-our team-
Earl “Buzz” Mouton
Buzz has made wine as an amateur since he was a teenager and won many awards, including top wins from the statewide Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association (TWGGA) competition and the former wine contests at the Texas Blueberry Festival in Nacogdoches. With TWGGA, he has won a first place gold rating in the non-commercial division for his Riesling in the white wine category; Best of Show in the fruit and berry category; a gold rating for his blueberry wine; and a silver rating and bronze rating for his dewberry wine. One year he was one of only five persons receiving a best of show rating in the non-commercial competition. He also swept the top awards for years in the former wine competition at the annual Texas Blueberry Festival, winning People’s Choice and Best of Show on several occasions for his blueberry wine in both sweet and dry categories, first for sweet red wine dewberry and second for sweet red wine Muscadine.
When not hard at work in the vineyard and winery, he enjoys traveling, playing tennis with his daughter, Amanda, and restoring and building homes.
Earl “Scott” Mouton
Scott Mouton graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 2001 then attended Digital Media Arts College in Boca Raton, Florida, where he studied computer animation. Seeing a shift in the animation field, Scott decided to pack up and head home to Nacogdoches to pursue the family dream--Naca Valley Vineyard.
As property manager of Naca Valley Vineyard, Scott is responsible for the overall management of the 62-acre estate, which includes the vineyard, winery, pond, natural flowing springs, forested area and more. Future plans for Naca Valley Vineyard include the addition of cabins for visitors, a gazebo for private events, and a clearing overlooking the vineyard and pond that will be perfect for concerts and special performances.
During the early stages of vineyard development Scott met his wife, Chelsea. Scott enjoys playing epic adventure board games, reading, and camping.
Wanda Mouton
Wanda is retired from an associate professor tenured position in the Mass Communication Dept. at Stephen F. Austin State University where she taught for many years. She has three degrees, including a PhD in educational human resource development from Texas A&M University; a master’s in education and journalism from The University of Texas-Permian Basin; and a bachelor’s in communication/journalism from SFASU.
She is passionate about writing and has worked as a reporter, photographer, public relations specialist, free-lance magazine writer, editor and more. She is equally passionate about the world of wine. Her doctoral dissertation, in fact, focused on the learning that occurs when individuals visit wineries and vineyards, enjoy wine festivals, attend wine tastings and go to grape and wine conferences.
Wanda has traveled with her husband all over the United States and throughout the world learning and enjoying the wine experience, the winemaking skill and vineyard management. She also loves taking road trips on her Can-Am trike. At home, she likes spending time with friends and family, reading mysteries or suspense novels, and puttering with her plants and flowers.
Chelsea Mouton
Chelsea Mouton, originally from Tyler, Texas, moved to Nacogdoches in 2004 to study horticulture at SFA. Following graduation she worked at a local nursery for a year before beginning the Master of Science in Resource Interpretation program through the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. While pursuing her Master's degree, Chelsea met Scott through their church small group. Their very first date was collecting soil samples at the site which would become the first vineyard. No, really, that was their first date. They were married in October of 2012 and reside in Nacogdoches. Chelsea enjoys cooking, camping, and almost playing fetch with her schnauzer, Daphne.
Chelsea's responsibilities include assisting Buzz with vineyard management, landscape planning, and natural resource conservation. Chelsea has identified many native and non-native species on the property with the goal of creating a comprehensive species list to assist in maintaining or enhancing species biodiversity.
