Terry Sieg,
It is with great regret that we share the news that Terry Sieg died suddenly on April 17th, 2011. He will be deeply missed as he was a wonderful man who we all greatly admired. True to his passion, he had recently returned from a month-long trip to New Zealand where he enjoyed his favorite pastimes: fly fishing, golfing, and searching out new wines.
After graduating from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Terry's wanderlust took him on many travels around the world. During these excursions, he developed a romance with food and wine that fuels his passion for discovering new offerings to bring back to Charlottesville to share with friends, family and customers.
"The wine business is so dynamic, it's a wonderful thing that it's always changing. When you think about the basic components of great wine, you think of soil and climate. 30 years ago in Oregon, there was no wine industry. Then someone discovered that the Willamette Valley was as close to a climate as Burgundy as you can find, and now there is this thriving Pinot Noir region that keeps introducing exciting wines to the world. The wine business forces you to expand your knowledge and to constantly be curious and explore."
When Terry isn't searching out new wines, he is likely pursuing his second love, fly fishing. He is the proud father of 3 children, and grandfather to 2 boys and one girl. Terry's oldest daughter Ashley is heavily involved with the business, and her husband, Smith Williams, is the president running the daily operations.
Smith Williams, President
How did Smith Williams end up selling wine? That's a question many have asked. It's a long and varied tale, meandering from Fayetteville, North Carolina, through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then up to New York, before taking a left turn out to San Francisco, back to New York, and down south again to Charlottesville. Smith can't remember the exact moment that he realized he loved wine, but it was many years ago. First, though, he'd have a successful career on Wall Street, open his own eponymous men's clothing store in San Francisco, and begin designing a world renowned line of menswear.
Life as a fashion designer took him to Italy many times, where his clothes were made. During the course of his travels he found a love of Italian wine was quickly developing. Back in San Francisco, Smith and his wife, Ashley, spent most weekends up in the wine country of Napa and Sonoma developing a serious love for California wines. But the journey didn't end there. A move back to New York saw Smith entering yet another stage of his professional life, this time as an executive for Saks 5th Avenue. As wonderful as city life was, two things were calling Smith: one, the South, and two, the chance to build and develop a wine company. Time for yet another move, but this one for good! Now living on a farm (complete with fourteen chickens, two bird dogs (not a good combo with chickens), and two transplanted San Franciscan cats named SoHo and Taos), Smith and Ashley are raising a beautiful little boy named Junius, traveling the world looking for the best wines they can find, and building the most dynamic new wine company around. It's been a long journey, but it sure has led to a good place.
Ashley Sieg Williams, Vice President Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Ashley, a native of Charlottesville, followed a passion for food and travel from her earliest days. After college at SMU in Dallas, Ashley studied at le Cordon Bleu Paris for a year and then completed an apprenticeship under famed Chef Roland Durand at Le Pré Catelan. As wonderful as Paris was, however, warm weather, surf, and sand lured her to Southeast Asia and then to Australia for a year. Though she never really mastered surfing, despite hours of trying, living in Perth provided a wonderful base to explore the winegrowing regions of Margaret River and further afield spots like the Barossa and Hunter Valleys. The lure of the big city called, so after tearful goodbyes, it was back to the US and to New York City, where Ashley met her husband, Smith. Four years in San Francisco and explorations of Napa and Sonoma followed, and then, after swinging back through New York for a few years, it was down to Charlottesville to pursue wine.
Ashley heads the marketing and PR divisions of JW Sieg Wines, and also diligently searches out new wines to introduce to Virginia.
Ted Picard, vice president director of sales
Ted Picard graduated from The College of William and Mary in Virginia in May 1975 with a BS in Geology. In April 1979 Ted decided the rocks found in vineyards were the most interesting of all those he learned about in his geology days at University, and he joined Safeway Grocery Stores as the Eastern Division Beverage Merchandiser with a focus on increasing overall wine selection by 400%. Soon after Ted was featured in William Rice’s column of the Washington Post Food Section as the reason for the changing face of wine in Grocery Stores in Northern Virginia. Over the next 20 years, he rose through the ranks of the wine distribution business learning the trade within several distribution companies, eventually partnering with importers of German and Alsace wines, a personal passion of his. Ted joined JW Sieg Wines in 2009 and brings with him decades of experience and enthusiasm for the wine business.
Ted and his wife Mary, the former Mary E. Healey, met at The College of William and Mary and have been married for 33 years. They are both very proud of their family consisting of 2 sons, Evan and Bryce, and their wives, Stephanie and Ashley, and their Daughter Emilie, plus their grandchildren Elyse and Benjamin.
Terence Shiple (aka le renard d’argent, Confit and t-bone), Vice President - Portfolio Development and Management
Terence Shiple has crafted a successful 25 year career in the wine and hospitality trade. Recently, Terence founded Artisans & Vines, an import and US marketing company representing family-owned wineries from around the world specializing in the primary wine regions of Europe. He serves as the company's co-director and chief executive officer. Prior to founding Artisans & Vines in May 2009, and while on work release from the Virginia Department of Corrections, Terence worked for 9 years as the French Estates import director for a major mid-Atlantic importer/distributor. During that time, he traveled 6-8 weeks annually in pursuit of domaines and chateaux throughout France. He held the position of assistant general manager and wine director at The Commonwealth Club in Richmond, Virginia from 1991-1999. During the 1980s, he played a pivotal role in developing the Richmond-based fine dining restaurant/catering company, The Butlery, Ltd., and a specialty cuisine and wine shop, The Butler’s Pantry. Terence consults for various industry businesses, conducts corporate wine seminars, and travels the world of wine in search of the “Holy Terroir”. He frequently serves as a wine judge in regional competitions, participates in charity wine auctions and promotes the unfettered understanding of wine. A northerner lured to the “South”, he holds a MA in 16th Century British Literature. Currently, there are no pending felonies or misdemeanors.
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Adam Caperton, Sales Consultant for Williamsburg, Northern Neck and VA Beach area
Adam’s passion for food and wine began at an early age watching Julia Child on PBS, one of the three stations they could pick up in the quaint little coal town of Slab Fork, West Virginia. A VA Tech graduate, Adam lived in Blacksburg for years playing music professionally, cheffing and selling wine along the way. After meeting his wife Stephanie, who works with Alton Brown of the Food Network’s Good Eats, Adam relocated to Atlanta where he was a chef at Bacchanalia, the 2003 James Beard Award winner for Best Restaurant SE. In 2003, they moved to Seagrove Beach, Florida to open their business The Larder; the Panhandles premier wine bar and retailer of small production boutique wines, artisanal cheese, salumi and prime meats. He returned to Richmond in 2009 and with an incurable desire to drive at least 150 miles a day, joined JWS in June of 2010 to help spread their fine wine gospel. As well, he is proud to join Sieg as one of the first Hokies thrown into a den of Tar Heels, Wahoos and other regional schools that populate their ranks. He also consults with The Viking Range Corporation and The Culinary Institute of America on culinary / wine tours of Italy, Spain and France. A writer, Adam is always on the hunt for unique and original experiences in the world of food, wine and travel.
Don Carlstrom, Sales Consultant for the greater Richmond area
180 years in the business has brought Don the hands-on experience and expertise his customers have come to rely on - seriously, how many salesmen do you know who took part in the classification of the Medoc in 1855? OK he may not have been in the business THAT long, but Don has logged several years in the wine wholesale business, and he is happiest bringing international selections to the most exclusive retailers and restaurants in Richmond. Don will be happy to select wines for you, but don't ask him for fashion advice. His wife is in charge of buying all the clothes for him and his 3 children, including 6 year old twins.
Mark Congdon, Sales Consultant for Washington DC and Northern VA
As a child growing up in upstate New York, Mark’s family often had wine at the dinner table where his father would always allow him to sample. So, as opposed to catching the “wine bug”, it was more of a way of life. This grew into a passion for food as well, starting his restaurant career at age 17. After graduating from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Piano Pedagogy, passion #1, Mark continued to work in restaurants while playing in many Rock, Jazz, and R&B bands through the 80’s and early 90’s. During his 23 years in the restaurant business, Mark was mentored by many sommeliers and managers with equal passion, which eventually aided him in creating several wine lists. Eventually, in 2001, he entered the wine distribution business. There he continued his passion for not only the wine itself, but the people who make it all possible. From the grape growers and winemakers, to the beverage directors, retailers, and educators, Mark feels there is not, nor will there ever be, a more rewarding business to be a part of. Mark lives in Springfield, Virginia with his wife Catriona, son Eamon, and daughter Ciara. Yes, the kids are allowed to sample. Cheers!
Robert Dalkin, Sales Consultant for Northern Virginia
After graduating from UVA in the mid 90s, Robert worked at renowned Charlottesville local spot 'Market Street Wine Shop,' Oakencroft Winery and The Virginian Restaurant. The wine shop offered the opportunity to home brew and provided an opportunity to learn about wine on the side. The winery allowed Robert to explore winemaking via two harvests and working in the cellar. After several years of cultured post college debauchery, so off to the Nation’s Capital Robert fled where his evil identical twin brother recruited him into the hotel industry – they no longer speak (not really). Robert spent six years at the Mayflower Hotel as a Banquet Maitre’ D and later in the sales, events and food & beverage departments at the Ritz Carlton. While these iconic properties offered great experiences and frequent glimpses of Presidents, international politicians and other powerful Washingtonians, alas it was the pull of the wine industry that kept calling So, he decided to do what every rational person does with their first child on the way – change careers. Robert spent my last seven years working with one of the top mid-Atlantic wine wholesalers, splitting time evenly between Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. Before leaving to join JW Sieg, he oversaw the greater territory of Northern Virginia and a team of eight salespeople. Robert is very happy to be working with a company that is family-centric and based in Charlottesville, VA – as only good things come from here. He lives in Leesburg, VA with his wife, Ji, and 2 children, Olivia and Andrew.
Tosh Cohoon, Sales Consultant Virginia Beach & Norfolk
Tosh Cohoon is one of the newest members of the J.W.Seig Wine Company. He is a native of the Hampton Roads area. He attended Fork Union Military Academy and graduated from Cox High School. He lives in Va. Beach with his wife and children. He and his wife, Chris, have been married for 22 years. Chris works as a Special Education Coordinator for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. They have four children, which include two girls and two boys ranging in age from 13-26.
While Tosh is new to the wine business, he has been in sales for over 30 years. He has sold coffee, maps, much more. He spends his spare time going to the beach, fishing, boating, and watching all sports especially Va. Tech and Redskins football. Tosh has "caught the wave" and is fully behind the Moscato craze!
Brant Dixon, Sales Consultant for Central Virginia
Brant may be new to the wine business, but he's catching on fast! Right now his favorite wine is tempranillo, but ask him again next month!
A native of Charlottesville and a graduate of Albemarle High School ('01), Brant enjoys working with all the folks he knows in the restaurant and retail trade. But when he's not visiting accounts, you'll likely find Brant on the golf course... he was a scratch golfer when he was on the team at Methodist University!
Fletcher Henderson, Sales Consultant for Northern Virginia & DC
Fletcher is one well-rounded wine guy! Back in the mid-90's he was traveling across Spain as an independent wine broker looking for selections to bring back stateside. He also spent several years as the Spanish portfolio manager for one of Virginia's largest wine wholesalers before diving headfirst into the winemaking experience directly. Fletcher assisted the consulting winemaker, Chris Pearmund, at Unicorn Winery from crush to bottling of the 1999 and 2000 harvests and assisted the winemaker at Rapahannock Winery, Farfelu Winery, and Christiansen Ridge Winery (formerly Misty Mountain Winery) for the 2000 harvest. This experience of having simultaneously assisted making wines in multiple wineries during the same year gave him first-hand experience of understanding the unique style that each winery can craft from the same vintage. His love of wine has brought him to regions as far east as Hungary and as southward as Argentina and Chile. He is currently enjoying honing his sales skills in Fredericksburg, Warrenton, Middleburg and beyond.
Geoff Hoffman, Chain Store Sales Manager
Geoff is the go-to man in Charlottesville to help chain stores and grocery stores grow their ever expanding wine departments! Taking on the challenge of bringing new and interesting wines to grocery customers who are bombarded by the yellow behemoth is a task Geoff fully embraces. His favorite varietal to drink is riesling, but he loves red wine so much that he drives a grape-colored sedan as well as pick up truck!