About Us

Continuity and Consistency Balanced With Forward Thinking

Colinas Farming has been in business, producing high quality wine grapes, in Napa Valley for over 45 years. We are staffed with veteran managers and experienced viticulturists, supervisors, and field workers. Our team works efficiently and responds quickly to changing weather patterns and conditions in the field to achieve the maximum opportunity that each vintage presents. 

Continuity of Labor

Colinas Farming maintains a production staff of 50+ experienced employees who are compensated in a manner that provides continuity of labor throughout the entire year, ranging from vineyard redevelopment through the delivery of premium wine grapes to production facilities. We provide our employees with ongoing training in current farming practices, safety, and a variety of out-reach programs. 

Additionally, we have a source of seasonal employees who often return every year, which allows us to provide our clients with a consistent workforce year over year to address the specific needs of their land.

Business Practices

Colinas Farming takes pride in providing sustainable vineyard management. With a short chain of command, we have the ability to execute decisions in an efficient and timely manner.
We comply with all business and agricultural regulations and requirements including, but not limited to, the Department of Industrial Labor (FLC), the Department of Pesticide Regulation (PCA and QAL), and worker’s compensation insurance.
All of our efforts are driven by the determination to provide the highest quality of service, at reasonable rates, to allow our clients to yield the highest quality grapes.

Our Values

Take Care of Employees

We believe in treating our employees well and take care of them with insurance (before you had to offer it), education programs and retirement programs.
 
 
 

Long-term Relationships

We believe in forging long-term relationships with both employees and clients. Long-term relationships increase success for all.
 
 
 
 

Always
Improving

Conditions change quickly in the vineyard. We strive to always improve our understanding of current conditions by using rich data, the latest technology and research to supplement our human experience and expertise.

Officers and Staff

Derek Cronk
President / CEO / Farm Labor Contractor

Derek Cronk holds a B.S. in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis, and previously attended Santa Rosa Junior College. During his academic journey, he gained invaluable hands-on experience working with student vineyards. Since moving to Napa Valley in 2004, Derek has been deeply involved in the local wine industry, notably serving as president of the Napa Valley Viticultural Technical Group in 2008. He is a licensed Qualified Pesticide Applicator (QAL) and has a strong interest in precision farming, cover crops, and soil nutrition. In 2016, Derek also obtained his Farm Labor Contractor License (FLC), further solidifying his expertise in the agricultural sector.

Contact: colinasvit@grower.net


Jake Maus

Viticulturist

Jake has been a dedicated member of the team since 2005. Having earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Adelaide in viticulture and enology, Jake has been actively involved in the wine industry since 2009 working on both the vineyard and winemaking sides. Passionate about sustainable and innovative farming practices, Jake is committed to exploring and implementing new technologies to optimize vineyard health and fruit quality, while mitigating environmental impact. His interests lie in advancing vineyard management strategies through the integration of cutting-edge tools for pest and disease control, precision agriculture, and data-driven decision-making.

Contact: jmaus@colinasfarming.com