Born and raised in Southern California, Linda's childhood was split between suburban Burbank and beach-town San Juan Capistrano.  A second generation Italian-American, her decision to study winemaking at UC Davis brought her family a delight that was matched only by her subsequent decision to spend a year of study in Italy.  At the Universita` degli Studi di Padova Linda set aside her wine course-work to study Italian art history.  Her first interaction with a commercial winery came when she took a brief break from her art studies to experience harvest at Santa Margherita Winery in the Veneto.  Winemaking thoroughly hooked her and in 1986 her professional winemaking adventure began. 

With a career spanning three decades and four continents, Linda Trotta joined the winemaking team at WX Brands in 2017 and in 2021 was named Director of North Coast Winemaking. Linda is responsible for the winemaking of all of WX's Napa Valley wine programs, including Bread & Butter, Silver Spur, Double Lariat and a number of Napa Valley exclusive brands.  Her skills were quickly recognized when The North Bay Business Journal named her 2018 Napa Valley Winemaker of the Year.  As Director of Winemaking Linda also manages all of WX's winemaking operations in Caifornia's North Coast including winemakers, multiple wineries, grape and bulk wine sourcing and strategic partnerships.

Prior to joining WX Brands, Linda was Head Winemaker at Swiftwater Cellars in Washington State, a start-up winery where she had the opportunity to build a winemaking program from the ground up. Key achievements included earning critical acclaim beginning with the winery’s first vintages.

Previously, Linda served as Director of Winemaking at Sonoma Valley’s renowned Gundlach Bundschu Winery. In her twenty years with the winery, she implemented advances in winemaking techniques and vineyard practices. Linda is especially proud that in her leadership role, she mentored and developed talent who have gone on to make their own marks of excellence in winemaking and viticulture.

Linda has worked harvests around the world including in South Africa and Chile, and counts wine luminaries including Zelma Long and Phil Freese among her personal mentors. She has also managed estate vineyards and worked with long-time grower partners throughout key wine regions in appellations within California and Washington.

She has held leadership roles with Women for Winesense, the Washington Wine Technical Group and currently with Wine Women, an organization that champions the advancement of women’s careers in wine. Linda speaks regularly at industry events and her written work has appeared in wine industry trade publications. She also serves as a judge in domestic and international wine competitions.