News Briefs California
California
Murphy-Goode opens in Healdsburg
Located in the town center of the Sonoma County wine tourism hub, the new tasting room opened May 1 to provide a central location among other wine-oriented attractions. Guests are encouraged to relax on the patio or in the family-style tasting room. It's open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 20 Matheson St. Visit murphygoode.com for details.
Foursight debuts in Anderson Valley
Foursight Wines, Boonville, released its first wines in May. The winery is a collaboration between two generations of the Charles family: growers Bill and Nancy, their daughter Kristy, executive director of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, and her fiancé, Joe Webb, currently working with Londer Vineyards. The 2006 Charles Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2007 Anderson Valley Sauvignon Blanc are available at foursightwines.com.
Turnover at Talbott
Following the retirement of longtime winemaker Sam Balderas, Dan Karlsen has signed on as consulting winemaker at Talbott Vineyards in Monterey County. Karlsen has his own label, and he's also the winemaker at Graff Family Vineyard.
Napa wineries to host Solarbration
Three Napa Valley wineries will celebrate the summer solstice June 21 to commemorate Rutherford's status as "the most solar town" in the San Francisco Bay Area. ZD Wines, the latest Rutherford winery to adopt solar power, will join Honig Vineyard & Winery and Peju Province Winery in an evening of wine tasting, sustainably grown cuisine, live entertainment and tours of their solar arrays. All proceeds benefit the Land Trust of Napa County. For details and tickets, visit the wineries' websites: zdwines.com, honigwine.com or peju.com.
Arrowoods release first Amapola wines
Richard and Alis Demers Arrowood released the first 800 cases produced from their new venture, Amapola Creek Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma. The 2005 vintages are organically grown estate Cabernet Sauvignon, $100 per bottle; and Viñas Antiguas, a Zinfandel from 19th century vines at neighboring Monte Rosso, $55 per bottle. They're available from amapolacreek.com.
Stephen Hughes joins negociant son
Stephen Hughes was appointed partner and key accounts manager at Cameron Hughes Wine (chwine.com). The elder Hughes was a founder of The Wine Group, San Francisco. Cameron Hughes Wine sources super- and ultra-premium wine from high-end wineries and vineyards around the world.
New marketing VP at Clos Du Val
Debra Eagle was appointed vice president of marketing at Clos Du Val Wine Co. Ltd. in Napa. She also will represent the Goelet Wine Estates portfolio, of which Clos Du Val is a part. Previously, Eagle was director of marketing at Oakville's BOND winery.
Staff changes at DeLoach
Deloach Vineyards, Russian River Valley, hired Eric Pooler as winegrower, a position in which he'll oversee the estate vineyards and provide leadership to partner winegrowers. Previously, he was viticulturist at Hall Wines, Napa Valley. Former associate winemakers Brian Maloney and Julie Vàsquez both were promoted to winemaker.
New winery opens in Russian River Valley
C. Donatiello Winery, an organically farmed estate, opened its Healdsburg tasting room and garden in April. The winery is a collaboration between proprietor Christopher Donatiello and investment banker Bill Hambrecht, and it specializes in small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. An official grand opening will be held June 21. For information, visit cdonatiello.com.
Steinauer is Flora Springs winemaker
Paul Steinauer was promoted from assistant winemaker to winemaker at Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards in St. Helena. He replaces Ken Deis.
Barrett joins Fantesca
Napa "cult" winemaker Heidi Barrett is the new winemaker at St. Helena's Fantesca Estate & Winery. It's her first new project since leaving Screaming Eagle in 2006. Her work at Fantesca is being documented on the winery's website, adoptagrape.org, through which consumers may adopt a vine and monitor its progress for free.
Raffle win benefits research center
The casual purchase of a raffle ticket won Sonoma County's Rhonda Smith a brand new tractor. As a University of California cooperative extension agent, Smith didn't really need the New Holland 25-hp tractor, so she passed along her good luck for the UC's Hopland Research and Extension Center to use in its research. Garton Tractor Inc. had donated the $12,500 vehicle to the California Wine Grape Growers Foundation, which raffled it off in support of its annual scholarship program for the children of California vineyard employees.
New Napa viticultural representative
Mike Anderson was named Napa viticulture program representative until the vacancy left by the December death of former UC Extension viticulture advisor Ed Weber is permanently filled. Anderson has been a researcher in the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology since his graduation from the school in 1984. He'll be spending several days per week in Napa, and can be reached at (707) 253-4434.
Domaine Carneros certified organic
Domaine Carneros, Napa Valley Carneros, is the first U.S. sparkling wine producer to receive organic certification from California Certified Organic Farmers. For more information, visit domainecarneros.com.
Carlson is EOS director of winemaking
Nathan Carlson was appointed director of winemaking for EOS Estate Winery, Paso Robles. Previously, Carlson managed Tolosa Estate.
Suisun Valley analyzes terroir
The Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association has engaged Terra Spase Inc., St. Helena, to provide a scientific analysis of the AVA's soils and climate. The company will collect data to help growers best use their land and select cultivars.
Cellar No. 8 opens in Asti
The landmark Asti Winery in Cloverdale is the site of Cellar No. 8's new tasting room. Built in 1881, and once California's second-most-popular tourist destination, the brick structure has been restored and offers local charcuterie and picnic facilities. Learn more at cellarno8.com.
Located in the town center of the Sonoma County wine tourism hub, the new tasting room opened May 1 to provide a central location among other wine-oriented attractions. Guests are encouraged to relax on the patio or in the family-style tasting room. It's open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 20 Matheson St. Visit murphygoode.com for details.
Foursight debuts in Anderson Valley
Foursight Wines, Boonville, released its first wines in May. The winery is a collaboration between two generations of the Charles family: growers Bill and Nancy, their daughter Kristy, executive director of the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, and her fiancé, Joe Webb, currently working with Londer Vineyards. The 2006 Charles Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2007 Anderson Valley Sauvignon Blanc are available at foursightwines.com.
Turnover at Talbott
Following the retirement of longtime winemaker Sam Balderas, Dan Karlsen has signed on as consulting winemaker at Talbott Vineyards in Monterey County. Karlsen has his own label, and he's also the winemaker at Graff Family Vineyard.
Napa wineries to host Solarbration
Three Napa Valley wineries will celebrate the summer solstice June 21 to commemorate Rutherford's status as "the most solar town" in the San Francisco Bay Area. ZD Wines, the latest Rutherford winery to adopt solar power, will join Honig Vineyard & Winery and Peju Province Winery in an evening of wine tasting, sustainably grown cuisine, live entertainment and tours of their solar arrays. All proceeds benefit the Land Trust of Napa County. For details and tickets, visit the wineries' websites: zdwines.com, honigwine.com or peju.com.
Arrowoods release first Amapola wines
Richard and Alis Demers Arrowood released the first 800 cases produced from their new venture, Amapola Creek Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma. The 2005 vintages are organically grown estate Cabernet Sauvignon, $100 per bottle; and Viñas Antiguas, a Zinfandel from 19th century vines at neighboring Monte Rosso, $55 per bottle. They're available from amapolacreek.com.
Stephen Hughes joins negociant son
Stephen Hughes was appointed partner and key accounts manager at Cameron Hughes Wine (chwine.com). The elder Hughes was a founder of The Wine Group, San Francisco. Cameron Hughes Wine sources super- and ultra-premium wine from high-end wineries and vineyards around the world.
New marketing VP at Clos Du Val
Debra Eagle was appointed vice president of marketing at Clos Du Val Wine Co. Ltd. in Napa. She also will represent the Goelet Wine Estates portfolio, of which Clos Du Val is a part. Previously, Eagle was director of marketing at Oakville's BOND winery.
Staff changes at DeLoach
Deloach Vineyards, Russian River Valley, hired Eric Pooler as winegrower, a position in which he'll oversee the estate vineyards and provide leadership to partner winegrowers. Previously, he was viticulturist at Hall Wines, Napa Valley. Former associate winemakers Brian Maloney and Julie Vàsquez both were promoted to winemaker.
New winery opens in Russian River Valley
C. Donatiello Winery, an organically farmed estate, opened its Healdsburg tasting room and garden in April. The winery is a collaboration between proprietor Christopher Donatiello and investment banker Bill Hambrecht, and it specializes in small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. An official grand opening will be held June 21. For information, visit cdonatiello.com.
Steinauer is Flora Springs winemaker
Paul Steinauer was promoted from assistant winemaker to winemaker at Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards in St. Helena. He replaces Ken Deis.
Barrett joins Fantesca
Napa "cult" winemaker Heidi Barrett is the new winemaker at St. Helena's Fantesca Estate & Winery. It's her first new project since leaving Screaming Eagle in 2006. Her work at Fantesca is being documented on the winery's website, adoptagrape.org, through which consumers may adopt a vine and monitor its progress for free.
Raffle win benefits research center
The casual purchase of a raffle ticket won Sonoma County's Rhonda Smith a brand new tractor. As a University of California cooperative extension agent, Smith didn't really need the New Holland 25-hp tractor, so she passed along her good luck for the UC's Hopland Research and Extension Center to use in its research. Garton Tractor Inc. had donated the $12,500 vehicle to the California Wine Grape Growers Foundation, which raffled it off in support of its annual scholarship program for the children of California vineyard employees.
New Napa viticultural representative
Mike Anderson was named Napa viticulture program representative until the vacancy left by the December death of former UC Extension viticulture advisor Ed Weber is permanently filled. Anderson has been a researcher in the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology since his graduation from the school in 1984. He'll be spending several days per week in Napa, and can be reached at (707) 253-4434.
Domaine Carneros certified organic
Domaine Carneros, Napa Valley Carneros, is the first U.S. sparkling wine producer to receive organic certification from California Certified Organic Farmers. For more information, visit domainecarneros.com.
Carlson is EOS director of winemaking
Nathan Carlson was appointed director of winemaking for EOS Estate Winery, Paso Robles. Previously, Carlson managed Tolosa Estate.
Suisun Valley analyzes terroir
The Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association has engaged Terra Spase Inc., St. Helena, to provide a scientific analysis of the AVA's soils and climate. The company will collect data to help growers best use their land and select cultivars.
Cellar No. 8 opens in Asti
The landmark Asti Winery in Cloverdale is the site of Cellar No. 8's new tasting room. Built in 1881, and once California's second-most-popular tourist destination, the brick structure has been restored and offers local charcuterie and picnic facilities. Learn more at cellarno8.com.
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