Vintage Wine Estates Continues to Build Leadership Team for the Future

SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Vintage Wine Estates President Pat Roney announced today several key marketing and winemaking promotions and a new appointment.

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"I am thrilled to recognize the leadership skills of our current team members with promotions and welcome a new talent to develop business opportunities as we continue on our rapid acquisition and growth trajectory," said Roney.

Lesley Larson promoted to Vice President of Marketing for Vintage Wine Estates

Larson, who joined Vintage Wine Estates as Director of Marketing in May 2014, steps into a larger role as Vice President of Marketing, managing all brand marketing activities for Clos Pegase, Cosentino, Cartlidge & Browne, Girard Winery, Ray's Station, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Wine Sisterhood, Middle Sister, Girl & Dragon, pro-mis-Q-ous, Monogamy, Purple Cowboy and others.

The proud daughter of a Swedish immigrant, Larson proclaims she is "born a marketer."  She received her BA in Advertising and her MA in Marketing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, her hometown.  She began her marketing career at ConAgra Inc. worldwide headquarters (then 89,000+ employees), in Omaha, and worked on strategic line extensions of the popular mega-brand Healthy Choice.

Making the transition from the Midwest to the West Coast, Larson moved to another giant food company, Nestle, into their relatively small division; Beringer Wine Estates, as Brand Manager for Meridian and Napa Ridge in 1995. Gaining wine knowledge, she leapt into luxury, and was named the first and only Director of Marketing for the Chalone Wine Group (CWG).  There she was responsible for their collection of luxury brands as well as their catalog division and shareholder relations, in conjunction with their then partners Chateau Lafite-Rothschild.  She next launched the fine wine division for Trinchero Family Estates, was one of the marketing directors for The Wine Group and was most recently Portfolio Director for Delicato Family Vineyards.    

"Lesley's creativity, expertise and strategic thinking have made a significant impact in a short period of time. I am pleased to expand her leadership role as we continue to grow," commented Roney.

Stephanie Peachey promoted to Senior Director of Marketing – Direct-to-Consumer

Peachey has been successfully creating and executing marketing strategies for 12+ years – at both regional and global levels. Before Joining Vintage Wine Estates in 2012, Stephanie was Director of Marketing at LexisNexis, a global corporation with over 15,000 employees. At LexisNexis, Stephanie ran regional, product and global brand marketing teams and initiatives. Prior to that she helped launch technology brands for a marketing consulting firm and worked in publishing. After discovering a love for the wine industry, Stephanie left New York City to pursue her MBA from the Sonoma State Wine Business Institute. While completing her master's degree, Stephanie joined Vintage Wine Estates as the Director of Marketing with initial responsibility for direct-to-consumer brand, Windsor Vineyards. During her three years, Stephanie's responsibility has grown to include direct-to-consumer brand, Viansa and other special initiatives. Stephanie will now lead the marketing teams for Direct-to-Consumer that includes Viansa and Windsor as well as the vibrant e-commerce and wine club divisions.

Debra Eagle Appointed Senior Director of Business Development

Debra Eagle has been appointed to lead Vintage Wine Estates business development projects in the U.S. and internationally. Over the course of her 20+ year career, Eagle has developed marketing and sales strategies for many of the industry's top wineries.  Most recently, Eagle was General Manager for Hestan Vineyards, an ultra-premium winery in Napa Valley. Prior to Hestan, she was General Manager of Clos Du Val Winery and Director of BOND, the sister property to Harlan Estate. Eagle has also held Marketing Director positions at Sutter Home Winery, Robert Mondavi Winery and Kenwood Vineyards. A native Californian, Eagle has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Mills College, Oakland, California and an MBA from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley.

Lesley Larson, Stephanie Peachey and Debra Eagle will report to the Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Terry Wheatley.

Claire Walsh promoted to Director of Wine Clubs & Customer Service

Walsh, a native of Sonoma County, began her career in wine hospitality in 2005 at Ledson Winery and Vineyards, an exclusively direct-to-consumer winery in Kenwood, California. There she supervised wine club programs, order fulfillment and inventory management across all DTC sales channels for multiple brands. Walsh joined Vintage Wine Estates in August of 2011 as Wine Club Manager and played a pivotal role in restructuring existing wine clubs as well as creating dynamic new programs.  Claire's engaging personality has been instrumental in building high-touch relationships with members resulting in unprecedented growth and retention in the wine club channel. In her new role Walsh will manage all VWE wine clubs and a team of Customer Service specialists.

Claire Walsh will report to Stephanie Peachey, Senior Director of DTC Marketing.

Marty Peterson promoted to Winemaker for Cosentino Winery, Napa Valley

Previously, Peterson was winemaker at VWE's Viansa Winery and managed grower relations and winemaking projects for the VWE production team, headed up by Marco DiGiulio. He is now in charge of production for VWE's Cosentino Winery located in Napa Valley's Yountville district.

Born in Lodi, California, Peterson comes from a farming family. His great-grandfather, Carl A. Peterson, founded the family ranch in Lodi in 1904. For over a century, the Peterson family has farmed a 100-acre ranch, now planted primarily to fine wine grape varietals. A fourth generation grower on the family property, Peterson became interested in the cellar side, receiving his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Enology from Fresno State University in 2002.  He joined Vintage Wine Estates in 2011 following winemaking positions with Francis Ford Coppola Presents and Treasury Wine Estates.

Cosentino Winery, founded in Napa Valley in 1980, is recognized for making one of the first designated and licensed Meritage wines in America. The Poet (red Meritage) and the Novelist (white Meritage) are the winery's flagship Napa Valley labels. Cosentino is also known for the THE series of varietal wines from the Lodi appellation, including THE Franc, one of the most popular single varietal Cabernet Francs, and THE Dark, a blend of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot.

"California is blessed with a diversity of fine winegrowing regions, which has long inspired the winemaking philosophy at Cosentino," says Peterson.  "I enjoy working with multiple appellations and lots, bringing out their distinct characters. My desire is to create expressive wines of balance and complexity."

Marty Peterson reports to Marco DiGuilio, the Vintage Wine Estates Chief Winemaker.

Amy Ludovissy promoted to Winemaker for Viansa Winery, Sonoma

In her new role, Ludovissy will oversee the Viansa winemaking program which produces a range of wines available exclusively direct-to-consumer. Ludovissy started out in the wine industry at a very young age, making wine with her parents in a basement in Iowa. Although as a young adult she had a career as a fulltime high school English teacher, she continued to pursue her interest in winemaking and attended classes in enology while teaching during the day. In 2009, Ludovissy accepted a harvest position in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. After New Zealand, she took harvest positions in Calistoga and 'down under' in Australia. Finally, harvest hopping brought her to Girard, where she found her "wine family."  Amy has been with Girard since 2011, starting as a lab intern. She was subsequently promoted to Enologist and to Assistant Winemaker in 2013.

Vintage Wine Estates has been on an "acquisitions roll" in the past two years.  In July, 2014 they purchased Canopy Management, a portfolio of nationally distributed wines which includes Middle Sister, Monogamy, PromisQous, Purple Cowboy, Wine Sisterhood, Deep Purple and Girl & Dragon.   In addition they purchased the Wine Sisterhood, a social media network with almost half a million fans. In August, 2013 the company purchased the iconic property, Clos Pegase, which included the 25,000-case winery near Calistoga, 215 acres of vineyards, the brand and inventory. Just two months later, VWE purchased Viansa in Sonoma. The purchase included the winery and hospitality facility, the brand and inventory, plus the 168-acre property, which includes wetlands and 14 acres of vineyards.  The goal for all acquisitions is to honor the past but look to the future.

Vintage Wine Estates is now ranked as a Top 20 wine company with aspirations of continuing to grow through organic growth, new brand creation and brand acquisitions.

About Vintage Wine Estates

Vintage Wine Estates is a collection of vintner family-owned winery estates and brands based in Santa Rosa, California. An industry leader across all sales channel and dedicated to providing wine consumers with a range of wines from $10 to $100 dollars and at many price points in between, Vintage Wine Estates produces outstanding wines from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and other premium California winegrowing regions. The portfolio includes Clos Pegase, Cosentino Winery, Girard Winery, Viansa Winery, Windsor Vineyards, Cartlidge & Browne, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Ray's Station, Middle Sister, Wine Sisterhood, Pro-mis-Q-ous, Monogamy, Girl & Dragon, Purple Cowboy and a number of exclusive wine brands.

For more information: 
Mary Ann Vangrin 
707-738-0338

SOURCE Vintage Wine Estates

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