The hire supports years of scaling efforts and record-setting growth for the family-owned company
September 3, 2024, Dayton, OR – Kelly Rhodes has joined the Stoller Wine Group as vice president of national sales, effective immediately. A 30-year wholesale veteran, Kelly’s experience leading sales teams within the beverage industry, his creative problem-solving skills, business analysis acumen, and his ability to quickly establish relationships and rapport made him the perfect candidate to take the reins.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Kelly’s experience, proven success, and integrity join our team,” said Gary Mortensen, president of the Stoller Wine Group. “Our business is one of the fastest growing in the Oregon wine sector thanks to market expansion and vineyard acquisition, with over 200,000 cases produced and more than 800 estate acres under vine. Kelly’s name was first to mind when we began looking for the right person to lead our national sales efforts. Our past working relationship has earned my respect and admiration for his leadership, and I know he will help the Stoller Wine Group reach the next level of success.”
Rhodes was most recently the executive vice president, Pacific Northwest, for Republic National Distributing Company, where he got intimately familiar with the Stoller Wine Group portfolio and brand ethos. Prior to that, Rhodes cut his teeth at Young’s Market Company and Columbia National Distributing, climbing the ranks over a 20 year span.
“Stepping into my new role at the Stoller Wine Group is an honor,” said Rhodes. “Embarking on this new chapter fills me with deep gratitude. The opportunity to join this team was a chance like no other. I believe our shared values and collaborative spirit will lead us to remarkable achievements in our collective pursuit of excellence.”
The Stoller Wine Group family of brands is poised to win for the Oregon wine category. The Stoller Wine group has moved to #7 in overall Oregon Winery Sales and growing faster than most of their peer group according to U.S. Nielsen data for 12 weeks ending July 13, 2024.
About Stoller Wine Group
Stoller Wine Group is a family of wine brands from Oregon wine pioneer Bill Stoller. We take pride in our B Corp certification, knowing that we “walk the walk” when it comes to our goal of building a company that will last for generations to come. With every action, we are active members and supporters in the community, which is why we are proud to be perennially voted as one of Oregon’s most admired companies by the Portland Business Journal. For more information, visit www.stollerwinegroup.com
About Stoller Family Estate
Stoller Family Estate is one of Oregon’s most highly regarded vineyards and wineries. Pioneering Oregonian and Founder Bill Stoller purchased his family’s second-generation farm in 1993 with the vision of cultivating an enduring legacy for the land and Oregon wine industry. Over the last 30 years, he has patiently transformed the 400-acre property into the largest contiguous vineyard in the Dundee Hills. Stoller Family Estate features the world’s first LEED® Gold certified winery, three guest homes, and a state-of-the-art tasting room with panoramic vineyard views. Named Oregon’s Most Admired Winery by the Portland Business Journal for eight consecutive years and 10Best Tasting Rooms by USA Today 10Best Reader’s Choice poll in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, there has never been a better time to plan your visit. For more information, visit www.stollerfamilyestate.com
About Chehalem Winery
The story of Chehalem is rooted in a deep and abiding reverence for the land. From the vineyards we nurture and harvest to the wine we blend and age – we handle every step with unwavering respect for sustainable practices. We consider ourselves a vineyard winery. We aim to reflect what the vineyard has produced, purely, with minimal processing and without compromising great fruit. A staple of the Downtown Newberg wine scene, our Tasting Room is open seven days a week. Old school winemaking, Oregon style! For more information, visit www.chehalemwines.com
About Chemistry
Chemistry is the first collaborative project between Stoller Family Estate and Chehalem Winery. Identifying the opportunity to craft wines that reflect the purity and depth of their Willamette Valley origins, Chemistry allowed our winemaking teams to bond over working with diverse vineyards sites across the region. Balanced, approachable, and elegant, our goal is to make the winemaking imprint as minimal as possible to reflect the purity of fruit for which Willamette Valley is known. For more information, visit www.chemistrywine.com
About History
Featuring historic vineyard plantings in the Pacific Northwest, History aims to craft limited releases of ultra-premium wines that pay homage to the Oregon and Washington wine industry pioneers. Inspired by a storied vineyard now owned by her mother-in-law, Founder and Winemaker Melissa Burr started the brand in 2013. She researched other historic vineyards in the Pacific Northwest, curating a collection of truly rare and unique sites. For more information, visit historywine.com
