Fonda Hopkins

For Fonda Hopkins, what began over 25 years ago as a part-time opportunity in wine retail evolved into her life’s passion – helping wine enthusiasts enliven their tables and cellars with an experience of the wonder of wine from vineyards around the world. As Founder and President of Montesquieu Winery, Fonda instills this same passion in Montesquieu’s staff and clients by communicating with them her love for artisanal, expressive wines that evoke the unique character of their terroirs.

In building Montesquieu into a full-service direct-to-consumer winery/importer/retailer, Fonda has placed special emphasis on developing Montesquieu’s sourcing networks so as to gain its clients direct access to the world’s most respected vintners, wines and grapes.  Montesquieu is pleased to be able to worked closely with some of the top names in the wine world, including internationally renowned winemaker-consultants Michel Rolland and Stéphane Derenoncourt and Napa Valley cult vintners Bob Levy (Harlan), Martha McClellan (Sloan), and Heidi Barrett (Screaming Eagle). Under Fonda’s direction, Montesquieu has partnered with each of these winemakers, among many others, to craft wines of remarkable distinction and character created exclusively for the company’s clients.  

As part of its mission, Montesquieu is committed to giving back to the community and helping others in need. Fonda leads the company in fulfilling this core value by forging relationships with a variety of non-profit organizations around the country, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Diego (on whose Board she sits), Wine To Water, The Boomer Esiason Foundation, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, among others.  

Fonda considers it a privilege to help connect Montesquieu’s clients with the greatest wines on earth.  Her goal is to bring brilliant wine to people who may not be able to visit the far corners of the globe themselves but want to experience the best a wine can offer, and she looks forward to accomplishing this goal for thousands more people in the years to come.