News Briefs California
Funds for marketing
Sonoma County Vintners won a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to promote Sonoma County wines and wineries. The grant money will be used to complete Sonoma County’s brand identity work and support a regional and national marketing campaign.
Atalon names winemaker
Brian Kosi has been appointed winemaker at Atalon Winery in Calistoga. Kosi worked at several other Napa wineries, including Opus One and PlumpJack Winery, before joining Atalon. Details: atalon.com.
Cecchetti posts double-digit growth
Sonoma-based Cecchetti Wine Co. reported a 31% increase in sales with 268,000 cases sold in 2011. Cecchetti produces the Redtree, Line 39 (left) and Backhouse labels. Line 39’s sales increased 37% with 85,000 cases, and Redtree grew by 11%, with 152,000 cases sold. Backhouse, Cecchetti’s newest brand, sold 31,000 cases in 2011. Details: cecchettiwineco.com.
Kelly Fleming Wines hires manager
Ryan Clark has joined Kelly Fleming Wines as manager. Clark will oversee wine sales, marketing and daily operations for the winery based in Calistoga. Most recently, Clark was the winery administration manager at Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga. Details: kellyflemingwines.com.
New GM at BR Cohn
Anthony DiCarlo has been named general manager for B.R. Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen. Before joining B.R. Cohn, DiCarlo spent eight years with Viansa Winery and Marketplace as the director of retail operations. Details: brcohn.com.
Hall hires assistant winemaker
Alison Frichtl has been promoted to the position of assistant winemaker for HALL Wines. Frichtl had previously been working as the HALL Wines enologist. Details: hallwines.com.
Promotion and new hire at Shannon Ridge
Chris Baker is now the senior vice president for sales and marketing at Shannon Ridge Winery, which also announced the hiring of Brenda Bullington as vice president of sales for the west region. Baker has 27 years of experience in multiple facets of the food and beverage industry, and Bullington is the former owner and partner of Dué Sales and Marketing. Shannon Ridge is located in Lake County. Details: shannonridge.com.
Spring Mountain hires two
Spring Mountain Vineyard in Napa Valley has hired Tony Glorioso as director of national sales and marketing, and Kenneth “Scotty” Barbour as director of international sales, strategy and key accounts. Glorioso comes to Spring Mountain Vineyard from St. Helena-based Tuck Beckstoffer Wines, where he was vice president for national sales. Barbour is the former director of domestic and worldwide sales and marketing at Opus One winery in Napa Valley. Details: springmountainvineyard.com.
Smith promoted to sales director
Peirano Estate Vineyards promoted Michael Smith to the position of director of sales. Smith has been with the Lodi-based winery for four years, and his most recent position was eastern regional sales manager. Details: peirano.com.
New winemaker at Benziger
Jeff McBride has joined Benziger as vice president of winemaking, replacing Rodrigo Soto, who resigned in 2011 to return to his native Chile. Most recently, McBride served as vice president of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Details: benziger.com.
Evening Land appoints CEO
Evening Land Vineyards named Greg Ralston as its CEO. Ralston will manage and develop a collection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards and winemaking operations in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Occidental in Sonoma County, Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills and in Burgundy. Prior to joining Evening Land, Ralston was the senior vice president at Wilson Daniels, an importer and national marketing company. Details: eveninglandvineyards.com.
J Vineyards certified sustainable
J Vineyards & Winery has achieved certified sustainable status through the California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance (CSWA). The sustainable certification covers all vineyard and winery operations. Located near Healdsburg, J Vineyards & Winery owns 10 estate vineyards located throughout the Russian River Valley.
Russian River winegrowers announce new officers
The Russian River Valley Winegrowers elected new officers and named new members of its board. John Holdredge of Holdredge Wines is the new president; Randy Luginbill of Sonoma Silverado Vineyards LLC is first vice president, and Armon Azevedo of Wilbur-Ellis Co. is the second vice president. Carol Kozlowski Every of Kozlowski Farm was appointed secretary, and Saralee McClelland of Kunde is treasurer. New board members for the 2012-14 term are: John Balletto of Balletto Vineyards and Shannon Donnell of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards.
Atalon names winemaker
Brian Kosi has been appointed winemaker at Atalon Winery in Calistoga. Kosi worked at several other Napa wineries, including Opus One and PlumpJack Winery, before joining Atalon. Details: atalon.com.
Cecchetti posts double-digit growth
Sonoma-based Cecchetti Wine Co. reported a 31% increase in sales with 268,000 cases sold in 2011. Cecchetti produces the Redtree, Line 39 (left) and Backhouse labels. Line 39’s sales increased 37% with 85,000 cases, and Redtree grew by 11%, with 152,000 cases sold. Backhouse, Cecchetti’s newest brand, sold 31,000 cases in 2011. Details: cecchettiwineco.com.
Kelly Fleming Wines hires manager
Ryan Clark has joined Kelly Fleming Wines as manager. Clark will oversee wine sales, marketing and daily operations for the winery based in Calistoga. Most recently, Clark was the winery administration manager at Larkmead Vineyards in Calistoga. Details: kellyflemingwines.com.
New GM at BR Cohn
Anthony DiCarlo has been named general manager for B.R. Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen. Before joining B.R. Cohn, DiCarlo spent eight years with Viansa Winery and Marketplace as the director of retail operations. Details: brcohn.com.
Hall hires assistant winemaker
Alison Frichtl has been promoted to the position of assistant winemaker for HALL Wines. Frichtl had previously been working as the HALL Wines enologist. Details: hallwines.com.
Promotion and new hire at Shannon Ridge
Chris Baker is now the senior vice president for sales and marketing at Shannon Ridge Winery, which also announced the hiring of Brenda Bullington as vice president of sales for the west region. Baker has 27 years of experience in multiple facets of the food and beverage industry, and Bullington is the former owner and partner of Dué Sales and Marketing. Shannon Ridge is located in Lake County. Details: shannonridge.com.
Spring Mountain hires two
Spring Mountain Vineyard in Napa Valley has hired Tony Glorioso as director of national sales and marketing, and Kenneth “Scotty” Barbour as director of international sales, strategy and key accounts. Glorioso comes to Spring Mountain Vineyard from St. Helena-based Tuck Beckstoffer Wines, where he was vice president for national sales. Barbour is the former director of domestic and worldwide sales and marketing at Opus One winery in Napa Valley. Details: springmountainvineyard.com.
Smith promoted to sales director
Peirano Estate Vineyards promoted Michael Smith to the position of director of sales. Smith has been with the Lodi-based winery for four years, and his most recent position was eastern regional sales manager. Details: peirano.com.
New winemaker at Benziger
Jeff McBride has joined Benziger as vice president of winemaking, replacing Rodrigo Soto, who resigned in 2011 to return to his native Chile. Most recently, McBride served as vice president of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Details: benziger.com.
Evening Land appoints CEO
Evening Land Vineyards named Greg Ralston as its CEO. Ralston will manage and develop a collection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards and winemaking operations in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Occidental in Sonoma County, Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills and in Burgundy. Prior to joining Evening Land, Ralston was the senior vice president at Wilson Daniels, an importer and national marketing company. Details: eveninglandvineyards.com.
J Vineyards certified sustainable
J Vineyards & Winery has achieved certified sustainable status through the California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance (CSWA). The sustainable certification covers all vineyard and winery operations. Located near Healdsburg, J Vineyards & Winery owns 10 estate vineyards located throughout the Russian River Valley.
Russian River winegrowers announce new officers
The Russian River Valley Winegrowers elected new officers and named new members of its board. John Holdredge of Holdredge Wines is the new president; Randy Luginbill of Sonoma Silverado Vineyards LLC is first vice president, and Armon Azevedo of Wilbur-Ellis Co. is the second vice president. Carol Kozlowski Every of Kozlowski Farm was appointed secretary, and Saralee McClelland of Kunde is treasurer. New board members for the 2012-14 term are: John Balletto of Balletto Vineyards and Shannon Donnell of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards.
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