Brassfield Estate Winery Announces New Hires Amid Continued Growth

The pioneering Lake County winery sees success in expanded national market, anchored by cultivating strong sales and winemaking teams

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif., June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brassfield Estate Winery, recognized as one of the most authoritative and successful rising voices in Northern California and the passionate ambassador of the stunning High Valley AVA in Lake County, is excited to announce new appointments on the sales team, as well as promotions on the winemaking team. These new roles tie into a continued positive momentum and growth for the estate as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and follows a strategic national distribution agreement with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, which commenced on January 1, 2025. Established by visionary entrepreneur Jerry Brassfield, Brassfield Estate Winery is a leader in this distinctive high-elevation volcanic region, producing 100% estate grown, produced and bottled wines, and embodying dedication, respect for the land, commitment to sustainable, precision farming and fervent attention to detail. Each bottle reflects Brassfield's unique sense of place.

"We are thrilled to see Brassfield's strong continued growth and success," states Chris Baker, President of Brassfield Estate Winery. "Having all the right elements coming together - our estate and vineyards, our team, the unique terroir, quality winemaking, positive scores, incredible value, hard work and belief in what we do - has turned our intent into reality."

Brassfield Estate's extraordinary growth is an anomaly in the current wine industry climate. The dedication and vision of the entire team, in partnership with Southern Glazer's, has resulted in double-digit achievements. In year-over-year business, Brassfield has seen over 40% growth in existing distributor depletions, and a phenomenal 68% growth in the national market through this distributor partnership, with Brassfield now in 44 markets.

To support this national expansion, Brassfield Estate has been building out a national sales team to support the partnership with Southern Glazer's and resulting national expansion, joining the already high-achieving team of Rose Rafferty, Central Regional Manager, James Parenti, California Regional Manager, and Steve Starke, Mid-Atlantic Division Manager, led by Billy Ayer, Vice President / National Sales Manager. Divisional managers in regions across the country are strengthening the estate's reputation, market presence and sales, with a number of accomplished industry professionals added. The recent appointments include:

• Tom Carroll as Southeast Division Manager
  Tom brings over 20 years of experience, across both the distributor and supplier sides of the wine and spirits industry, including tenure at Foster's, Foley Family Wines and Vintage Wine Estates. Tom's strategic, results-driven approach makes him a valuable asset to the team.  
• Tina Epstein as Northeast Division Manager
  Tina's experience in the wine industry spans a range of roles, both domestically and internationally, at companies such as Gallo Winery, Robert Mondavi Winery, Esser Vineyards and DAOU Vineyards. Her passion and enthusiasm for the wine industry, coupled with her strong work ethic and sincerity align very well with Brassfield. 
• Kerry McConnell as South Central Division Manager
  Kerry has over 14 years of experience in wine sales and distribution, following a successful career in software and a lifelong passion for wine. She excels in expanding market presence and strengthening brand recognition, and is drawn to family-owned wineries that prioritize quality and sustainability, making Brassfield a perfect fit. 
• Julie Minadeo as Southwest Division Manager
  Prior to joining Brassfield, Julie's experience in the industry spans over two decades, including leadership positions at Santo Spirits and Palm Bay International. Her passion for delivering results in her role at Brassfield are guided by broad industry knowledge, competitive insight and a commitment to sustainable growth.

On the winemaking team, Jonathan Walters has recently been promoted to Vice President of Vineyard and Winemaking Operations. Jonathan has been with Brassfield Estate since 2014, first overseeing the vineyard operations as Director of Farming, then moving into the management team, first as General Manager, and now in his new role. He brings a wealth of experience in Lake County AVA terroir, wine growing and winemaking. Joining him on the winemaking team are Megan Anderson and Joe Vonk as Varietal Program Winemakers. Megan joined the Brassfield team in 2020 after over 10 years at various wineries, growing in her previous roles as Lab Manager and Assistant Winemaker. For Megan, wine is a celebration of seasons, and she loves the process of creation from grape to glass. Joe was previously Quality Manager and Lab Technician at Constellation Brands, and began as Associate Winemaker at Brassfield in 2024 before moving into his new role. Joe is passionate about sharing exceptional experiences, and shines at blending creativity with precision in his winemaking.

"Everyone on the Brassfield team is genuinely excited about our success thus far, and what we have built," notes Baker. "The wines speak for themselves in terms of quality, value and versatility. The reception among trade and consumers has been unparalleled. We have laid a strong foundation, and the potential is tremendous."

For more information on Brassfield Estate Winery, please visit https://www.brassfieldestate.com/. For the latest news and wine releases, follow Brassfield Estate Winery on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @brassfieldestatewinery.

About Brassfield Estate Winery - https://www.brassfieldestate.com/
Brassfield Estate Winery was born out of a vision to produce distinctive, terroir-driven wines from one of the most interesting California regions: Lake County. The core of Brassfield Estate Winery, High Serenity Ranch, represents a truly distinctive and remarkable winegrowing property stretching over 5,000 acres across both the eastern and the western sections of High Valley as well as the Round Mountain Volcano, welcoming visitors from all over the United States. Located in the High Valley AVA of Lake County, Brassfield Estate Winery is perched at a rare altitude shared by only one percent of vineyards worldwide. Renowned for its commitment to precision and sustainable farming, the estate produces seventeen varietal wines from vine to bottle without leaving the hands of their dedicated team.

Contact:
Erin Healy
Colangelo & Partners
ehealy@colangelopr.com

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SOURCE Brassfield Estate Winery