Additions to Wente Family Estates Sales Team Reinforces Commitment to Long Term Growth

Livermore, CA – Wente Family Estates has expanded its sales & marketing team this year with four new sales hires as well as a new marketing associate. With these additions to a strong sales and marketing team nationally, the country’s oldest continuously owned and operated family winery further strengthens its commitment to growth and distribution in all aspects of the business.

Appointed to sales positions most recently are: Andrea Beard, Southern California Director of Sales; Dan Meunier, New England Regional Sales Manager; Tom Campese, Area Sales Manager, Texas and Louisiana; and Stefanie Jackel, National Brand Manager for entwine, the wine collaboration with Food Network.  Joining the marketing team to help support the continued portfolio growth is Heather Everett.

Before pursuing a career in the wine industry, Andrea Beard began her sales career at Heublein and later moved to Guinness UDV (Diageo).  In 2003, Andrea joined the wine side of the business and conducted Southern California wine sales at Chateau & Estate Wines.  Now, Andrea has been appointed as the Southern California Director of Sales for Wente Family Estates.

Dan Meunier has joined Wente Family Estates as the New England Regional Sales Manager.  Dan brings an abundance of experience in the New England states, having worked in various capacities with Marriott International, Commonwealth Wine and Spirits and most recently with Baystate Wine and Spirits.

With over twenty years of experience in the wine industry, Tom Campese worked most recently with Bronco Wine Company as the Regional Sales Manager.  Prior to that, Tom spent seven years with Glazer’s Wholesale Distributors, Inc. where he polished his talent for a career in sales and marketing.  He has now joined Wente Family Estates as the Area Sales Manager for Texas and Louisiana where he will direct sales and focus on new points of distribution for the Wente Family Estates portfolio.

Before joining the team at Wente Family Estates, Stefanie Jackel began her marketing career with Clorox and later became the Director of Marketing at Constellation Wines US where she was responsible for managing Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi.  She has spent years refining her skills in brand strategy and brand communications as well as the development and execution of all marketing programming.  Now, as the Wente Family Estate’s National Brand Manager for entwine, Stefanie brings to the table exceptional skills and strategies that will help guide the development of this national brand.

Heather joined Wente Family Estates as Associate Marketing Manager.  Most recently at Fleetwood RV, Inc., Heather was responsible for all functions of the marketing department including outside agency management.  Heather has also spent time with Thunder Factory, a PR agency in San Francisco. 

About Wente Family Estates
Wente Family Estates is the national and international sales and marketing organization representing Wente Vineyards, Tamás Estates, Murrieta’s Well and Hayes Ranch wineries.  Wente Family Estates sells to distributors in all 50 states, with regional sales directors and national accounts directors who call on key accounts throughout the United States.  Wente Family Estates also has an export sales division responsible for major international markets, cruise lines and duty free channels.  The company is led today by the fourth and fifth generations of the Wente family. More than 125 years of committed stewardship to the land has led to the development of Wente Vineyards’ Farming for the Future, a system of sustainable viticulture practices designed to produce the best quality wines with the least environmental impact. This philosophy extends to all aspects of winery operations, where energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling and social responsibility are all integral to the culture.

All of the wines within the Wente Family Estates portfolio are Estate Grown, crafted by 5th generation winemaker, Karl Wente from estate vineyards in Livermore Valley and Arroyo Seco. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, the events center at Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf. For more information, visit www.wentevineyards.com.   For more background on Karl Wente’s interest in wine, music, yoga and food please visit his blog at http://www.wentevineyards.com/blog/

For more information please contact Kristin Namimoto Charles Communications Associates at 415|701|9463 or kristin@charlescomm.com