Dec. 3, 2024; Buellton, CA—Alma Rosa Winery, a leading wine producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Rhône variety wines from Santa Barbara County’s Sta. Rita Hills AVA, announced today that General Manager Debra Eagle will retire at the end of the year, after nearly seven years with the winery and over three decades in the wine industry.
“Debra’s past seven years with Alma Rosa have been game changing, as she has helped elevate our wines and our brand to the top of our region and among the top wines in California,” says Bob Zorich, proprietor of Alma Rosa Winery.
Debra has left an indelible mark on the Alma Rosa estate and the region. Through strategic hirings including winemaker Samra Morris and consulting winemaker Tony Biagi and incorporating the highest level of site-specific viticulture, the wines have been recognized with excellent wine critic reviews and press coverage. During her tenure, she also expanded Alma Rosa’s hospitality programming by relocating the winery’s tasting room to an indoor/outdoor space in trendy downtown Solvang, while introducing private guided experiences at the winery’s historic El Jabali estate vineyard.
With the encouragement of the Zorichs to create an event that would benefit mental health non-profits, Debra launched the winery’s annual Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction in 2020. Over the last five years, this annual community event and cause marketing campaign has raised over $955,000 for two organizations: Santa Barbara County’s Mental Wellness Center and OneMind.
Born and raised in Northern California, Debra earned a B.A. in economics from Mills College and an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. Before joining Alma Rosa in 2018, she spent more than 25 years directing sales and marketing for both new and iconic wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Debra first entered the wine industry in 1994 at Kenwood Vineyards, overseeing international sales and marketing. She was then director of marketing for Robert Mondavi Winery from 1997 to 2001, followed by three years as director of marketing for Sutter Home. From 2004 to 2008, Debra worked closely with Bill Harlan and Don Weaver to launch BOND, and from 2009 to 2014 she served as general manager of Hestan Vineyards, relaunching the brand and overseeing the construction of its downtown Yountville building and tasting room. She then served as general manager of BR Cohn Winery in Sonoma County and director of business development (international) for its parent company, Vintage Wine Estates.
In retirement, Debra plans to travel frequently to Europe, where she lived from 1987-1993, and spend time with her ever-growing family—six children (three of which are in the wine industry), their spouses, and 10 grandchildren. She also plans to continue her intellectual exploration through courses at her alma mater, University of California, Berkeley.
The team at Alma Rosa remains committed to continuing to build upon the winery’s recent achievements and accolades under Debra’s leadership and in its mission of crafting exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Rhône varietal wines from its El Jabali estate vineyard and select vineyard partners in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.
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, Chardonnay and Rhône varietal 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 AVA in 1971. Today the winery is owned by Bob and Barbara Zorich, who purchased the winery in 2014. In 2019 Samra Morris took the helm as winemaker, becoming the first Bosnian winemaker in California.
For more information about Alma Rosa Winery, please visit almarosawinery.com.
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