Alpha Omega Elevates Jeff Knowles to Chief Operations Officer
RUTHERFORD, Calif. — July 25, 2019
Alpha Omega is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeff Knowles to Chief Operations Officer, making him the first person to hold that title in the winery’s 13-year history.
In his new role, Knowles oversees hospitality, sales, IT, shipping and logistics, maintenance, housekeeping and team services. He works in close collaboration with Chief of Production Josh Baker, CFO Chelsea Cameron and Vintner Michelle Baggett, who leads the marketing division.
From Luxury Hotels to the Rutherford Bench
Jeff Knowles did not come to Alpha Omega through the wine industry. He came through the luxury hotel world, and that distinction matters.
Before joining Alpha Omega two years ago as Estate Manager, Knowles built a career managing some of the most prestigious properties in the world. He served as General Manager of Timbers Bachelor Gulch in Colorado and General Manager of The Residences at Kapalua Bay on Maui. His most remarkable achievement may have been his role as Director of Operations at Hotel Castello di Casole in Italy, a property he oversaw from construction through its grand opening. In its first two years of existence, the hotel was voted the number one hotel in Europe by Travel and Leisure.
That track record of building world-class hospitality experiences from the ground up is exactly what Robin Baggett was looking for when he brought Knowles on board.
“I knew when I first met Jeff that he was someone special who possessed the skills, demeanor and desire to take Alpha Omega to the next level in hospitality. He quickly surpassed my expectations and has continued to impress me with his abilities.”
— Robin Baggett, Vintner, Alpha Omega
A Napa Native Who Never Really Left
What makes Knowles’s story particularly fitting is that he is a native of Napa Valley. His family has deep roots in the wine business, and he spent time early in his career working in the cellar at Robert Mondavi Winery before the pull of the hotel industry took him away.
After joining The Carneros Inn as Front Office Manager, Knowles committed himself to a career in hospitality and did not look back. Until Alpha Omega called.
Robin Baggett put it simply: “I could not be happier that Alpha Omega swayed his mind.”
Knowles rose quickly from Estate Manager to Estate Director in his first two years at the winery, demonstrating how naturally his luxury hotel instincts translate to the demands of a boutique winery focused on exceptional guest experience. The promotion to COO is the natural extension of that trajectory.
“I am very excited for this opportunity. As terrific as Alpha Omega is doing with all-time highs in revenue and profitability and our outstanding guest experience, we are never satisfied. I thank the Baggetts for this incredible elevation and look forward to working with the entire Alpha Omega team to continue to raise the bar.”
— Jeff Knowles, Chief Operations Officer, Alpha Omega
About Alpha Omega
Founded in 2006 by Robin and Michelle Baggett, Alpha Omega began as a direct-to-consumer pioneer and now sells 90% of its wine through this channel. Located on Highway 29 on the legendary Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, Alpha Omega handcrafts Bordeaux-style wines made with prized grapes from its own vineyards and historic vineyards throughout Napa Valley. Winemaker Henrik Poulsen and world-renowned consultants Jean Hoefliger and Michel Rolland create world-class wines that uniquely express the essence of this famous wine region.
Surrounded by fountains, vineyards and mountains, the beauty of this modern, farm-style winery is as captivating as its wine. Alpha Omega operates almost entirely on solar power, and both the land and winery are Napa Green certified.
