Gov. Jerry Brown announced that he will appoint Karen Ross as secretary of the California Department of
Food and Agriculture. Ross served as president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers from 1996 to 2009 before accepting a position in 2010 as chief of staff to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Seghesio names executive chef
Seghesio Family Vineyards recently named Peter Janiak executive chef. Janiak, who began his career in food and wine as sales manager at Sakonnet Vineyards in Rhode Island, has worked as a chef at Boulevard restaurant and Presidio Social Club in San Francisco, Calif. At Seghesio, Janiak has the opportunity to work with fine ingredients from the family’s own gardens.

New California wines logo
Wine Institute, the association of California wineries, announced the launch of a global branding campaign featuring a new California wines logo for wines destined for export. Wine Institute oversees an export program with marketing activities in 27 countries and shipments to 150 nations worldwide. As the world’s fourth-largest wine producer, California produces 90% of U.S. wine exports. Visit: wineinstitute.org.

Lake County EGVM quarantine lifted
State and federal agricultural officials are lifting the European grapevine moth (EGVM) quarantine in Lake County. A small portion of southern Lake County was included in the quarantine area after several moths were detected in nearby northern Napa County during spring 2010. No moths have been detected in Lake County. Details: cdfa.ca.gov.

Oakland’s new Cerruti Cellars
After four generations of growing and winemaking, including nearly 40 years operating Tudal Winery in St. Helena, the Tudal family has opened Cerruti Cellars, an urban wine center at the foot of Oakland’s Jack London Square. With its tasting room and barrel room event center, the city winery becomes the latest to open in Oakland’s expanding wine scene. Details: cerruticellars.com.

NVG names Gill director of membership
The Napa Valley Grapegrowers appointed Allison Gill as director of membership. Gill, who previously worked for companies such as Backroads, Calistoga Ranch and Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, will focus on member outreach efforts.