Dec. 16, 2024; Rutherford, CA – The Coeur de Vigne, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon produced by the historic Sullivan Rutherford Estate, continues to gain quality recognition and demand in key U.S. markets. Notably, the most recent vintage of Coeur de Vigne was one of just a handful of Napa Valley Cabernets recently included in Wine Spectator Magazine’s 2024 “Top 100.” To support this increasing market demand, the winery has appointed two new allocation managers in the South/Central U.S. and Eastern U.S. regions to oversee key placements of the historic Napa wine.
“We’ve noticed a growing demand and increased appreciation for Coeur de Vigne from both trade and consumers in these markets, and we are keen to continue to develop meaningful relationships with exceptional establishments across the United States,” says Daniel Horsch, National Sales and Distribution Manager at Sullivan Rutherford Estate. “We are thrilled to welcome these two highly experienced professionals in the industry to lead our allocation management process in these regions.”
Overseeing the allocation management of Coeur de Vigne are Kelly McFadden, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Lynda Barnes, based in Houston, Texas. Together, they bring more than five decades of combined experience in luxury wine to their roles. Kelly will lead onsite relationship development and placement curation in the Eastern U.S., while Lynda will oversee the South/Central U.S.
Lynda has held leadership positions with renowned California producers including Paul Hobbs Winery and Corison Winery. She is a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators.
Kelly’s previous experience includes client management roles with luxury house Henriot Champagne, as well as Maisons and Domaines Henriot America. She has also worked with domestic vintner Dave Phinney and the wineries within the Huneeus Vintners, including Quintessa and Flowers.
In early 2018, a family-driven group led by Managing Partner Juan Pablo (JP) Torres-Padilla purchased Sullivan Rutherford Estate and quietly assembled a team of industry professionals, including General Manager Joshua Lowell, Vineyard Manager Mike Wolf, Head of Consumer Sales and Marketing Erin Gracy Callahan and National Sales and Distribution Manager Daniel Horsch. Together, the leadership team is committed to building upon the winery’s rich legacy in the Napa Valley, and sharing world-class wines with broader audiences across the U.S. Winemaker Jeff Cole, who has been with the winery since 2013, continues to craft exceptional wines of power and freshness.
“We believe the recent recognition by industry leading publications such as Wine Spectator reflects the hard work and dedication of every team member, whose unwavering commitment to quality defines everything we do at Sullivan Rutherford Estate. We are passionate and strive for excellence in all we do, from our viticultural practices to our winemaking, to our generous hospitality and service,” says Torres-Padilla.
The heritage of Sullivan Rutherford Estate dates back nearly two centuries to 1821 when ownership of the Napa Valley transitioned from Spain to Mexico. At that time, the Napa Valley was divided into two parcels—Rancho Caymus to the south, and Rancho Carne Humana to the north. Today, Sullivan’s property lies right at the heart of this historic division, aptly named Coeur de Vigne, or “heart of the vine.”
About Sullivan Rutherford Estate
Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, Sullivan Rutherford Estate is a hidden gem with a storied past and exciting future. First planted in 1978 with the help of Napa legend Andre Tchelistcheff, the vineyard sits modestly above neighboring properties in a pocket of unique gravelly soils, ideal for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. This same terroir also produces exceptional Merlot with uncommon density, structure and opulence. Defying market trends and conventional thinking, the team is dedicated to showcasing world-class Merlot from this compelling site. Today, with new ownership at the helm since 2018, Sullivan Rutherford Estate produces two flagship wines—the J.O. Sullivan Founders Reserve Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon ($315)—both extraordinary expressions of this unique estate. The winemaking team led by Jeff Cole, takes a low-intervention aging approach in the cellar, creating wines of power and freshness. With significant investments underway in the vineyards, as well as a new winery, the all-star team is embarking on an exciting new chapter. The winery’s Coeur de Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon blend ($80) is allocated to select markets. Located at 1090 Galleron Road, Sullivan Rutherford Estate is open for visits daily by appointment. Reservations or requests for private appointments can be made by calling the winery at (707) 963-9646, emailing hospitality@sullivanwine.com, or on Tock.
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