St. Helena, Napa Valley, CA, Feb. 19, 2019—Heitz Cellar is pleased to announce that Carlton McCoy, Jr., MS has been appointed President & CEO.
“We’re very excited to welcome Carlton to our team,” said Gaylon Lawrence, Jr., owner of Heitz Cellar. “His reputation throughout the wine industry as one of the most recognized Master Sommeliers will certainly add to the rich history of Heitz Cellar. The quality and integrity our brand possesses are benchmarks that both Napa Valley and our customers have come to expect; Carlton will make an immediate impact building on that tradition.”
“It’s a great honor to be steward of such an iconic, historical brand, known around the world,” McCoy said. McCoy comes to Heitz Cellar from The Little Nell in Aspen, CO, where he joined the team in 2010. Earning his Master Sommelier title in 2013 at the young age of 28, McCoy was promoted to Wine Director in 2013, overseeing a staff of 150 and The Little Nell’s acclaimed 20,000-bottle wine cellar.
A high school culinary arts program led McCoy to a full scholarship at the Culinary Institute of America, where he discovered that wine and service were his true passion. Prior to joining The Little Nell, McCoy honed his skills in revered institutions including Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, Tom Colicchio’s Craft Steak in New York and Eric Zeibold’s CityZen at The Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC.
To McCoy, Heitz Cellar represents a very particular style of Napa wines: ones that speak to an earlier era in California winemaking. His vision will highlight the winery’s consistent focus on remaining true to its elegant, pure style. “There has to be reverence when it comes to these older brands that create the greatest wines in the country,” he states. “It is fortunate that the Heitz family believed in that style and didn’t change it over the years. It makes the wines the unique experience that they are.”
As a Master Sommelier, McCoy is well versed in the fine wines of the world and is also keenly attuned to recognizing the icons closer to home. “As Americans, we have to look at wines like Heitz as national treasures,” he says. “We go all over the world looking for other wines when we have this incredible legacy right here at home.”
About Heitz Cellar: Founded in 1961, Heitz Cellar is a Napa Valley legend that has helped shape the history of Napa Valley winemaking. Pioneering vintner Joe Heitz ushered in Napa’s modern era with his iconic, globally-celebrated wines, including Napa Valley’s first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon, the renowned Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard. In 2018, the winery entered an exciting new chapter as the Heitz family passed this rich legacy into the hands of the Lawrence family, whose deep roots in agriculture and commitment to the same core values of fine winemaking made it a perfect match. Made with an unwavering commitment to quality from organically farmed, 100% Napa Valley fruit, Heitz celebrates its agrarian roots and commitment to the stewardship of Napa Valley.
Region: Napa & Sonoma
Job Function: President/Owner/GM
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