Emeritus Vineyards is excited to announce that after seven years as the winery’s COO, second-generation family member Mari Jones has been appointed president of Emeritus. In this pivotal role, Jones guides a team that includes renowned Winemaker David Lattin (formerly of Merus and Kuleto Estate), and acclaimed Vineyard Manager Kirk Lokka. Her father, legendary vintner and Emeritus Founder Brice Cutrer Jones, will transition from president to chairman Emeritus, and will remain actively involved with the winery. As president, Jones will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Emeritus Vineyards, with the goal of building on the winery’s two-decade track record of excellence as one of the California’s foremost producers of Pinot Noir.
Founded in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is exclusively dedicated to making estate-grown Pinot Noir from its two vineyards: Hallberg Ranch in the Russian River Valley and Pinot Hill in the Sebastopol Hills. Totaling 150 acres of dry-farmed vines, these vineyards have emerged as two of California’s most revered winegrowing sites, and the source for some of California’s most complex and elegant Pinot Noirs.
“After 47 years in the industry, and two decades as the president of Emeritus, I am delighted to pass the baton to Mari,” says Brice Cutrer Jones. “She is the same age I was when I began in this business, but her qualifications and experience are far beyond what mine were then. She is a remarkably talented individual, who learned this industry from the ground up. With Mari as president, our 40+ employees can be confident that we will remain independent and family-run for another generation, as we continue our mission to make the finest Pinot Noirs in America. I couldn’t be happier. In fact, I’m going to celebrate with a glass of Pinot.”
