Respected industry veteran takes on sales and marketing role
Geyserville, Sonoma County, California, November 2020 —- Brian Lynch has been named Vice President, Sales & Marketing, at Marietta Cellars in Sonoma County.
“We are delighted to welcome someone with Brian’s depth of experience and leadership to the Marietta Cellars team,” said Scot Bilbro, Owner and Winemaker, Marietta Cellars, in announcing the appointment. “Brian’s exceptional wine knowledge and long-standing industry relationships will be an excellent fit with our partner VINTUS and instrumental in moving the Marietta brand forward,” he added. The search was led by leading wine industry search firm The Cypress Group.
Most recently Lynch was Director of National Sales at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, based in Berkeley. Prior to that he was Vice President and National Sales Manager for SakéOne and National Sales Manager, Vice President Business Relations and Education for Wilson Daniels.
‘I am honored to join the Marietta Cellars team and represent this outstanding portfolio of wines,” Lynch said. “It will be exciting to work with this historic brand, independently owned and operated, offering the highest level of quality and value,” he added. Lynch was born and raised in Floral Park, New York and attended Marquette University. He lives with his fiancé Laura in Charleston, South Carolina, and when not working can be found travelling or on a golf course.
Founded by Chris Bilbro in 1978 and starting with only a handful of purchased grapes, Marietta Cellars has been a standout winery in Sonoma and Mendocino since the very beginning. Today the winery is owned and operated by second generation winemaker Scot Bilbro. Marietta rose to prominence with its revolutionary Old Vine Red, a California red blend that essentially created the category. The winery has slowly expanded its estate holdings over the past thirty years, evolving into a beacon for high quality, balanced Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Rhône variety blends. Now fully estate-based and organically farmed, Marietta has vineyards spanning 310 acres in the Alexander Valley, McDowell Valley, and the Yorkville Highlands. Notable among their heritage plantings are some of California’s oldest Syrah, Grenache, and Petite Sirah with blocks dating back to the late 1880s.
The Cypress Group is a forward-thinking wine industry executive search firm based in St. Helena which differentiates itself with strategic planning, impeccable client service and an exclusive focus on key leadership positions.
