Meet the Team—The Grove at Copia
Our restaurant team is helmed by accomplished alumni of The Culinary Institute of America. Learn more about our team below.



Sayat Ozyilmaz, CIA ’15
Executive Chef
Executive Chef
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Chef Sayat brings the distinct flavors and cooking style of his heritage into the kitchen.



John Riggio CIA ’07
Director—Food and Beverage
Director—Food and Beverage
After graduating from the CIA in 2007, John and his wife jumped on a plane and flew to the Napa Valley.



Zainab “Zee” Husain
Culinary Gardener
Culinary Gardener
Zainab “Zee” Husain is a recent transplant to Napa. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with a master’s in international agricultural development.














