Jason Ingles Introduced as Winery’s Head of National Sales
November 4, 2025 (Paso Robles, CA) — Hope Family Wines today named Jason Ingles as Head of National Sales and announced four executive promotions within its growing sales force, marking the latest moves in a milestone year for this leading Paso Robles winery.
Ingles comes to Hope Family Wines with more than 25 years of executive sales management experience. As Head of National Sales, he will lead the winery’s sales execution for three-tier business in the domestic market, overseeing six regional managers and their corresponding market manager teams. Ingles recently served in executive roles at RNDC in California, overseeing wine and spirits activities across all business channels. He has also held senior positions at The Wine Group and Pepsi Beverage Company.
“Jason knows how to build teams, strengthen partnerships and drive results,” said Michael Mestas, Vice President of Sales at Hope Family Wines. “We’re thrilled to have him lead our national sales efforts and deepen our impact in the U.S. wine market.”
Hope Family Wines today also introduced Chelsea Ruddy as Director of Retail Chains for the Western region. Ruddy has 15 years of diverse sales management experience in the wine industry as both a distributor and supplier. In her position at Hope Family Wines, she will lead retail chain activity in the Western states, owning relationships with headquarters buyers and overseeing chain execution across the region.
Additionally, Cody McGrew, the winery’s Head of eCommerce, has accepted the added responsibility of Director of Retail Chains, Central Region, while Eric Smith, Regional Manager, Southeast and a 10-year employee with Hope Family Wines, will add the additional role of Director of Retail Chains, East. Finally, Kevin Eyster, a 25-year employee, will assume a new role as Head of Strategic Accounts.
“Our continued growth is driven by those who share our passion for setting the pace and elevating Paso Robles wines on the world stage,” said Owner-Winemaker Austin Hope. “Jason, Chelsea, Kevin, Eric and Cody each bring a deep understanding of who we are and where we’re headed next. I’m excited to see their innovation and leadership help shape the next chapter of Hope Family Wines.”
A Milestone Year
This latest news continues an eventful year for Hope Family Wines, which is now more than 45 years strong and three generations deep as a family-owned winery rooted in Paso Robles.
In January, the winery unveiled its new state-of-the-art warehouse and bottling line, positioning the winery for continued growth while advancing Paso Robles’ standing as an expanding force in California wine. Among the first of its kind in the Paso Robles region, the 140,000-square-foot warehouse now serves as the lead pickup point for Hope Family Wines’ global distribution network.
In April, Hope Family Wines announced that it is converting its 67-acre estate vineyard in the Templeton Gap District to regenerative organic farming, a rigorous set of practices that focuses on soil health and biodiversity. That same month, the winery launched “The Artists of Hope on Park,” a storytelling campaign centering around original artworks at its new Hope on Park tasting room in downtown Paso Robles.
In July, Hope Family Wines announced Regal Wine Company as its new California Distribution Partner. In August the winery introduced Tufera Farms, a new 250-acre estate vineyard acquisition in the Creston District AVA of Paso Robles. The property will also serve as a source for organic truffles grown on specially cultivated Holly Oak trees and packaged by Hope Provisions, the culinary arm of Hope Family Wines.
Hope Family Wines today spans six brands that exemplify the world-class quality and diversity of Paso Robles: Austin Hope, Treana, Quest, AUSTIN, Liberty School and Troublemaker. Austin Hope’s namesake Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon is America’s fastest-growing luxury Cabernet Sauvignon with distribution in 47 countries, spanning North America, South America, Europe and Asia. In less than 10 years since its launch in 2017, Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon has grown to become the nation’s #2 bestselling luxury Cabernet Sauvignon.
About Hope Family Wines
Hope Family Wines is one of the pioneering heritage wineries that helped spark the modern winemaking era in Paso Robles. Owner & Winemaker Austin Hope grew up in Paso Robles as the son of winegrowers Chuck and Marlyn Hope, from whom he inherited his love and respect for the region. Hope Family Wines today spans six brands that exemplify the world-class quality and diversity of Paso Robles: Austin Hope, Treana, Quest, Austin, Liberty School and Troublemaker. In the fall of 2022, Hope Family Wines was named “American Winery of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast’s annual Wine Star Awards. Most important, Hope Family Wines works with 50 partner growers and a dedicated family of employees who make it all possible. More at HopeFamilyWines.com.
