Santa Maria, CA – Family-owned The Thornhill Companies is pleased to welcome Ian Fainer to the team as Grape Sales Manager for Bien Nacido Estates & Miller Family Wine Company.
Fainer, a graduate of the University of California Davis with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Management and Rangeland Resources, started his wine industry career in 2005 while serving as Wine Production Intern for HdV Wines in Napa. He then went on to work for Treasury Wine Estates in Paso Robles for six years, promoted to Senior Wine Technician for the Luxury Wine Division. In 2013, Fainer moved to Buellton to work as Cellar Master for Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards, a position he held for three years before becoming the Assistant Winemaker and Production Manager – his most recent role before joining the Miller Family Wine Company. In addition, Fainer has co-owned his own consulting firm since 2013, a compliance consulting company dedicated to start-up licensing strategies and services for the alcoholic beverage industry.
“Having lived and worked on the Central Coast for many years, it’s an honor to join the Miller Family Wine Company and to work with such a well-respected brand as Bien Nacido Estates,” says Fainer. “I am excited to utilize my past experiences in wine production, budget management and bulk wine sales to facilitate new and important business for Bien Nacido.”
“We had many experienced candidates we were considering for this position, but Ian stood apart from the rest,” says Nicholas Miller, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Not only does he bring over fourteen years of experience to this role, but also has a deep familiarity with the grapes of the Central Coast and recognizes their value. We trust Ian will be a significant asset to our team and add to the overall growth of the business.”
About The Thornhill Companies
The Thornhill Companies is the industry-leading umbrella brand of one of California’s premier winegrowing families, the Miller Family, who have been farming California’s Central Coast for five generations. The Thornhill Companies includes the prestigious Bien Nacido Estates, Miller Family Wine Company and Thornhill Ranches. Miller Family Wine Company manages national branded wine labels, including J. Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Smashberry and Barrel Burner wines, control label brands for prominent retailers across the U.S., and French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles.
For more information on The Thornhill Companies, please visit www.thornhillcompanies.com.
