Late last year, William Chris Vineyards and Lost Draw Cellars merged, forming William Chris Wine Company.
Fast forward to March 2021, and the Texas Hill Country wine company is still making moves, this time creating a new position on its management team designed to take care of the customer-facing side of the business.
John Cedillo III is the new general manager at the company’s tasting room in Hye, Texas, but his role extends to being responsible for all direct-to-consumer business and the end-to-end customer experience on the Hye Estate.
“I am extremely confident in John’s abilities to help lead the William Chris Vineyards team and the growth in Hye as we continue to deliver-world class Texas wine experiences,” said William Chris Vineyards co-founder and winemaker Chris Brundrett. “This is a new role for our company and I am excited to have someone of John’s caliber in this role.”
Cedillo will oversee the customer-facing aspects of the William Chris Vineyards estate and the entire guest experience for the brand, including the tasting room experiences, wine club program, and culinary program.
Cedillo grew up in San Angelo, Texas, and attended Angelo State before finishing school at the University of Central Florida. His background is in hospitality, customer service, and resort management.
Rather than spending a lifetime in the wine industry, Cedillo has worked at Disney, Hilton, and Benchmark Hospitality throughout Florida, including Orlando, Daytona Beach, and the Florida Keys, overseeing resorts and hotels with 800-plus rooms and teams of more than 200 employees.
The move to William Chris represents a return to his home state — something Cedillo said he truly appreciates.
“William Chris Vineyards has an incredible team and such a beautiful property, I’ve quickly developed a passion for sharing their incredible wines and amazing facilities with the guests,” Cedillo said.
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