WOODINVILLE, Wash. (October 20, 2022) – Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest and among the largest premium wineries in the U.S., has appointed a new Senior Vice President of National Accounts and Vice President of Sales, West Region.
Russell Motz has been named Senior Vice President of National Accounts, effective Nov. 14. In this role, Russell will lead a national sales team focused on expanding the winery’s presence with the top on and off-premise customers across the country.
Motz joins Ste. Michelle after a distinguished career with Republic National Distributing Company, where he most recently served as Executive Vice President of Supplier Business Development. Motz’ past roles included Senior Vice President Wine Business Development, Vice President of National Accounts and Executive Vice President of Wine, Texas. Motz also held various roles with E. & J. Gallo Winery in Texas.
Catherine Chambers will take over as Vice President of Sales, West Region on Oct. 31.
In this role, Chambers will lead the company’s sales organization in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii and will headquarter out of Seattle.
Chambers joins Ste. Michelle after an 11-year career with E. & J. Gallo Winery where she held a variety of roles managing the Gallo portfolio On and Off Sale in Colorado, Arizona, Texas, and California. She also managed a 58-person sales team for Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits, Texas.
“We are thrilled to have both Russell and Catherine join the Ste. Michelle team,” said Dan Heller, Executive Vice President of Sales for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. “Their experience, knowledge and leadership will play an integral part in solidifying our presence across key markets and growing our customer base across the country.”
About Ste. Michelle Wine Estates
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates is the largest winery in the Pacific Northwest and among the largest premium wineries in the United States. With a distinguished history that dates to 1934, the winery now farms more than 30,000 acres across Washington, Oregon, and California and distributes its wines in over 100 countries. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates pioneered vinifera winegrowing in Washington and remains the driving force behind viticulture and enology research in the state, including the establishment of the Washington State University viticulture and enology program and the construction of the university’s research and teaching winery, now named the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center.
Ste. Michelle traces its roots to shortly after the repeal of Prohibition, through the founding of The Pommerelle Company and the National Wine Company (NAWICO) in 1934 and 1935, respectively. Pommerelle and NAWICO merged in 1954 and became American Wine Growers. American Wine Growers first produced wines under the Ste. Michelle Vineyards label in 1967. Ste. Michelle first entered Oregon with the purchase of Erath in 2006.The Ste. Michelle Wine Estates portfolio includes Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14 Hands, Columbia Crest, Erath, A to Z, H3, Liquid Light, Intrinsic, REX HILL, Spring Valley Vineyard, Patz & Hall, and Northstar, along with several other premium brands. The winery also has partnerships with Marchesi Antinori (Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Col Solare), Ernst Loosen (Eroica), and Michel Gassier (Tenet). Ste. Michelle Wine Estates serves as the exclusive U.S. importer for Marchesi Antinori and Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. For more information, please visit www.smwe.com.
