Sonoma-Cutrer Assistant Winemaker Elliott Millett Passes Away

Sonoma County, Calif. Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir assistant winemaker Elliott Millett, 43, passed away on August 10 after battling health problems for an extended period of time.

Since joining Brown-Forman and Sonoma-Cutrer in 2002 he worked closely with long-time Sonoma-Cutrer winemaker Terry Adams to craft and launch the winerys Pinot Noir offering, the first non-Chardonnay produced by the winery since 1981. His first vintages have achieved great market success, consistently selling out and being placed in allocation, and the wine has been hailed by wine critics.

Winemaker Millett is survived by his wife, Christina, twin sister Amber Brown and a younger brother, Aaron Millett. Elliott and Christina were childhood friends, later high school sweethearts who attended the prom together. His sense of humor and welcome expertise will be sorely missed by all of us, said Adams.

Originally from Massachusetts, he graduated from Fresno State in 1986 with a major in enology and viticulture. After working in the hospitality industry as a hotel manager in Boston, he gained winery experience at Trefethen and Rutz wineries before joining Sonoma-Cutrer. He was an avid skier, outdoorsman and traveler.

The family has established a memorial fund at the Bank of the West (account 095134797) benefiting the American Cancer Society. A memorial service in Danvers, Massachusetts is planned.