SCOTTO CELLARS - Key Persons
Anthony, known as A3 around the winery, developed an early love of wine and family history from his grandfather, Anthony Sr., at their Sunday night dinners. The traditions of the family's winemaking style and quality, from Italy to Brooklyn to California, unfolded over the years and formed the guiding principles of his business and personal life.
After graduating from San Diego State in 2000, he worked for a prominent local beer distributor before returning to Northern California to launch Scotto Cellars in 2004. Under the tutelage of his father, Anthony II (A2) and industry icon John McClelland, he created a national distribution network and learned the importance of responding to customer needs and market opportunities.
As a 5 th generation vintner and CEO of Scotto Cellars, Anthony is involved in all aspects of sales, marketing, operations, finance and new product development. His primary focus remains on planning for the company's future in preparation for the time when the 6 th generation will take the reins.
Anthony and his wife, Alyssa, have three amazing children - Santino, Roman and Nola, who more than holds her own with her two brothers. Their love of sports, family outings and good wine keeps their calendars and wine glasses full.
Growing up, Bill lived in 11 different cities across the U.S. but has called Houston home for the last 31 years. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Bill joined Procter & Gamble as a Unit Sales Manager before embarking on his 41 year career in the wine business.
Bill was a Regional Manager with Gallo, a Regional VP with Heublein, Sales Manager for Freixenet USA, a Regional VP for Don Sebastiani Wines and in Texas, he worked for, at one time, the state's largest distributor, Quality Beverage, as its Statewide Wine Manager, all before joining Scotto Cellars in 2013 as National Sales Manager. Bill not only brings a high level of wine industry expertise to his current position, he has also built a sales force of extremely competent and highly motivated Regional Managers covering key areas across the country.
When not traveling the country calling on all sectors of the business, Bill takes time to relax in the music world playing saxophone, clarinet and flute as part of a 20-piece band that has performed in both Europe and the U.S. His band also plays regularly at Houston's House of Blues and he serves on the Board of Directors for the Lake Houston Musical Society.
Bill just celebrated his 42nd wedding anniversary with his wife Elizabeth. They love spending as much time as possible with their three children and six grandchildren.
Bill's motto and guiding principle with his salespeople and customers is, "Whether in sports, music or business, it's all about teamwork!"
Job Titles:
- Mid - West Regional Manager
Clint was born and raised in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin and received his BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2006. He then went on to earn his Court of Master Sommeliers Certification in 2009.
Clint grew up in Chicago's wine industry with stints at Binny's Beverage Depot, Randolph Wine Cellars & The Tasting Room as well as the highly regarded restaurant Topolobampo. In 2012 Clint took a temporary swing away from wine to become the Craft Beer Manager at Stoller Wholesale and in 2015, he joined Paul and Michael Scotto as Sales Manager for their Cider Brothers brands. In 2018, Clint returned to the wine arena and joined Scotto Cellars to manage the Mid-West region.
Clint and his wife Joy live in the Norwood Park neighborhood of Chicago with their three children Isabelle, Charlie and Madison. He is an avid Green Bay Packers fan who religiously subscribes to NFL Sunday Ticket so he doesn't miss a minute of their games.
Clint feels that his view on wine is best expressed in the words of Loire vintner and winemaker, Nicholas Joly: "... A way of thinking. A way of behaving. A way of giving meaning to your life."
Job Titles:
- Western Regional Sales Manager
You might say that Josh was "well aged" when he finally made his way into the business of wine. Born in Deadwood, SD and a 2004 graduate of the University of Oklahoma law school, he continued a family tradition by practicing as an attorney for four years before moving to Chicago and opening a retail wine shop. The industry's three-tier distribution system offered other opportunities as well, so he eventually opened a distribution company and created his own wine brand. The West Coast called Josh and his wife Paige to Portland to be closer to their families and he became the National Sales Manager for a prestigious Willamette Valley winery. While doubling their sales and distribution network, Josh developed an extensive knowledge of the intricacies of selling wine in a variety of markets and trade channels across the country.
Two years and two children later, Josh joined us at Scotto Cellars to help build our brands in the west.
Job Titles:
- Director of National Accounts & Southeast Regional Sales Manager
Ken Meyerson has over 25 years of experience in the Adult Beverage industry. He started his career with Gallo/Premier Beverage in Miami, FL., where he held numerous sales and management roles. After 3 years, Ken transitioned to the supplier side as the Metro Mid-West Field Manager for Paterno Imports in Chicago. Over the next 20 years he held management positions at suppliers with imported and domestic portfolios and moved into National Account positions where he was involved in the creation and growth of numerous successful brands. The knowledge, experience and relationships gained during this time prepared him to help lead the evolution of Scotto Cellars in the National Accounts channel. Ken resides in South Florida with his wife and two sons.
Mike was born and raised in London and currently lives with his family in Surrey just south of the city. He has worked his way through the wine industry since 1989, beginning as an account manager for Grants of St James, a London based wine wholesale company, and spending several years in various sales and marketing roles for Allied Domecq as well as other national and international firms. In 2004, Mike formed his own Hilltop Wines based in London to bring a great level of export expertise to smaller and mostly family owned wineries in various countries.
Mike has partnered with Scotto Cellars for many years, and through his export savvy guidance he has enabled the family in reaching many countries around the world to successfully build their brands in far reaching markets.
Mike's first connection to wine came as a hobby but his "thirst" for knowledge took him deeper into the subject and eventually, the industry. He holds the coveted WSET Diploma that enables him to better understand not only the wines he is so instrumental in placing, but also the sophisticated customers he encounters on a daily basis throughout Europe and other key markets worldwide.
Mike has three children and loves to relax by cooking and exploring the outdoors for exercise and stimulation. He has become an avid runner and regularly competes in the "Park Run" that is a weekly 5K run begun in England and now is spreading to other countries (including the U.S.) where he also participates as part of his international travels.
Mike's mantra is, "Treat people as you'd like to be treated - look after them and they will look after you."
Natalie joined the family business in 2008 and today she is the COO of Scotto Cellars and the proprietor of J. McClelland Cellars in Napa Valley. In addition, she is the founder and CEO of the J. Woods Beverage Group, one of California's fastest growing statewide distributors.
After graduating from University of California Santa Barbara in 2006 with a major in Sociology and a minor in Education, she planned to pursue a teaching career. However, her brother Anthony asked her to help launch Scotto Cellars and create the associated production and distribution systems. She agreed to help for a year and soon caught the "wine fever" that has characterized her family for five generations.
Natalie's career is a natural extension of her family's history and love of wine, which was a daily part of their Italian family's mealtime traditions. "Talking about wine and enjoying it at Sunday night dinners with my parents, siblings and extended family was something I thought everyone did." She also sees a close tie between her academic training and her career because "business is about people and personal relationships, while education is a fundamental ingredient in creating both business and sales plans, managing a sales force and establishing a brand.
Natalie and her husband Josh love life with their children Julian and Lucy and their English bulldog, who is always ready for a stroll down the street or through the woods. Natalie is an indoor cyclist and shares a passion for hiking, yoga and watching "their" Warriors and Giants with Josh.
When reflecting on her role as a woman in an industry historically dominated by men, she is not intimidated, perhaps because she grew up in a wine making family where the entire family pitched in wherever needed. As Natalie says, "Creating a 'synergy and a vibe' with the sales team and our customers is exciting and reaching our sales and company goals fuels my energy for future achievements."
Paul grew up in the Livermore Valley, "hanging out at my grandfather's winery", where he learned that his family's winemaking history dated back to 1883 in Ischia, Italy. His interest in becoming a 5 th generation winemaker resulted and led him to graduate from the Enology program at UC Davis.
After graduation he wanted experience outside of the family business, so he spent seven years selling construction and vineyard equipment, making wine and working in green waste. He joined his siblings in 2009 as the Director of Winemaking for all of their wineries and he developed a passion for creating small lots of premium wine that expressed the vineyard and the varietals. Paul's enviable portfolio includes numerous awards and top ratings for releases from the family's Lodi, Napa Valley and Amador wineries and includes both varietals and finely balanced blends.
In 2010 he launched his own winery, Sera Fina Cellars, in the historic Gold Rush community of Amador to focus on Italian and Rhone varietals and blends. His love of blending to enhance flavors, aromas and body is the foundation for his work at Scotto Cellars. Paul describes himself as a "Blendologist" and often says that "Blending is challenging but the results are the reward."
Paul's energy and commitment drive his pursuit of excellence with every vintage and provides a guiding force for the entire Scotto portfolio.
When not working feverishly in the winery and vineyards or following the Golden State Warriors, Paul cherishes his time with his wife Whitney and enjoys a wide range of sports and family outings with their three energetic sons Dante, Luca and Carlo.