WillaKenzie Estate Winery is pleased to announce Tony Williams has joined the sales team to head the direct-to-consumer sales program. As the Direct Sales Manager, Williams' main responsibilities will be to develop the consumer sales program, supervise the tasting room while maintaining a high-level customer experience, create and implement special events, and manage the Cellar Club membership subscriptions and program.

"Tony was the right candidate to help drive WillaKenzie Estate's consumer sales initiatives into a new direction," said Bernard Lacroute, owner. "He has a natural sales instinct and exceptionally high standards of customer service, business acumen and the ability to build and lead a professional, motivated sales team."

Williams most recently worked for CTC Consulting, an investment consulting firm that provides investment advice for ultra-high net worth families. While there, he cultivated personal relationships with his clients while delivering the highest level of customer service.

His previous work experience in the Oregon wine industry includes managing the Ponzi Wine Bar in Dundee, and serving as the Hospitality Director at Domaine Drouhin Oregon. Williams elected to take a few years off from the wine industry to earn degrees in Marketing and in Finance.

"We are excited to have Tony's breadth of knowledge and experience, including a previous culinary background, to enhance our customers' experience in the tasting room and at events," Lacroute said.

"Our wines offer a distinctive expression of the cool climate varietals we grow, and are especially complimentary of food. Tony has a solid food and wine background that will augment the educational component of the tasting room experience," Lacroute added.

WillaKenzie Estate Winery is a small family-owned winery dedicated to the highest expression of terroir, making great wines from the Pinot family of grapes: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, as well as Gamay Noir made in the Beaujolais crus style.