Foley Family Wines & Spirits Names BJ Vorderer Chief Sales Officer Amid Global Expansion

Foley Family Wines & Spirits has announced the appointment of BJ Vorderer as Chief Sales Officer. The company, based in Santa Rosa, California, made the announcement on October 2, 2025. Vorderer will oversee the global wholesale sales strategy and manage distributor relationships for Foley Family Wines & Spirits.

Vorderer brings more than 25 years of experience in the wine and spirits industry. He has held leadership roles at major distributors and global suppliers. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Managing Director in the American Liberty Division of the Pernod Ricard Portfolio at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. In that position, he managed Pernod Ricard’s key wine and spirits brands and led a two-year contract negotiation with Southern Glazer’s. He also directed execution and planning for the U.S. market.

Before joining Southern Glazer’s, Vorderer held several positions of increasing responsibility at Pernod Ricard USA. There, he contributed to the growth of various business units. His earlier career includes roles at Shaw Ross International Importers and Union Beverage Company.

In a statement, Vorderer said he is excited to join Foley Family Wines & Spirits as the company continues to grow its presence in the market. He cited the company’s strong brands, sales team, and business partners as reasons for his enthusiasm. Vorderer also noted that Foley’s entrepreneurial approach will help achieve new milestones.

Shawn Schiffer, president of Foley Family Wines & Spirits, said Vorderer’s experience with distributor partner Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits will be valuable as the company expands its global portfolio. Schiffer added that Vorderer will help accelerate growth for priority brands in key segments.

Vorderer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University and lives in Naperville, Illinois.

The company also announced that Samantha Burris has been named Vice President, National Sales Manager of the FFWS Horizon division. Burris joins from Sovereign Brands and will report to Vorderer. She is also based in the Chicago area.

Foley Family Wines & Spirits was founded by Bill Foley in 1996. The company owns more than 24 wineries and a distillery across several regions, including Sonoma, Napa Valley, Southern California, central California, and Oregon. Its portfolio features well-known brands such as Chalk Hill Estate Winery, Sebastiani, Ferrari-Carano, Chateau St. Jean, Merus, Silverado, Lincourt, Firestone, Chalone Vineyard, Cosentino, Four Graces, and Acrobat.

The company also imports wines from France, Argentina, and New Zealand. Its spirits portfolio includes domestic brands like Minden Mill Whiskeys and High Ground Estate Vodka as well as international brands such as Lighthouse Gin from New Zealand and Loch Lomond Group Scotch from Scotland.

Foley Family Wines & Spirits continues to expand its reach in both domestic and international markets through strategic appointments and portfolio growth.