Third Generation

After years of friendship and growing up with families in the wine business, Van Ballentine and Betty Pocai married, combining two family legacies and eventually their vineyards. Van and Betty Ballentine moved into their St. Helena farmhouse next to the present-day winery at Betty’s Vineyard. They knew firsthand the hard work and dedication it took to run a winery, having worked with their parents in the vineyards and cellar as young kids. 

Van worked as a vineyard manager for Christian Brothers, farming their Napa vineyards until 1962, and Betty worked for Robert Mondavi as his accountant at Charles Krug for many years. Together, they raised two boys, Frank (1958) and Bill, who learned farm and winery work at a young age. Both boys spent summers helping out in the vineyards and grandparent’s wineries.