News Briefs California
Banks buys portion of Wind Gap winery
Banks buys portion of Wind Gap winery
Charles Banks, the founder of the investment group Terroir Selections and former managing partner of Screaming Eagle Winery in Napa Valley, acquired a 50% stake in Wind Gap Wines and its Agharta Wines brand. Winemaker Pax Mahle will continue to oversee production for both brands. Details: windgapwines.com.
Coppola buys former Geyser Peak site
Francis Ford Coppola Winery purchased the Geyser Peak Winery building and 32 acres of vineyards from the firm that had acquired the assets of now-defunct Ascentia Wine Estates. An Australian firm, Accolade Wines, purchased the Geyser Peak brand in 2012 and leased the winery and vineyards. Coppola intends to use the property to increase its own wine production.
New president at Dry Creek Vineyard
Kim Stare Wallace, daughter of Dry Creek Vineyard founder David Stare, has been promoted to the post of president at the Healdsburg-based family winery. Bill Smart is the winery’s new director of marketing and communications. Details: drycreekvineyard.com.
Leeds named Napa Grower of the Year
Frank Leeds, vice president and director of vineyard operations at Frog’s Leap Winery, managing partner at Chavez and Leeds Family Vineyard and partner at Leeds & Pesch Vineyard Consulting, was named Grower of the Year by the Napa Valley Grapegrowers.
New winemaker at Rusack Vineyards
Steven Gerbac is the new winemaker at Rusack Vineyards in Santa Barbara County. Gerbac has been with the winery for 10 years, most recently in the position of assistant winemaker.
Evening Land sells vineyard and winery
Santa Rosa-based Evening Land Vineyards announced that it agreed to sell its vineyard and winery in the Santa Rita Hills AVA and Lompoc to a group led by sommelier Rajat Parr. The 40-acre vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir.
New staff at Wine Institute
Linda A. Ulrich and Charles C. Jefferson have joined the Wine Institute to serve as vice presidents of federal relations for the organization based in San Francisco. Details: wineinstitute.org.
Zaca Mesa appoints assistant winemaker Kristin Bryden is the new assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos. Bryden is the former associate winemaker at Lockwood Vineyard in Monterey County.
Quivira earns honor for restoration work
Congressman Jared Huffman visited Quivira Vineyards in Healdsburg to award the winery a certificate in recognition of its work to restore Dry Creek salmon habitat. The winery collaborated with the Sonoma County Water Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to add a side channel along the creek to help young salmon escape fast-moving water during the winter. The project was the first phase of a 6-mile improvement plan, according to the winery.
Apter joins Antica Napa Valley
Antica Napa Valley announced Melissa Apter is the winery’s new enologist. Apter joins Antica Napa Valley after spending the 2012 vintage working at the Antinori estate in Italy through the University of California, Davis, Antinori Scholarship.
Koehler Winery hires winemaker
Nicholas de Luca joins Koehler Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley as winemaker. De Luca most recently was director of vineyards and winemaking at Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyard in Santa Ynez.
Reuling Vineyard launches label
Timothy and Jackie Reuling launched the Reuling Vineyard label with a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their 14.4-acre vineyard in Forestville, Calif. The vineyard has long been a source of fruit for Aubert Wines and Peter Michael Winery, according to a statement released by the Reulings. Details: reulingvineyard.com.
Charles Banks, the founder of the investment group Terroir Selections and former managing partner of Screaming Eagle Winery in Napa Valley, acquired a 50% stake in Wind Gap Wines and its Agharta Wines brand. Winemaker Pax Mahle will continue to oversee production for both brands. Details: windgapwines.com.
Coppola buys former Geyser Peak site
Francis Ford Coppola Winery purchased the Geyser Peak Winery building and 32 acres of vineyards from the firm that had acquired the assets of now-defunct Ascentia Wine Estates. An Australian firm, Accolade Wines, purchased the Geyser Peak brand in 2012 and leased the winery and vineyards. Coppola intends to use the property to increase its own wine production.
New president at Dry Creek Vineyard
Kim Stare Wallace, daughter of Dry Creek Vineyard founder David Stare, has been promoted to the post of president at the Healdsburg-based family winery. Bill Smart is the winery’s new director of marketing and communications. Details: drycreekvineyard.com.
Leeds named Napa Grower of the Year
Frank Leeds, vice president and director of vineyard operations at Frog’s Leap Winery, managing partner at Chavez and Leeds Family Vineyard and partner at Leeds & Pesch Vineyard Consulting, was named Grower of the Year by the Napa Valley Grapegrowers.
New winemaker at Rusack Vineyards
Steven Gerbac is the new winemaker at Rusack Vineyards in Santa Barbara County. Gerbac has been with the winery for 10 years, most recently in the position of assistant winemaker.
Evening Land sells vineyard and winery
Santa Rosa-based Evening Land Vineyards announced that it agreed to sell its vineyard and winery in the Santa Rita Hills AVA and Lompoc to a group led by sommelier Rajat Parr. The 40-acre vineyard is planted to Pinot Noir.
New staff at Wine Institute
Linda A. Ulrich and Charles C. Jefferson have joined the Wine Institute to serve as vice presidents of federal relations for the organization based in San Francisco. Details: wineinstitute.org.
Zaca Mesa appoints assistant winemaker Kristin Bryden is the new assistant winemaker at Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos. Bryden is the former associate winemaker at Lockwood Vineyard in Monterey County.
Quivira earns honor for restoration work
Congressman Jared Huffman visited Quivira Vineyards in Healdsburg to award the winery a certificate in recognition of its work to restore Dry Creek salmon habitat. The winery collaborated with the Sonoma County Water Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to add a side channel along the creek to help young salmon escape fast-moving water during the winter. The project was the first phase of a 6-mile improvement plan, according to the winery.
Apter joins Antica Napa Valley
Antica Napa Valley announced Melissa Apter is the winery’s new enologist. Apter joins Antica Napa Valley after spending the 2012 vintage working at the Antinori estate in Italy through the University of California, Davis, Antinori Scholarship.
Koehler Winery hires winemaker
Nicholas de Luca joins Koehler Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley as winemaker. De Luca most recently was director of vineyards and winemaking at Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyard in Santa Ynez.
Reuling Vineyard launches label
Timothy and Jackie Reuling launched the Reuling Vineyard label with a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their 14.4-acre vineyard in Forestville, Calif. The vineyard has long been a source of fruit for Aubert Wines and Peter Michael Winery, according to a statement released by the Reulings. Details: reulingvineyard.com.
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