Larkspur, CA., October 19, 2020 – O’Neill Vintners & Distillers is pleased to announce Founder & CEO, Jeff O’Neill, has been nominated for Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star “Person of the Year” award. The annual Wine Star award ceremony celebrates top alcohol industry professionals and businesses.
Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Jeff O’Neill, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers has grown to become the seventh largest winery in the US, specializing in national brands, exclusive label wines, and premium wine and spirits production. “I am honored to be nominated for a Wine Star award by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Leaning on our core pillars of unrivaled relationships, family values, forward thinkers and earth first sustainability, our vibrant team is producing quality brands that focus on solving for the consumer,” says Jeff O’Neill. “I am proud to stand with our O’Neill family in recognition of this Wine Star nomination.”
Over the past decade Jeff O’Neill has acquired leading national brands including Robert Hall Winery and Line 39 Wines and has launched Day Owl Rosé, Harken Wines, and Charles Woodson’s Intercept, increasing total production to almost 850,000 9-liter cases, delivering wines in categories consumers are demanding at great quality and value. In addition, O’Neill produces exclusive label wine and spirits.
An industry leader in sustainability, recently Jeff O’Neill installed the largest worm-powered wastewater system in the world at the Parlier winery facility near Fresno, California. This new system allows the winery to recycle 80 million gallons of water a year. O’Neill sources energy from 2,500 solar panels, spanning 52,200 square feet, to provide 880,000 kWh of energy each year, enough to support the bottling line and air-conditioned warehouse. Jeff O’Neill is especially proud to be on target to achieve his goal of 100% sustainably farmed grape sourcing, a longtime effort in coordination with each of the 175 contracted California AVA growers. O’Neill Vintners & Distillers is certified with the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program.
Under Jeff O’Neill’s family and community values, O’Neill pivoted in response to Covid-19 to produce hand sanitizer for its own staff, local California Central Valley hospitals and first responders. O’Neill also pledged $25,000 to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Fund’s Covid-19 emergency relief fund.
In addition to O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, Jeff O’Neill is part-owner of popular Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma, California, and is the founder of the Sonoma Speed Festival, an auto racing event that showcases the evolution of motorsports technology and American ingenuity. Jeff O’Neill, on behalf of O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, is honored to be recognized as an industry leader for “Person of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast magazine.
About O’Neill Vintners & Distillers
O’Neill Vintners & Distillers was founded in 2004 by industry veteran and entrepreneur Jeff O’Neill. The vertically integrated winery has grown to become the seventh largest winery in California with a reputation for producing high quality wines from the North Coast, Central Coast and Central Valley. Through its extensive vineyards and modern production facilities, O’Neill provides premium winemaking services to the industry as well as its growing portfolio of national brands. The company’s national brands portfolio includes Line 39, Robert Hall, Harken, Exitus, Day Owl Rose, Allegro Cellars and Charles Woodson’s Intercept. For more information, please visit www.ONeillWine.com.
