OUR BOARD

Darryl Matthews is a seasoned real estate broker and founder of The Matthews Group of MI, with over $150 million in real estate transactions to his credit. Known for his strategic approach to property transactions and dedication to team development, Darryl has become a respected leader in the Greater Grand Rapids area. Beyond real estate, Darryl is also a co-host of the "Music in the Bottle" podcast, where he engages in thoughtful discussions on music, culture, and wine. Darryl brings a focus on excellence, impactful engagement, and a commitment to diversity and community enrichment to every role. 

Carlton McCoy Jr. earned the title of Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old. He was one of the youngest people and the second African American to earn this prestigious title. Carlton worked in revered institutions such as Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, Tom Colicchio’s Craft Steak in New York and most recently as Wine Director at The Little Nell in Aspen before being named President and CEO of Heitz Cellar in December 2018. To Carlton, Heitz Cellar represents a very particular style of Napa wines: ones that speak to an earlier era in California winemaking. His vision will highlight the winery’s consistent focus on remaining true to its elegant, pure style. “There has to be reverence when it comes to these older brands that create the greatest wines in the country,” he states. “It is fortunate that the Heitz family believed in that style and didn’t change it over the years. It makes the wines the unique experience that they are.” Recently, Carlton became the managing partner of Lawrence Estates.

Lindsey Von der Weppen is a native of Seattle, WA, and a 20 year veteran of the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her passion for wine began just after finishing her undergraduate degree at Loyola Marymount University and diving back into the comforts of hospitality. Wine showed up at a time when she was looking for purpose, like a force, engulfing her in thirst for a new career. Having joined the Roots Fund as a scholar in 2020, Lindsey now represents one of Washington’s pioneers in wine, Chateau Ste Michelle Wine Estates. She has since joined the Bourgogne Board within the Roots Fund where she is looking forward to reaching back an bring up more women of color alongside her.

With an American mother and French father, Jeremy Seysses grew up in Burgundy in a bilingual household. He attended primary school in Morey St Denis, secondary school in Dijon and England, and then studied Biology at University College, Oxford. He was president of the Oxford wine circle and an active member of the blind tasting team. In 1998, he returned to Burgundy to study Vine Sciences at the Université de Bourgogne. At the end of his studies in Dijon, he interned at the Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa, and met a California intern, Diana Snowden. They were married in 2005. In 2000, Jeremy had begun working full-time for his family’s domaine in Burgundy, Domaine Dujac, which he runs today along with his wife, and his brother Alec. His father Jacques, who created the estate in 1968, remains present in the winery where winemaking is a family affair. Jeremy also helps run Triennes, the Seysses family’s joint-venture in Provence. He and his wife Diana Seysses live in Nuits-Saint-Georges with their two sons.

Jeremy became involved with the Roots Fund in June of 2020 after contacting his friend Carlton McCoy, as he became increasingly aware of the many barriers that people of color and especially Black people are faced with throughout their lives, and how this harsh inequality is experienced directly in his own industry.

One of Jeremy’s biggest joys in the wine profession is the power of wine to bring people together and foster connection. He sees real value in this ability. Everyone should feel welcomed into the big family that we find in wine. Working with the Roots Fund, Jeremy is determined to work towards equality and opportunity so that all people have a chance to follow their passions and to fulfill that of which they are capable.

Santosh Varghese is Director of Rare Wine at Heritage Auctions, one of the world's premier auction houses specializing in fine art, collectibles, and rare wines. After several years in investment banking in London and New York, Santosh transitioned to the wine and hospitality industry. He completed the Accelerated Wine and Beverage Program at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and became a certified sommelier. He went on to serve as a Wine Specialist and Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Zachys Wine Auctions, before joining VINTUS, a leading national fine wine importer. There, he built and launched Fida Wine, the company’s direct-to-consumer arm, working directly with private collectors to offer highly collectible and rare wines from around the world. In his current role at Heritage Auctions, Santosh continues to work closely with collectors nationwide, focusing on sourcing and bringing exceptional consignments to the auction market.