Helena Welsh

General Manager

Helena Welsh brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Sol Rouge and On The Waterfront. From her early days working in restaurants, Helena has been passionate about food, wine and delivering excellence through the hospitality experience.

Helena’s experience in the wine industry is quite extensive. Gaining experience wine sales and marketing at Pope Valley Winery, Leonard Wine Company and Wine.com, Helena solidified her skills around wine-related customer interactions. She took these experiences and grew to become Tasting Room Manager of Thorn Hill Vineyards and the Executive Director of the Lake County Winery Association – a position that she still holds today.  Helena is also known for her experienced wine palate, serving as a wine judge for the San Francisco Chronicle, Sonoma County Harvest Fair, and California State Fair wine competitions.

In Lake County, Helena has also become an advocate for and a contributor to the Lake County community through her community involvement. Helena currently serves on several boards in Lake County including the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lake County Wine Alliance, 1TEAM1DREAM and the Rotary Club of Clearlake. Helena’s passion for people shows in how her and her staff deliver an exceptional food and wine experience.

Helena has also contributed greatly to Sol Rouge’s presence in Lake County, as she begged for years for Jill and Bryan to establish a tasting room in the county. After over five years of trying, Helena was integral in finding the On The Waterfront location and, by joining the team along with Executive Chef Sarun Kao, she solidified Bryan and Jill’s decision to open On The Waterfront Restaurant. As General Manager, Helena is responsible for all operations of the Sol Rouge Tasting Rooms and On The Waterfront Restaurant.