Hilary Berkey

While Hilary was first introduced to wine while studying abroad in the sun-drenched vineyards of South Africa, she brings over two decades of working in wine to her position of Director of Sales, Marketing, and Operations. Her other title, Inspirer of Joy, speaks to the heart of her role at Emeritus Vineyards.

Originally from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Hilary had her first wine tasting experience as a Rotary high school exchange student in South Africa. She then went on to earn a BA in international studies from American University in Washington, DC, and both an MBA and an MS in agriculture from Cal Poly. While studying at Cal Poly, Berkey began her career in the wine and spirits industry at Wild Horse Winery. In the years since, she has held positions with Diageo, Constellation, Treasury Wine Estates, Vintage Wine Estates, and, most recently, with Raventós Codorníu. In addition to her two decades of wine industry experience, Hilary is a Level II – Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and holds a Level 4 Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.

“From my roots in the Willamette Valley to my time at Wild Horse, Etude, and Artesa, I have always been passionate about Pinot Noir, so the opportunity to work at a small, family winery dedicated exclusively to making estate-grown Pinot Noirs is incredibly exciting.”

 A lover of dogs, Hilary’s first rescue was a schnauzer, and she is currently mom to Quill, a tiny, sassy rescue schnauzer. An avid traveler, Hilary has visited six of the seven continents and 34 countries to date, and she is always looking to add another stamp to her passport.