US-based Cakebread Cellars has named a former regional VP for Penfolds, David Amadia, as its CEO.
Amadia (below) will succeed Mike Jaeger, who announced his retirement earlier this year. He joins the Napa Valley-based company from Californian peer Peju Winery, where he spent the last two years as president.
The new hire will oversee the Cakebread business along with Bezel from California’s Central Coast and Mullan Road Cellars in Washington’s Royal Slope AVA. Amadia previously worked at Ridge Vineyards for 17 years, spending six as president. Beforehand, he was VP of Canada and Latin America at Penfolds from 1995 to 2001, when the brand was part of Southcorp Wines.
Penfolds, now owned by Treasury Wine Estates, transitioned through the acquisition of Southcorp by Treasury’s then-parent, Foster’s Group, 20 years ago.
“It’s been an incredible ride,” said Jaeger. “I truly can’t imagine a better way to close out my career than calling Cakebread Cellars home for the past seven years – a true ‘mic drop’ moment.”
Last month, Californian wine’s trade organisation, the Wine Institute, confirmed that CEO Bobby Koch intends to retire at the end of this year.
