Industry Veteran Maeve Pesquera to Lead Luxury Division
LARKSPUR, Calif., May 22, 2024 — O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, a Certified B Corporation, announced the acquisition of luxury wine estate Ram’s Gate Winery in Sonoma, Calif. O’Neill Vintners & Distillers Founder and CEO Jeff O’Neill has been a co-owner of the brand since 2011, and now takes complete ownership of the brand and property, creating a new luxury wine division.
Founded in 2011, Ram’s Gate Winery has long been recognized for extraordinary Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and cool climate Syrah. With unparalleled architectural beauty, refined hospitality and outstanding culinary experiences, Ram’s Gate Winery has become a world class destination. The organically farmed 125-acre estate is located 45 minutes north of San Francisco and serves as the symbolic gateway to Sonoma Wine Country.
Leading the luxury wine portfolio, O’Neill has expanded its executive team and hired Maeve Pesquera, Executive Vice President – Luxury. “We are thrilled to add Maeve to the talented team of individuals at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers,” commented Jeff O’Neill. “Her focused experience in luxury brands across competitive and complex verticals will be a tremendous asset to our organization, especially in leading and growing our luxury wine portfolio for years to come. Bringing Ram’s Gate into our portfolio is a natural step as we launch this division.”
Pesquera is an accomplished and innovative luxury brand executive with proven success in creation and implementation of brand, retail and culture strategy, delivering flawless tactical execution, impactful results and profit generation, most recently as Senior Vice President with DAOU Family Estates. In her role, she will provide strategic leadership and continue development of the O’Neill luxury portfolio through acquisitions and the creation of new, innovative brands.
“I am delighted to embark on this journey with such a remarkable team, dedicated to redefining luxury for the future,” shared Pesquera. “O’Neill’s focus on merging regenerative farming with the evolving needs of the modern consumer promises to set new standards for sustainability and excellence in the wine industry.”
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. For over 20 years, the vertically integrated winery has produced 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 currently operates in Larkspur, Parlier, and Paso Robles, CA, and has grown a national brands portfolio to include Ram’s Gate Winery, 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.
