Don Sebastiani to spin off Other Guys
Don Sebastiani & Sons International Wine Negociants will launch The Other Guys (TOG) division as a stand-alone company in early 2010. Don Sebastiani Sr. will remain CEO and chairman of the board of both companies. The children of Sebastiani and his wife Nancy will be the shareholders of TOG. TOG executive director Don Sebastiani Jr. said the split will allow for more diversity and growth. Sebastiani Sr.'s daughter Mia Sebastiani joined TOG as director of the Mia's Kitchen division, developing wine reduction cooking sauces and other products. Richard Zeller was named COO.

Stambor to replace Aiken at BV 
Jeffrey Stambor will take over as Beaulieu Vineyard's head winemaker from Joel Aiken, who has held the position since 1985. Stambor has been with BV since 1989, and he's been responsible for the red Bordelaise program for Napa and reserve wines. Aiken will start his new career by consulting on BV's Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from the new Reserve Winery.

Boisset buys Raymond
Sausalito-based producer and importer Boisset Family Estates purchased Raymond Vineyard & Cellar from Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd., Japan. Raymond family members remain in management. Boisset owns DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma County and other U.S. brands; this is its first Napa Valley acquisition.

Corbett joins Kautz
Jeff Corbett was named vice president of sales and marketing at Kautz Family vineyards, Murphys, Calif. He'll be in charge of domestic sales and marketing for Ironstone, Christine Andrew, Leaping Horse and other Kautz brands. Previously, he was vice president, western division, for Icon Estates.

Hawke is Pellegrini CEO 
Gary Hawke was appointed chief executive officer of Pellegrini Family Vineyards, Santa Rosa. Previously, he was vice president of finance and administration for Lynmar Winery, Sebastopol, and prior to that, vice president and COO of Guenoc winery in Lake County.

Talbott taps a winemaker
Dan Karlsen was named winemaker and general manager of Talbott Vineyards, Monterey County. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist had served as a consulting winemaker there since April 2008. Prior to that, he spent a decade at Chalone Vineyards and Estancia Winery.

Hall wins LEED Gold
Hall Wines, St. Helena, was awarded LEED Gold certification, the first California winery so honored by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) measures energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reductions, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. Hall Winery includes radiant flooring, solar energy, local and recycled building materials and water conservation.

Kathryn Kennedy dies at 72
One of the first female California winery owners to have a namesake brand, Kennedy was a Central Coast native who established her Saratoga vineyard in the early 1970s. She planted and maintained her 7 acres exclusively to Cabernet Sauvignon, and sold the first two vintages to Mount Eden Vineyards before establishing her brand and winery in 1979. In 2003, production expanded to include a red blend from Napa Valley and a Sauvignon Blanc. She died of cancer in August, leaving the winery in the hands of her youngest son, Marty Mathis, who has been the winemaker since 1981.