Bolstered by 16 percent growth in the first quarter of 2024 across a diverse portfolio of organically farmed wines [1], Bonterra Organic Estates today announced powerhouse winemaker Margaret Leonardi-Pruett will helm the brand’s beloved Bonterra Collection as Senior Winemaker, beginning with the 2024 vintage.
Following the retirement of celebrated Bonterra winemaker Jeff Cichocki, Leonardi-Pruett joins Sebastian Donoso in fueling the brand’s burgeoning momentum. Donoso, the esteemed winemaker behind Bonterra’s award-winning Single Vineyard Collection, adds the brand’s Regenerative Organic Certified® Estate Collection to his repertoire, while viticulture expert and climate-smart farming advocate, Joseph Brinkley, continues to oversee vineyard operations for Bonterra.
Building on a Legacy
“I am thrilled to join Sebastian in stewarding a heritage brand that places so much value on how we impact the environment and communities,” said Leonardi-Pruett. “Working with organic grapes from vineyards throughout the state of California gives me the opportunity to express the pure quality that organic farming affords us.”
To this new role, Leonardi-Pruett brings nearly 15 years of experience crafting award-winning wines for a diverse array of celebrated brands. She joined the company in 2015 and most recently served as head winemaker for Fetzer, becoming the first woman to lead the brand’s winemaking team in its more than 50-year history. Donoso, whose winemaking career spans more than 17 years, joined Bonterra Organic Estates in 2017. He previously crafted small-lot wines from organic vineyards at Campovida and Saracina wineries in Mendocino County.
Both Leonardi-Pruett and Donoso bring a wealth of expertise and a collaborative spirit to their individual roles, acting as a sounding board—and a tasting palate—for one another, and inspiring new ideas and innovations.
“I’m excited about the invigorating energy Margaret brings to Bonterra, and I look forward to working closely with her on crafting our portfolio of Bonterra wines,” said Donoso, recently elevated to Senior Winemaker at Bonterra Organic Estates. “I am especially passionate about our estate-grown fruit, because it gives me the opportunity to accentuate the nuances that make inland Mendocino County unique.”
The Next Generation of Bonterra Packaging
As Bonterra embarks on its next chapter, consumer interest in organically farmed wine is soaring. Amid a downturn in conventional wine sales (-0.9 percent), sales of organic wine grew an impressive 27.9 percent in the first quarter of 2024[2], indicating consumer preferences are shifting toward values-aligned brands like Bonterra—which aptly means Good Earth. And as consumers increasingly recognize wine made from organic grapes as an integral part of a broader farm-to-table movement, Bonterra is poised to continue its impactful role in the category’s growth; the brand is accelerating with a velocity change of 13 percent[3].
As consumers evolve toward more sustainable wine options, Bonterra is reimagining its label for the Bonterra Collection, bringing a fresh and modern aesthetic to the brand’s longstanding organic ethos. In addition to its contemporary block-letter logo, the next-generation label heralds Bonterra’s commitment to promoting biodiversity as a fundamental tenet of organic grape growing. Hand-drawn illustrations of specific beneficial insects and birds found on Bonterra’s estate—matched to each varietal—spotlight the invaluable contributions of wildlife to the vineyard ecosystem.
“Our new packaging reflects our deep roots in environmental stewardship and our optimistic outlook toward the future of climate-smart farming and eco-minded winemaking,” said Rachel Newman, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Bonterra Organic Estates. “This pivotal moment marks the start of a new era in Bonterra’s nearly 40-year history, and gives us the opportunity to connect in a meaningful way with consumers who share our values.”
[1] Circana L13 Weeks ending 03-31-24, Total Mulo + C
[2] Circana L13 Weeks ending 03-31-24, Total Mulo + C
[3] Circana L13 Weeks ending 03-31-24, Total Mulo + C
