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In December of 1995, Joe Phelps announced the appointment of Tom Shelton as President and Chief Executive Officer of Joseph Phelps Vineyards.
Tom joined the winery as Vice-President and National Sales Director in 1992, and in December of 1995 was appointed President and Director of Sales and Marketing. Upon announcing Tom's promotion, Joe Phelps credited the collective efforts of both Tom and winemaker Craig Williams for "a dynamic renaissance of the Joseph Phelps brand."
A 1974 graduate of Wake Forest University with a Bachelor's Degree in Politics, Tom began his graduate studies in Political Science at the University of Maryland in 1975. His interest in fine wines began during this time with a part-time position in a Washington DC wine store. As a sales representative for Quality Brands in Maryland from 1975 through 1978, Tom acquired an understanding of the wholesale tier of the wine industry but in 1978 returned to retailing by opening, along with a partner, a new wine store in Towson, Maryland. In 1984, the opportunity to join Vintage Wine Merchants, a highly respected national distributor of fine California wines, provided Tom's first wine supplier experience.
As the Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Manager for Vintage Wine Merchants, Tom worked with fine wine distributors from New Jersey to North Carolina. In 1986 he was promoted to Eastern Divisional Manager and later in the same year was invited to move his family to San Francisco, California to take over the position of National Sales Manager. Before joining Joseph Phelps Vineyards in 1992, Tom held the position of Vice-President and Director of Sales for both Franciscan Vineyards and Guenoc Winery, respectively.
Since joining Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Tom has played an active role in wine industry issues. He served on the board of directors of the Napa Valley Vintners Association from 1996-2000 and served as President of the trade organization in 1999. As one of the founders of Free the Grapes, Tom has endorsed reform of the mandatory three-tier system of wine distribution in the United States. He has also served the Napa Valley as a representative to the board of directors of the Wine Institute, and is active with the Coalition for Free Trade. Tom was appointed to the Napa County Watershed Oversight Committee and continues to serve on the board of the Napa County Watershed Information Center. He has a particular interest in the issue of migrant farmworker housing.
With over 30 years in the wine industry, Tom enjoys the benefit of experience at every level of the three-tier system for wine distribution. When not "on the road," Tom resides in Calistoga with his wife, Laurie, where he enjoys the ongoing challenges offered by Bryan, Jonathan, Jessica, Trevor and Camille. He takes great comfort in his vintage Martin guitar and faithful standard poodles, Django and Bella. | 