Destination Cellars Adds To Executive Staff

By: Destination Club News
Date: June 30, 2010

David Keuhner, the CEO and Founder of Destination Cellars and one of the busiest executives in the industry, is spreading the workload for his wine destination club with the addition of two new team members: Vice President of Winery Relations Mitch Schwartz and Estate Sommelier Sean Meyer.

The Co-Founder of WineSource and former Vice President of Inertia Beverage, Schwartz will be responsible for the acquisition of new winery partners, on-going relations with existing partners, and work with the club's new wine portal. "Destination Cellars has hit on a formula that will successfully connect wine consumers with winery supply," Schwartz said. "I look forward to playing a role in helping our winery partners gain exposure and sales for their products, while at the same time maintaining their luxury brand positioning."

Meyer will work with members to create customized experiences at the club's collection of properties and vineyards, bringing his prior experience with the club and as a sommelier to travelers. "During the past two years, I’ve worked closely with Destination Cellars as a winery partner allowing me to bring a unique perspective to my new role. The company’s commitment to exceptional service, attention to detail, and luxury mindset impressed me immensely," Meyer stated. "Joining this team, I am pleased to combine the best elements of my professional experience to provide exceptional international wine experiences."

Between the two, Schwartz and Meyer account for over 40 years of experience in the wine industry with resumes that include time with wineries such as Freemark Abbey, Lokoya, and Cardinale and distribution channels including The Wine Group, Gallo, and Constellation. "With his expansive experience in winery acquisition and compliance, Mitch is a strong addition to our expert bench," said Keuhner. "Sean will play a vital role working directly with clients to educate, handle purchases and oversee events."

While Destination Cellars is most often grouped into the rather broad destination club category, the club has ties with a number of the more traditional clubs in the space. Exclusive Resorts, the world's largest destination club, was the first to partner with Destinations Cellars. Since then, both The Markers Club and Quintess, LRW have both followed suit to give their members additional services and vacation options.

If you are considering destination club membership, request a complimentary copy of our Destination Club Guide, a resource to help you better understand the destination club concept, the benefits and risks of joining, and suggested due diligence questions to ask when speaking with a club.