Pedigreed Rutherford Cabernet House Expands On-Premise Reach to Key Domestic and International Markets
(Rutherford, Calif. – February 12, 2024) – Bella Oaks, founded in 2010 by vintner, cultural preservationist, and arts advocate Suzanne Deal Booth, today announced the appointment of Ellison Wofford as Director of Business Development, Trade Sales. In her new role, which reports to General Manager Shae Kinsman, Wofford will establish elevated and coveted positioning for Bella Oaks within both expanded and newfound domestic and international markets.
Wofford will develop a strategic distribution plan and foster trade relationships to place Bella Oaks within portfolios and in the hands of advocates who will foster the Bella Oaks brand, while honoring the site’s rich history. Her work will ensure Bella Oaks’ future remains synonymous with its storied past, legacy of cultural heritage, and reputation for producing singular estate cabernets while bringing together art, wine, community, and culture in an immersive estate experience.
Before joining Bella Oaks, Wofford served as the General Manager for RAEN Winery for nearly seven years. She joined RAEN, which is owned by 4th-generation winegrowers Carlo and Dante Mondavi, in 2017 as their General Manager and first full-time employee. She played a central role in the brand’s growth, success, and rise to international regard, with the winery recently being awarded the 4th place in Wine Spectator’s Top 10 Wines of the World for 2023. Prior to RAEN, Wofford was a Vice President within Silicon Valley Bank’s Wine Division, where she also contributed to their annual State of the Industry Report and Tasting Room Survey. A South Carolina native, she holds both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in French Literature and Literature and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration and Management from the College of Charleston, as well as the WSET Level 2 from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
ABOUT BELLA OAKS
Bella Oaks is a new wine estate almost five decades in the making, a project that combines one of Napa Valley’s most historic and revered vineyards with the dedication to cultural heritage projects that characterizes the vision of proprietor and cultural preservation advocate Suzanne Deal Booth. The Bella Oaks vineyard is legendary, with a legacy for producing some of Napa Valley’s earliest single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. Recognizing both its history and untapped potential, Deal Booth, who acquired Bella Oaks in 2010, has given this storied vineyard a voice of its own with a team that includes Vineyard Manager David Abreu, Winemaker Nigel Kinsman, and Master Blender Michel Rolland. The estate produces two wines, the Bella Oaks Proprietary Red and a new addition for 2024, Le Génie, a new Cabernet Sauvignon making its debut with the 2021 vintage. For more information, please visit www.bellaoaks.com.
