Daniel Ha – Director of Hospitality
Daniel@vineyard29.com

Daniel Ha was born in Saigon, Vietnam.  At the age of five, he immigrated to the United States with his mother and seven siblings. The youngest of seven children, Dan was constantly at his mother’s side in the kitchen, as they prepared elaborate daily meals for the family.  His love for food and entertaining was inevitable.

With a degree in marketing from the University of Oklahoma, Dan decided to pursue a career in the hospitality industry.  His career began right out of college when he was recruited by Gallo to work for Glazer’s Distributing in Dallas, Texas.  He was soon promoted to the fine wine division, where his two passions, food and wine, converged.  There he learned the aspects of marketing wines to restaurants and hotels.

He then went onto the Steel Restaurant, a trendy Dallas restaurant with a celebrity and local VIP clientele, where he oversaw the wine program. His first experience in fine dining began as the Wine Director for the five-star restaurant, Nana, atop the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas.  During that time, he was also a guest speaker on many of Dallas’ radio and television programs

He also worked as a stagiaire at the five-star Abacus restaurant in Dallas under Executive Chef/Partner Kent Rathbun.  As a member of the Abacus culinary team, he participated in the 2000 Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. 

Upon arrival into the Napa Valley, Dan took the position as General Manager and Wine Director of Budo Restaurant.  There he worked with Executive Chef James McDevitt, currently with Le Cirque in New York City, directing a wine program to combine pairings of both Californian and International wines with Asian-accented cuisine.

Now, as Director of Hospitality with Vineyard 29, Dan utilizes his talents to offer guests a unique experience at the winery.  “The Napa Valley is the epicenter of food and wine, and it is now my home.  There is a lifestyle that exists here, which is unlike any in the entire world.  I am living the American dream, and it is my pleasure to share this with all of our friends that come to visit.”

He currently holds a First Level Certificate from the International Guild of Sommeliers and is studying to become a Master Sommelier.