BCM Wineworks Appoints Three Senior US Sales Managers

SEATTLE, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- BCM Wineworks, the new sales and marketing company founded by Bacchus Capital Management representing DeLille Cellars, Madrigal Family Winery, and Sbragia Family Vineyards, has announced the appointment of three senior sales executives: Jim Gratton, Northwest Regional Sales Manager, Ed Maass, CSW, California State Sales Manager and Marc Nelson, Eastern Regional Sales Manager. Responsibilities for each representative include distributor management, as well as restaurant and fine wine retail sales. All three report to Jay Soloff, Wineworks' National Sales Vice President.

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Jim Gratton has over 30 years of wine industry experience, most recently having served as Northwest Regional Sales Manager of DeLille Cellars. Prior to joining DeLille, Gratton was North West Regional Manager for Frederick Wildman & Sons, responsible for a 6-state region. Previously, he was a North West Regional Manager for Southcorp, Australia's largest wine company which was acquired by Foster's Wine Estates and merged with Beringer Blass, now Treasury Wine Estates.

Ed Maass, has over 25 years of wine industry experience. Most recently, Maass was the Director of Sales and Marketing for Sierra Madre Vineyard. Prior positions include Co-founder of Folio Fine Wines, Sales/Education Manager at Robert Mondavi Winery and Director of Sales and Marketing at Duckhorn. Maass is a CSW, Certified Specialist of Wine, Society of Wine Educators.

Marc Nelson also has significant breadth and depth of wine industry experience, most recently as Vice President, National Sales Manager for Opici Wines, a medium-sized importer with 50+ brands and annual sales over $30 million.  Prior positions include the Atlantic Regional Sales Manager for Clicquot, Inc.as well as sales management roles at Luneau USA and Jeroboam Wines.

"Jim, Ed and Marc are all seasoned professionals with very accomplished track records," commented Jay Soloff, Wineworks National VP of Sales. "They know what it takes to work successfully for ultra-premium brands in a very competitive market. We are all very pleased to have hit the ground running with a team of such an exceptional caliber. Taking our line of award-winning brands, DeLille, Madrigal and Sbragia, forward on a national stage is a tremendous opportunity."

"Distributor response to our concept – a small company dedicated to selling and marketing a stable of ultra-premium wine brands, all part of the Bacchus Capital portfolio, has been very positive," stated Steve Cousins, President of Wineworks. "Each of these brands, crafted under the direction of a great winemaker, is poised for significant growth on the national stage.

"Our name defines what we do – a deeply experienced team, working in the vineyard, the winery and in the market," commented Sam Bronfman, Wineworks Chairman.  "Our portfolio of three artisanal American wine brands, from a diversity of appellations, representing uniquely singular wine styles sets us apart: DeLille Cellars from Washington State, Madrigal Family Winery from Napa, and Sbragia Family Vineyards from Dry Creek. We look forward to working as a team with our distributor partners and the retail and restaurant trade, as we build the brands and in turn build Wineworks for the future."

About BCM Wineworks

BCM Wineworks is a sales and marketing company representing DeLille Cellars, Madrigal Family Winery, and Sbragia Family Vineyards, three portfolio brands of Bacchus Capital Management. BCM Wineworks will directly represent these three ultra-premium wineries to wholesalers, restaurants and fine wine retailers. Sam Bronfman is the Company's Chairman, Steve Cousins is President and Jay Soloff is the Vice President of National Sales. Industry veteran Bill Piersol is a Senior Advisor of Marketing and Planning. 

BCM Wineworks is an affiliate of Bacchus Capital Management.

For more information, visit www.bcmwineworks.com

About Bacchus Capital Management

Bacchus Capital Management is an investment firm providing strategic capital and making equity investments in United States wineries and wine businesses.

For more information, visit www.bacchuswinefund.com  

SOURCE Bacchus Capital Management