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Founders David Cordtz and his wife Ari Smith Cordtz Cider Master David H. Cordtz is an international award-winning wine maker and nationally acclaimed cider maker. In the 17 years David spent as a winemaker, his career included:
During his tenure with Cordtz Brothers Cellars he was awarded gold medals in many competitions in the U. S. as well as a gold medal from the prestigious “del’Office International De La Vigne Et Du Vin” of France in 1984 for his 1980 Cordtz Brothers Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. This competition is considered the “Olympics of Wine” and came at a time when California wines were attempting to gain credibility in that venue. With his Sonoma Cider Mill products on the market less than two years, his entire product line was awarded gold and double gold medals at the prestigious 2001 Sonoma County Harvest Fair. He spent 7 years as the Cider Maker and National Sales Manager for a leading brand of Hard Ciders before beginning the Sonoma Cider Mill in October of 1999. Dr. Ari Smith Cordtz, David’s wife, serves as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. She has over 20 years experience in sales and marketing where she specialized in start up companies. Known as a pioneer in the field of electronic meetings, Ari held the position of National Sales Manager or V.P. of Sales for several companies, including: Info-Media Corporation (1980 – 1983), one of the first companies to offer electronic mail and computer conferencing commercially available. She continued into the field of audio and video conferencing, as Vice President of Sales for Teleconferencing Systems International (Elk Grove, Il 1984 – 1987) and National Director of Sales as well as Corporate Board member for Business TV Guide, (Altadena, CA 1988 – 1991). She moved into the arena of corporate management and training serving in executive positions with various companies. Always the seeker, she left the corporate world to complete graduate work, earning a Master’s in Divinity (1994) and in 1998 completed her Doctorate in Divinity from Emerson Theological Institute. Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelors of Science in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior, from the University of San Francisco. With her educational emphasis on world religions and spiritual psychology she served for six years as the Director of “The Center for Life Enrichment” in Rohnert Park, CA, a non-profit corporation. In April of 2000 she joined David in starting the Cider Mill.
Bill and Alice Cordz Bill and Alice Cordtz were born and raised in San Diego, California, where they lived until 1972. Since that time they have lived and worked extensively throughout the world. Their most recent home has been in Marin County, California. Their travels have taken them to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, South America, the South Pacific, Ireland, England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, Canada and most of the United States. Bill has served as a rancher, business consultant, teacher, journalist, and advertising executive and along the way picked up bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. Alice, in addition to being the mother of three successful children, has extensive business and library executive experience. In 1989, they completed three years service as Peace Corps Volunteers. On their return, Alice served five additional years on the Peace Corps professional staff in San Francisco. In 1979, they joined their youngest son, David, in opening the Cordtz Brothers Cellars Winery. They entered the Peace Corps in 1986 and since returning have gradually gone into full retirement, after having served as one of the top in-store tasting teams for Sonoma Sparkler. They continue as shareholders in David and Ari Cordtz’ Sonoma Cider Mill.
Robert Michael Daniel Cordtz Robert Michael Daniel Cordtz was the first employee of Sonoma Sparkler. He started working after school and on weekends at the age of fourteen. David and Ari refer to him as their “free safety”. He can step into any job, including production, shipping and has even worked with David on creating the formula for Sonoma Sparkler Peach! He’s been a student at Santa Rosa Junior College and is leaving shortly for a four year school, where he is considering majoring in engineering or architecture.
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