(November 30; Buellton, Calif.)—Debra Eagle, General Manager of Alma Rosa Winery, a leading wine producer from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills AVA, is delighted to announce the addition of Jeff Chaney to the team as vice president of sales. Jeff will oversee all direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales and wholesale distribution, including the development of additional hospitality programs at both Alma Rosa’s downtown Solvang tasting room and the vineyard estate Ranch House.
Most recently, Jeff held the position of general manager at Grimm’s Bluff Winery for six years. Prior to that, he worked alongside Nicholas Miller at the Miller Family Wine Company across multiple projects.
A Central Coast native, Jeff pursued a bachelor’s degree in marketing and new media from California Lutheran University. Upon graduation, he became the wine buyer for Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos and went on to become the wine director at The Cliff’s Hotel and Spa in Pismo Beach and its sister properties—Apple Farm, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Sea Venture. His efforts resulted in an award-winning wine list at The Cliff’s on-site restaurant Marisol, featuring outstanding selections from around the world.
An active member of the Central Coast wine community and a former member of the Santa Barbara Vintners Board of Directors, Jeff has long admired Alma Rosa Founder Richard Sanford’s pioneering history in the region and Alma Rosa Proprietors Bob and Barb Zorich’s commitment to quality.
“With over a decade of managerial, sales, and operational expertise on the Central Coast, we are confident that Jeff will prove to be a valuable member of the Alma Rosa team,” says Eagle.
About Alma Rosa Winery
Alma Rosa Winery, a leading wine producer from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills, is dedicated to making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that express the unique terroir of the appellation. Alma Rosa’s wines are layered, vibrant and balanced, reflecting the cool climate impact of the Pacific Ocean breezes that are funneled through the east-west transverse mountain range of the region. The winery was founded in 2005 by Richard Sanford, who was the first to plant Pinot Noir in the Sta. Rita Hills in 1971. Today the winery is owned by Bob and Barb Zorich, who purchased the winery in 2014. In 2019 Samra Morris took the helm as winemaker, becoming the first Bosnian American winemaker in California. Today, Alma Rosa offers a variety of tasting experiences both at its tasting room in downtown Solvang and at its estate in Buellton. The tasting room is open daily, Sunday-Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Reservations can be made via Tock, and walk-ins are welcome. Reservations for the elevated tastings offered at the Ranch House, including two different hiking experiences must be made in advance via Tock or by email, privatetastings@
For more information about Alma Rosa Winery, please visit almarosawinery.com.
