News Briefs California
Kelly Fleming appoints new vineyard manager
Kelly Fleming Winery in Napa Valley named Mike Wolf its new vineyard manager. Wolf has more than 30 years of experience developing and managing California vineyards. Details: kellyflemingwines.com.
Constellation buys Mark West brand
Sonoma County-based Purple Wine Co. announced that it had sold its Mark West wine label to Constellation Brands Inc. in a deal reportedly worth $160 million. Derek Benham founded Purple Wine Co. in 2002 and has built the Mark West Pinot Noir brand to production of 600,000 cases per year. Benham and his brother, Courtney Benham, also established the Blackstone brand, which they sold to Constellation in 2001. Details: markwestwines.com.
Alfaro named Rutherford Grove winemaker
Alejandro Alfaro is the new winemaker at Rutherford Grove Winery in Napa Valley. He has worked at several Napa wineries including The Hess Collection and Quixote. Details: rutherfordgrove.com.
Closure study unites PlumpJack, UC Davis
The PlumpJack Group and the University of California, Davis, announced a two-year study to determine if screwcaps can compromise a wine’s quality or ability to age. The study will review natural corks, synthetic corks and screwcaps using a test batch of 200 bottles of 2011 CADE Sauvignon Blanc. Sensors will track oxygen uptake, and the bottles also will receive regular chemical analysis. The final step of the study will be sensory analysis, with results published in late 2013.
Seghesio appoints grower relations leader
Seghesio Family Vineyards appointed Ned Neumiller its head of grower relations. Neumiller is the great, great grandson of founder Edoardo Seghesio and nephew of winemaker Ted Seghesio. Most recently, Neumiller was involved in agricultural and vineyard equipment sales. Details: seghesio.com.
Healdsburg winery names GM
Denise Sanders is the new general manager of Thomas George Estates and Baker Family Vineyards in Healdsburg. Sanders has worked in the Sonoma County wine industry for more than two decades—most recently as founding partner and CEO of Alysian Wines and general manager of Gary Farrell Winery. Details: thomasgeorgeestates.com.
Ackerman hires first general manager
Lars Ryssdal will manage all day-to-day operations at Ackerman Family Vineyards in Napa Valley. Ryssdal is the former brand manager for Corliss Estates Winery in Walla Walla, Wash. Details: ackermanfamilyvineyards.com.
Spring Mountain hires wine club director
Mecaela Miller joined Spring Mountain Vineyard’s sales and marketing team as director of wine club, direct-to-consumer sales and social media. Miller previously developed the brand identity and digital voice at Round Pond Estate in Napa. Details: springmountainvineyard.com.
Wilson crafts Heritage Zin
Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) and Diane Wilson, winemaker and owner of Wilson Winery, released the 2010 Heritage Vineyard Zinfandel in June. Each year, ZAP selects a winery member to vinify the yield from the Heritage Vineyard, which was established with cuttings from California’s notable Zinfandel vineyards. Scott Harvey of Scott Harvey Wines is making wine from the 2011 vintage. Details: zinfandel.org.
Constellation buys Mark West brand
Sonoma County-based Purple Wine Co. announced that it had sold its Mark West wine label to Constellation Brands Inc. in a deal reportedly worth $160 million. Derek Benham founded Purple Wine Co. in 2002 and has built the Mark West Pinot Noir brand to production of 600,000 cases per year. Benham and his brother, Courtney Benham, also established the Blackstone brand, which they sold to Constellation in 2001. Details: markwestwines.com.
Alfaro named Rutherford Grove winemaker
Alejandro Alfaro is the new winemaker at Rutherford Grove Winery in Napa Valley. He has worked at several Napa wineries including The Hess Collection and Quixote. Details: rutherfordgrove.com.
Closure study unites PlumpJack, UC Davis
The PlumpJack Group and the University of California, Davis, announced a two-year study to determine if screwcaps can compromise a wine’s quality or ability to age. The study will review natural corks, synthetic corks and screwcaps using a test batch of 200 bottles of 2011 CADE Sauvignon Blanc. Sensors will track oxygen uptake, and the bottles also will receive regular chemical analysis. The final step of the study will be sensory analysis, with results published in late 2013.
Seghesio appoints grower relations leader
Seghesio Family Vineyards appointed Ned Neumiller its head of grower relations. Neumiller is the great, great grandson of founder Edoardo Seghesio and nephew of winemaker Ted Seghesio. Most recently, Neumiller was involved in agricultural and vineyard equipment sales. Details: seghesio.com.
Healdsburg winery names GM
Denise Sanders is the new general manager of Thomas George Estates and Baker Family Vineyards in Healdsburg. Sanders has worked in the Sonoma County wine industry for more than two decades—most recently as founding partner and CEO of Alysian Wines and general manager of Gary Farrell Winery. Details: thomasgeorgeestates.com.
Ackerman hires first general manager
Lars Ryssdal will manage all day-to-day operations at Ackerman Family Vineyards in Napa Valley. Ryssdal is the former brand manager for Corliss Estates Winery in Walla Walla, Wash. Details: ackermanfamilyvineyards.com.
Spring Mountain hires wine club director
Mecaela Miller joined Spring Mountain Vineyard’s sales and marketing team as director of wine club, direct-to-consumer sales and social media. Miller previously developed the brand identity and digital voice at Round Pond Estate in Napa. Details: springmountainvineyard.com.
Wilson crafts Heritage Zin
Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) and Diane Wilson, winemaker and owner of Wilson Winery, released the 2010 Heritage Vineyard Zinfandel in June. Each year, ZAP selects a winery member to vinify the yield from the Heritage Vineyard, which was established with cuttings from California’s notable Zinfandel vineyards. Scott Harvey of Scott Harvey Wines is making wine from the 2011 vintage. Details: zinfandel.org.
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