News Briefs California
Purple Wine Co. appoints sales manager
Michael Mestas has been promoted to the role of national sales manager for Purple Wine Co. Mestas will manage all day-to-day sales and distribution for the Graton-based company that produces Mark West Pinot Noir, Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Bex Riesling, Rock Rabbit Sauvignon Blanc and Four Vines. Details: purplewine.com.
Grgich Hills hires new GM
John Corcoran has joined Grgich Hills Estate as general manager. Corcoran will supervise all winery employees while developing and focusing sales and marketing efforts. Prior to joining Grgich, Corcoran ran his own wine marketing firm based in Sonoma.
Signorello names marketing director
David Zurowski joined Napa-based Signorello Estate as the winery’s director of marketing and consumer experiences. Zurowski will be leading the marketing, communications and sales support for Signorello Estate as well as the other wines by Ray Signorello: Edge, Fuse and Trim. Zurowski also will oversee the entire hospitality team and manage direct-to-consumer activities. Details: signorelloestate.com.
Wineries bring in estate director
Matt Wood has been named the estate director for Domaine Chandon and Newton Vineyard. Based in Napa, Wood will support the direction of the two wineries and oversee all business channels and operations. Most recently, Wood worked as the executive vice president of direct-to-consumer marketing at Foley Family Wines.
CAWG elects new president
Mendocino County winegrape grower Bill Pauli was elected chair of the California Association of Winegrape Growers at the group’s November board meeting. Pauli farms approximately 1,100 acres of vines in the Ukiah, Potter and Redwood valleys. Details: dnn.cawg.org.
Wine lab closes
Think Tank, a wine lab and retail store based in St. Helena, Calif., closed Nov. 11. Originally the business was the idea of Andy Erickson, a consulting winemaker to several Napa wineries, who opened the company in August 2010 and later secured an investment from a French lab firm.
Davis legend dies
Ralph Kunkee, professor emeritus of enology at the University of California, Davis, passed away in November from complications due to cancer. Kunkee taught at Davis for more than 30 years and was a leader in research on yeast and bacterial activity. He also authored two enology textbooks and published nearly 150 articles. A memorial service is planned for Jan. 7 at UC Davis.
Huneeus names sales VP
Huneeus Vintners, a family-owned fine wine firm based in Napa Valley, appointed Meghan Watkins as its California division vice president of sales. Watkins moved to Northern California to manage the company’s California distribution network after working as the director of sales and marketing for Quench, a boutique wine distributor in Arizona.
T. Edward announces brand managers
Distributor and importer T. Edward Wines appointed Brian Pilliod and Juerie Park as domestic brand managers for California and the West Coast. Pilliod is the firm’s former director of marketing and sales support for the West Coast, and Park previously served as traffic and logistics coordinator for the company. Details: tedwardwines.com.
Calistoga AVA moves forward
The Calistoga Winegrowers has installed its first board of directors and is ready to collectively market the relatively new Calistoga American Viticultural Area (AVA). The federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau designated Calistoga as a distinct AVA in December 2009. Details: calistogaava.com.
Pomar Junction appoints winemaker
Pomar Junction, a family-owned and operated winery based in Templeton, has appointed Jim Shumate to the post of winemaker. Prior to joining Pomar Junction, Shumate worked as an instructor in winemaking and laboratory analysis at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Details: pomarjunction.com.
ZAP festival this month
The Association of Zinfandel Advocates and Producers will hold its annual festival this month to celebrate the grape variety. The event will culminate Jan. 28 in San Francisco with a grand tasting featuring more than 600 different Zinfandels poured by more than 200 wineries. Details: zinfandel.org.
Grgich Hills hires new GM
John Corcoran has joined Grgich Hills Estate as general manager. Corcoran will supervise all winery employees while developing and focusing sales and marketing efforts. Prior to joining Grgich, Corcoran ran his own wine marketing firm based in Sonoma.
Signorello names marketing director
David Zurowski joined Napa-based Signorello Estate as the winery’s director of marketing and consumer experiences. Zurowski will be leading the marketing, communications and sales support for Signorello Estate as well as the other wines by Ray Signorello: Edge, Fuse and Trim. Zurowski also will oversee the entire hospitality team and manage direct-to-consumer activities. Details: signorelloestate.com.
Wineries bring in estate director
Matt Wood has been named the estate director for Domaine Chandon and Newton Vineyard. Based in Napa, Wood will support the direction of the two wineries and oversee all business channels and operations. Most recently, Wood worked as the executive vice president of direct-to-consumer marketing at Foley Family Wines.
CAWG elects new president
Mendocino County winegrape grower Bill Pauli was elected chair of the California Association of Winegrape Growers at the group’s November board meeting. Pauli farms approximately 1,100 acres of vines in the Ukiah, Potter and Redwood valleys. Details: dnn.cawg.org.
Wine lab closes
Think Tank, a wine lab and retail store based in St. Helena, Calif., closed Nov. 11. Originally the business was the idea of Andy Erickson, a consulting winemaker to several Napa wineries, who opened the company in August 2010 and later secured an investment from a French lab firm.
Davis legend dies
Ralph Kunkee, professor emeritus of enology at the University of California, Davis, passed away in November from complications due to cancer. Kunkee taught at Davis for more than 30 years and was a leader in research on yeast and bacterial activity. He also authored two enology textbooks and published nearly 150 articles. A memorial service is planned for Jan. 7 at UC Davis.
Huneeus names sales VP
Huneeus Vintners, a family-owned fine wine firm based in Napa Valley, appointed Meghan Watkins as its California division vice president of sales. Watkins moved to Northern California to manage the company’s California distribution network after working as the director of sales and marketing for Quench, a boutique wine distributor in Arizona.
T. Edward announces brand managers
Distributor and importer T. Edward Wines appointed Brian Pilliod and Juerie Park as domestic brand managers for California and the West Coast. Pilliod is the firm’s former director of marketing and sales support for the West Coast, and Park previously served as traffic and logistics coordinator for the company. Details: tedwardwines.com.
Calistoga AVA moves forward
The Calistoga Winegrowers has installed its first board of directors and is ready to collectively market the relatively new Calistoga American Viticultural Area (AVA). The federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau designated Calistoga as a distinct AVA in December 2009. Details: calistogaava.com.
Pomar Junction appoints winemaker
Pomar Junction, a family-owned and operated winery based in Templeton, has appointed Jim Shumate to the post of winemaker. Prior to joining Pomar Junction, Shumate worked as an instructor in winemaking and laboratory analysis at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Details: pomarjunction.com.
ZAP festival this month
The Association of Zinfandel Advocates and Producers will hold its annual festival this month to celebrate the grape variety. The event will culminate Jan. 28 in San Francisco with a grand tasting featuring more than 600 different Zinfandels poured by more than 200 wineries. Details: zinfandel.org.
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