Industry Veteran Signs On to Expand the Growing Reach of Renowned Sonoma Valley Producer
Healdsburg, CA, February 29, 2024 — Aperture Cellars, the acclaimed Sonoma winery focused on furthering the potential of Bordeaux varietals in California, has hired Brad Butcher as the brand’s Director Of Wholesale, North & Export. The new role is a landmark hire for the winery’s compact team, and provides their nimble wholesale division with additional, experienced support as the brand expands its reach and continues to take hold in new markets throughout the US and globally.
“I am excited to be a part of a dynamic winery that is setting the bar for the future of luxury wine,” notes Butcher, “The Aperture portfolio is world-class and will be a privilege to work with; as the winery looks ahead towards its next chapter, I relish the opportunity to introduce these wines across the country and throughout the world.”
Butcher brings a wealth of experience managing both domestic and international sales channels for luxury wineries. He most recently worked as the National Sales Director at Jordan Winery, a role that he had held for the brand since 2016. There, he set a new bar for creating global visibility for the winery by managing and expanding the producer’s distribution around the world. Prior to Jordan, Brad spent over 20 years in various positions within the on-premise hospitality, wine distribution and sales industries—most notably as a distribution manager at Pacific Wine Company, as well as managing the luxury portfolio for Moet & Hennessy.
“It is a very exciting time in the evolution of Aperture Cellars, and we’re thrilled to have a consummate professional like Brad joining the team to tell our story across the nation—and beyond,” says Aperture Cellars Founder and Winemaker Jesse Katz, “We have created one of the most acclaimed Bordeaux houses in Sonoma history, and now finally have the ability to make—and sell—enough wines to get into some of our favorite states and countries that have been waiting patiently for Aperture to become available.”
Aperture Wines are currently available in 17 states and 6 countries, with additional markets on the way in 2024 and 2025. The winery has set numerous records from consumers and wine critics, earning eight 100-point scores—including the first perfect score ever—for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec in the Alexander Valley appellation.
“Brad signals a very exciting next step in our journey to continue our evolution with a global perspective in mind,” notes Lauren Wong, VP of Sales and Marketing for Aperture Cellars. “We have already accomplished so much, so quickly with Aaron Robertson, our Director of Wholesale, South who started with us in 2019, and I am thrilled to work with Brad to bring Aperture to new heights as we share these wines with a wider audience.”
For more information on Aperture Cellars, visit aperture-cellars.com or follow them on Instagram @aperturcellars.
ABOUT APERTURE CELLARS
Aperture Cellars champions a range of stunning Bordeaux-style wines from Sonoma. Founded in 2009 by winemaker Jesse Katz, Aperture wines are crafted from unique, cool-climate vineyards in Sonoma’s top regions for Bordeaux varietals. Aperture controls 140+ acres of vineyards, in addition to their 32 planted acres on the estate site, specifically sourced for their unique terroir and soil composition. Wanting to craft wines on par with the quality and refinement that are so integral to a Bordeaux but with the richness and beauty that the best of California has to offer, Aperture set roots in Sonoma, believing it offers the best of both worlds: new world fruit and old-world elegance.
