

Married in 1996, Kevin and Angela see the winery as an opportunity to spend time together during harvest, crush, bottling, and various wine events throughout the year.

Kevin and Angela Taylor can be contacted at angela@efeste.com.

Mark Fioré, Winemaker

Mark Fioré’s winemaking career began in Walla Walla where he had relocated for work in 2008. At the time, he was a PGA Professional and had moved to help open a prodigious new golf course. During the summer of 2009, he spent much of his free time at local wineries and befriended a few winemakers who opened his eyes to the world of Washington wine. Mark became fascinated with the artistry, science, and marketing of the wine industry and this passion led him to a career change.

Mark Fioré can be contacted at Mark@efeste.com.

Danny Wayson, Assistant Winemaker

For over a decade, Danny, founder and CEO of International Drinking Team LLC, has been working his way through the wine industry. He started off as a tasting room host in 2012 at Alexandria Nicole Cellars. There he quickly grew an affinity for the industry and its community, and a strong curiosity for the wine making process. That affinity and curiosity has carried now him through almost every facet of the wine industry. From working a season in the vines at Destiny Ridge Vineyard to traveling to wineries all over Washington and Oregon as a Wine Filtration Technician. Then to Guardian Cellars for five years as their Cellar Master, now to EFESTĒ as their Assistant Winemaker. In early 2020 Danny took a hiatus from Guardian to chase harvest to Australia. There he worked at Green Stone Cellars in the Yara Valley, making high-end boutique wines, and subsequently found the inspiration for his business, brand, and wine label, International Drinking Team LLC. During the slow winter seasons in the cellar, you will likely find Danny up at the nearest mountain resort on his snowboard.

Danny Wayson can be contacted at Danny@efeste.com.

Leslie Rhoades, Director of Finance & Operations

Leslie started her journey in the wine industry at EFESTE back in 2010, and she has been an integral part of the team ever since. Her superpowers include critical thinking and problem-solving. Leslie is passionate about mentoring her management team in all aspects, from customer service to streamlining processes. During her free time, she enjoys being a dog mom and exploring the woods.

Leslie Rhoades can be contacted at leslie@efeste.com.

Jeff Berg, Director of Sales

Jeff possesses extensive knowledge of the adult beverage industry, acquired through his experience as a retailer, distributor, category manager, and supplier. His expertise encompasses buying and selling in both on and off-premise environments, from local stores to national chains. Jeff takes great pride in his career path and is excited to contribute his skills to the growth of EFESTE. Introduced to the EFESTE portfolio in 2020, Jeff immediately fell in love with it and was thrilled to join the team in 2023. In his free time, Jeff can be found on the baseball field, where he serves as an umpire, or on the golf course, where he enjoys hitting balls down the middle.

Jeff Berg can be contacted at jeffberg@efeste.com.

Corey Westerhoff, Marketing & Hospitality

A high-energy, creative perfectionist, Corey Westerhoff brings insight from nearly two decades of experience in a diverse range of industries including retail merchandising, design, recruiting, and management. Through six years of working for some of Washington’s leading wineries, Corey has developed a true passion for wine. Drawing on his unique background, he uses divergent thinking techniques to develop new strategies for growing the EFESTĒ brand. In his free time, Corey enjoys cooking, baking, spending time with friends, and putting up with the antics of his French Bulldog, Zoe.

Corey Westerhoff can be contacted at corey@efeste.com.

Cameron McLaren, Events Manager

Cameron McLaren’s journey in the world of food and beverage is a testament to his dedication and love for his craft. He started as a bartender in Bellevue and worked his way up to managing high-end restaurants. With his creativity and refined taste, he honed his skills to a great extent. Cameron found his calling in the wine industry joining EFESTE, where he was welcomed as a member of the family. As a college roommate of Paul Taylor, a member of the EFESTE legacy, Cameron has an in-depth knowledge of the vineyard and family stories. At the EFESTE tasting room, Cameron shares his deep passion for wine and offers guests an unforgettable experience. Outside of work, Cameron loves to spend his time on a boat in Lake Washington or at a rooftop bar sipping a whiskey sour.

Cameron McLaren can be contacted at cameron@efeste.com.

Nell Baker, Head Chef

Chef Nell is a global cuisine lover, craft cocktail mixologist, and lifelong learner who loves to try out new cuisines and dishes. She has cooked and catered for intimate weddings, wine and food pairings, birthday parties, charter chef, cooking classes, and more.  Prior to joining Efestē in 2023, Nell spent almost 20 years in the tech industry in quality engineering, site reliability, program management, chief of staff, business operations and executive leadership roles.  In her free time, Nell can be found sailing with her family, travelling, and taste testing new recipes.  Her favorite dish to cook and eat: tonkotsu ramen!