RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, Calif. – January 10, 2023 – Emeritus Vineyards is excited to announce the appointment of industry veteran Hilary Berkey to the role of director of sales and marketing. In this key role, Berkey will oversee all areas of sales and marketing at Emeritus Vineyards, with the exception of wholesale sales. Berkey will be responsible for managing the wine club, e-commerce, tele-sales, social media and all other direct-to-consumer channels, as well as the winery’s acclaimed hospitality program, which earned Emeritus Vineyards the honor of being named the “#1 Winery Tour in the USA” by USA Today in 2017. As director of sales and marketing, Berkey will work closely with the Emeritus Vineyards leadership team, which includes second-generation President Mari Jones and acclaimed Winemaker David Lattin. Founded in 1999 by legendary vintner Brice Cutrer Jones, Emeritus Vineyards is exclusively dedicated to making estate-grown Pinot Noirs from its renowned Hallberg Ranch and Pinot Hill estate vineyards.
Originally from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Berkey earned a BA in international studies from American University, Washington DC, and both an MBA and an MS in agriculture from Cal Poly. While studying at Cal Poly, Berkey began her career in the wine and spirits industry at Wild Horse Winery. In the years since, she has held positions as a category manager at Diageo, marketing manager for Constellation, brand manager for Etude Winery at Treasury Wine Estates, marketing director for Vintage Wine Estates, and most recently as the marketing director, North America for Raventos Codorniu/Artesa Vineyards & Winery. In addition to her two decades of wine industry experience, Berkey is a Level II – Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and holds a Level 4 Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
Berkey became a fan of Emeritus Vineyards while working at Etude, which produces a vineyard-designate Pinot Noir from Emeritus Vineyards’ acclaimed Hallberg Ranch. “There are many reasons I was drawn to Emeritus,” said Berkey. “From my roots in the Willamette Valley to my time at Wild Horse, Etude and Artesa, I have always been passionate about Pinot Noir, so the opportunity to work at a small, family winery dedicated exclusively to making estate-grown Pinot Noirs is incredibly exciting. I also love the fact that Emeritus is a multigenerational winery, with a dynamic, young female leader. After years of working for larger wine companies, I am excited to apply the skills I’ve learned to tell the Emeritus Vineyards story and to introduce its phenomenal wines to a larger audience of wine lovers.”
“We are thrilled to have Hilary join our team,” says Emeritus President Mari Jones. “She possesses a remarkable level of knowledge and experience from her two decades in the wine industry that will help to take Emeritus Vineyards to the next level. Just as important, she shares our values, and our belief in sharing our love of Pinot Noir in a way that is personal, authentic and fun. While her official title is Director of Sales and Marketing, her other title is Inspirer of Joy, which really speaks to the heart of her role here at Emeritus Vineyards.”
Prior to joining Emeritus Vineyards, Berkey spent six years on the board of the Carneros Wine Alliance, and served as board chair for the past four years. She will complete her tenure as board chair this month.
ABOUT EMERITUS VINEYARDS
Founded by vintner Brice Cutrer Jones in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is dedicated to making America’s finest Pinot Noir. Guided by a philosophy that great wines are shaped by three factors: soil, climate, and people, Emeritus established a grand cru-caliber estate program featuring 140 acres of dry-farmed Pinot Noir at two vineyards: Hallberg Ranch in Russian River Valley and Pinot Hill on the Sonoma Coast. Today, Emeritus is stewarded by second-generation President Mari Jones, Winemaker David Lattin and Vineyard Manager Kirk Lokka, who along with the experienced Emeritus team, craft Pinot Noirs of unparalleled elegance, integrity, and purity.
