Lower Lake, CA (July 7, 2021) – Shannon Family of Wines has announced the hiring of Eric Hildreth as Winemaker for their collection of super-luxury wine brands, including Ovis, 13 Rams, Giannecchini, and Mother Vine. Hildreth will report directly to Clay Shannon, Proprietor, effective immediately.
Prior to joining Shannon Family of Wines, Hildreth was Assistant Winemaker at Atelier Melka in St. Helena, California, where he was an integral part of the production team under the guidance of Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky. While there he was responsible for over 20 luxury brands housed at several different custom crush facilities.
“We are extremely pleased to announce the addition of Eric Hildreth to our winemaking group,” stated Shannon. “Eric comes to us with a wealth of powerful knowledge and incredible experience with leading wineries. His talent and development were guided by Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky, two well regarded and very accomplished winemakers. Eric is incredibly smart and embraces an old school value for a strong work ethic which makes him a refreshing and positive professional to work with on a day-to-day basis. He has been chosen to lead our Project Ovis super-luxury brands initiative and we are certain he will shine in his new role. We believe Eric is the perfect winemaker to work with the certified organic fruit from our Home Ranch to further showcase the amazing potential of these mountain vineyards. We are in love with these vineyards and have been committed to them for a long time, knowing in our hearts that they will produce extraordinary wines. Eric is the man to unlock their full potential.”
Hildreth earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of California at Davis with a major in Viticulture and Enology. He then worked as a winemaking intern for Constellation Brands in the Napa Valley, which included responsibilities at Franciscan Estate, Mt. Veeder Winery, and The Prisoner Wine Company. He followed that with a stint as winery enologist at Andis Wines in Plymouth, California, where he was responsible for overseeing wine production for the 8,000-case brand.
“Clay’s vision for the property is what sold me on this opportunity to work with Shannon Family of Wines,” said Hildreth. “It feels great working for someone who doesn’t just talk about sustainability but lives it every day. I believe it’s decisions like these that will set up the landscape of this industry for generations to come.”
Shannon Family of Wines was recently the recipient of the 7th Annual Green Medal Environment Award, given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates environmental stewardship through maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices.
About Shannon Family of Wines
The Shannon family is committed to preserving their land, not only for the great vineyard sites but also for the bear, elk, mountain lions, eagles and other creatures which live there. Of their approximately 2,500 acres, only about 45% have been converted to vineyards. The balance of the land has been preserved for the wildlife which wanders through the property from the expansive wilderness areas adjoining the ranches. The vineyards were carefully planned out, leaving corridors open to migrating animals, protecting sensitive nesting areas, and will be 100% Certified Organically farmed this year.
The Shannon Family of Wines portfolio includes 13 Rams, Buck Shack, Clay Shannon, Giannecchini, High Valley, Mother Vine, Ovis, Shannon Ridge, Steele Wines, and Urgency. www.shannonridge.com
