Industry Veterans Christopher Avery, Nick Holmes and Drew Ross Respectively Named President, Vice President of Sales and Executive Director of Marketing
Napa Valley, CA (July 8, 2020) — Demeine Estates, a Napa Valley-based négociant of fine wines, launches as a curated portfolio of international and domestic wine brands. This new entity has been created by the Lawrence family, owners of Napa Valley’s iconic Heitz Cellar, and Heitz Cellar CEO and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr. The Demeine Estates portfolio will include like-minded estates focused on quality and sustainability.
Demeine Estates is pleased to announce the appointments of Chris Avery as President, Nick Holmes as Vice President of Sales and Drew Ross as Executive Director of Marketing. “We’re very excited to welcome Chris, Nick and Drew to our team,” says Carlton McCoy, CEO of Heitz Cellar. “They all offer tremendous experience in the wine and hospitality industries and will be valuable assets in the development of Demeine Estates and the wineries we represent, including Heitz Cellar. I look forward to working alongside them in forming a collective of brands that speak to our values.”
In his new role as President for Demeine Estates, wine industry veteran Chris Avery is responsible for overseeing all brands and distribution channels. Having worked in the wine industry for close to 20 years, Avery most recently served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Opus One in Napa Valley. His previous experience includes National Sales Director roles at Hundred Acre Wine Group based in Napa Valley and Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma County.
Nick Holmes takes on the role of Vice President of Sales for Demeine Estates, bringing with him more than 15 years of winery, on-premise and retail sales experience to the position. Prior, Holmes served as the Northwest States Division Manager for Opus One Winery, responsible for all levels of wholesale management in 11 states. He held additional roles with Jordan Vineyard & Winery, The Spire Collection and Regal Wine Company. At Demeine Estates, Holmes will be responsible for national distributor management and sales initiatives across the portfolio.
Also joining the team as Executive Director of Marketing is Drew Ross, who began his ten-year tenure in the wine industry at Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles. He then continued his brand-building experience with renowned wineries across Sonoma County and Napa Valley including Jordan Vineyard & Winery and Hundred Acre Wine Group before spending the past two years as Director of Marketing for Wine and Spirits distributor Young’s Market Company in the Pacific Northwest. Ross brings an outstanding track record of brand growth success to the team. As Executive Director of Marketing at Demeine Estates, Drew will oversee marketing efforts and innovation for all current and future brands within the growing portfolio.
Demeine Estates’ portfolio currently includes Heitz Cellar, with additional brands and wineries set to launch over the next year. “Our aim is to create a diverse portfolio of wine estates creating the highest quality, most terroir expressive wines possible while encouraging innovation and sustainable farming practices,” says McCoy. “Hospitality is at the root of the wine industry, and we want to bring producers, industry members and consumers together around our shared passion for great wines and their ability to connect us all.
In 2018, Gaylon Lawrence, Jr., purchased iconic Napa Valley winery Heitz Cellar from wine pioneer, Joe Heitz. Founded in 1961, Heitz Cellar is a true Napa Valley legend that has helped shape the history of the region’s winemaking. The renowned winery entered an exciting new chapter as the Heitz family passed the rich legacy into the hands of the Lawrence family, whose deep roots in agriculture and commitment to the same core values of fine winemaking made it a perfect match.
Since then, Lawrence and McCoy have purchased multiple historically significant vineyards in the Napa Valley. They acquired the highly sought-after Wildwood Vineyard in Rutherford for future projects. This historical terroir was formally owned by Michael Robbins of Spring Mountain Winery and was responsible for some of the most legendary Rutherford fruit. In 2020, they announced the acquisition of the legendary Haynes Vineyard in Coombsville, home of the oldest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Vines in the Napa Valley. Additionally, the team is preparing to launch two new Napa Valley brands, Brendel Wines and Ink Grade Estate before the end of the year.
About Demeine Estates
Demeine Estates is a Napa Valley-based négociant of fine wines created by the Lawrence family, owners of Napa Valley’s iconic Heitz Cellar, and Heitz Cellar CEO and Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, Jr. Demeine Estates encourages partnerships so that wineries can focus their efforts on continuing high-quality viticulture and wine production, while exploring innovative and sustainable winemaking and farming practices. The collective was established as a resource to add value to their trading partners in the winemaking community with a deep-rooted respect and passion for connecting people to an inclusive philosophy. For more information on Demeine Estates, please visit www.demeineestates.com.
