Larkspur, Calif., March 18, 2024 — O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, a Certified B Corp, is proud to announce Kryss Speegle, Master of Wine, has been promoted to Executive Vice President – Winegrowing, a role in which she will oversee all stages of the winegrowing and winemaking process.
In her new role, Speegle will lead a talented team of winemakers at O’Neill’s Parlier and Paso Robles wineries in crafting exceptional quality wines for the company’s consumer goods and B2B portfolios, as well as helm the Grower Relations team, partnering with more than 180 sustainably certified California growers farming 15,000 vineyard acres for O’Neill production. She will work closely with O’Neill’s commercial and finance leadership to engage our trade partners, identify and execute on innovation opportunities to produce brands that excite the consumer while driving healthy returns. In addition to her winegrowing responsibilities, Speegle will continue to oversee B2B sales and work with key accounts.
“We are thrilled to have Kryss leading our dynamic team” said Jeff O’Neill, Founder & CEO O’Neill Vintners & Distillers. “Her growth-oriented mindset is perfectly balanced with her commitment to sustainability, something we are fiercely focused on in both our day-to-day operations and our long term strategic planning. As a member of our Executive Leadership Team, Kryss has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of our company’s vision and goals and her strategic insights and collaborative approach have been instrumental in guiding our organization towards success.”
Speegle has been with O’Neill Vintners & Distillers since 2011, first as a production winemaker, then Director of Winemaking and finally Vice President Business-to-Business (B2B) sales, giving her rich experience across multiple areas of the business. Speegle holds a master’s of science degree in food science and enology from UC Davis and is a Master of Wine, one of only 417 in the world. Her winemaking experience includes harvests in Napa Valley, Germany and New Zealand as well as extensive work in California’s coastal and interior regions.
About O’Neill Vintners & Distillers
O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, a Certified B Corporation, was founded in 2004 by industry leader and entrepreneur Jeff O’Neill. The vertically integrated winery produces premium wine and spirits throughout California and has a reputation for producing consumer-focused brands while being a leader in sustainable operations. O’Neill received the Green Medal Leader Award in 2021 by the Wine Institute and achieved B Corp Certification in 2022. The company’s national brands portfolio includes Line 39, Harken Chardonnay, Rabble Wines, Charles Woodson’s Intercept, FitVine Wine, Robert Hall Winery, Allegro Cellars, BrandyLab, and Javelin Vodka. For more information, please visit www.ONeillWine.com.
