News Briefs California
California
Learn about organic winegrowing
Napa Valley Grapegrowers will host the third Organic Winegrowing Conference on July 17 and 18 at Frog's Leap Winery in Rutherford. It will include panel discussions with grapegrowers and winemakers, presentations on organic farming costs, pest concerns and the market for organic products; equipment demonstrations, a trade show and a reception with wine tasting. For details, visit napagrowers.org.
Marketing appointments at Gloria Ferrer
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma, named Cindy Friedman consumer marketing manager and Toni Benton tasting room manager. The two are charged with expanding the winery's hospitality, wine education and consumer direct-marketing programs.
Bargetto celebrates 75 years
Bargetto Winery, established in 1933 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, with the June 1 release of 2003 La Vita, a blend of Dolcetto, Nebbiolo and Refosco. The family-owned winery has produced La Vita for seven years, and each year it donates part of the proceeds to Santa Cruz County nonprofit groups. For details, visit bargetto.com.
Sponsors sought for Madera competition
The fourth annual Central California Warm Weather Wine Competition, to be held Aug. 1 in Madera, is soliciting industry sponsorships ranging from $500 to $5,000 levels. Some 450 California wineries have been invited to compete. For details, visit idrinkwine.net.
Foley Group buys Venge winery
The Central Coast's Foley Wine Group purchased the Venge Vineyards winery in St. Helena and will use the facility to produce wines from Napa Cabernet specialist Merus, which Foley bought last year. Foley also will produce its Altus brand at the facility, which has a capacity of about 8,000 cases. For more, search keyword: Foley at winesandvines.com.
Wells joins marketing firm
Faith Wells, former public relations manager at Icon Estates, Napa Valley, was hired as an account manager at Upstairs Marketing Group (UMG) in Paso Robles. UMG specializes in marketing and communications services for the wine industry; clients include Baileyana, Jada, Sierra Madre, Lockwood and the annual Hospice du Rhône.
Michel-Schlumberger pairs with Cannon
Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate, Healdsburg, is teaming with Cannon Wines Limited to represent its wines around the globe. Newly appointed winery president Judd Wallenbrock hopes to increase Michel-Schlumberger's distribution from 18 to 50 states.
C.G. DiArie opens tasting room
C.G. DiArie has opened a tasting salon at 19919 Shenandoah School Road in Amador County's Plymouth; it includes picnic grounds, a waterfall and a koi pond. Visit cgdiarie.com for details.
Grower foundation awards scholarships
The California Wine Grape Growers Foundation awarded college scholarships to seven students, including six children of California vineyard employees. Ty Sabaska, Salinas, received the Robert N. Miller scholarship, given yearly to Central Coast students of viticulture/enology at Alan Hancock Community College or Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Antonio Aguado Zuniga, Cloverdale; Jesus Cashu, Calistoga; and Liliana Cardenas, Guadalupe, each received four-year, $4,000 annual scholarships. Yesenia Alduenda, Walnut Grove; Daisy Medina, Kelseyville; and Maribel Zavala, Soledad, each received two-year, $1,000 annual scholarships. The awards represent the most scholarship funding since the foundation was started in 1999.
Ventura wineries release map
Seven wineries in Southern California's Ventura County have joined forces to produce the first Ventura County Wine Trail Map. The map can be ordered from Monica Agyekum at (805) 983-1560; an online version is in the works and will be available at venturacountywinetrail.com.
Cinnabar names new president
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery, Saratoga, promoted Suzanne Frontz to president. Frontz previously served as general manager, a role she will continue to fill.
Publisher Richard Cartiere dies
Wine journalist Richard Cartiere died June 2 following surgery for brain cancer. Cartiere, who was 51, was publisher of the "Wine Market Report" newsletter focused on wine business in the North Coast. A graduate of California State University, Sacramento, he had worked as a reporter for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and the Associated Press; he was co-founder of Wine Business Monthly.
Napa Valley Grapegrowers will host the third Organic Winegrowing Conference on July 17 and 18 at Frog's Leap Winery in Rutherford. It will include panel discussions with grapegrowers and winemakers, presentations on organic farming costs, pest concerns and the market for organic products; equipment demonstrations, a trade show and a reception with wine tasting. For details, visit napagrowers.org.
Marketing appointments at Gloria Ferrer
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Sonoma, named Cindy Friedman consumer marketing manager and Toni Benton tasting room manager. The two are charged with expanding the winery's hospitality, wine education and consumer direct-marketing programs.
Bargetto celebrates 75 years
Bargetto Winery, established in 1933 in the Santa Cruz Mountains, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, with the June 1 release of 2003 La Vita, a blend of Dolcetto, Nebbiolo and Refosco. The family-owned winery has produced La Vita for seven years, and each year it donates part of the proceeds to Santa Cruz County nonprofit groups. For details, visit bargetto.com.
Sponsors sought for Madera competition
The fourth annual Central California Warm Weather Wine Competition, to be held Aug. 1 in Madera, is soliciting industry sponsorships ranging from $500 to $5,000 levels. Some 450 California wineries have been invited to compete. For details, visit idrinkwine.net.
Foley Group buys Venge winery
The Central Coast's Foley Wine Group purchased the Venge Vineyards winery in St. Helena and will use the facility to produce wines from Napa Cabernet specialist Merus, which Foley bought last year. Foley also will produce its Altus brand at the facility, which has a capacity of about 8,000 cases. For more, search keyword: Foley at winesandvines.com.
Wells joins marketing firm
Faith Wells, former public relations manager at Icon Estates, Napa Valley, was hired as an account manager at Upstairs Marketing Group (UMG) in Paso Robles. UMG specializes in marketing and communications services for the wine industry; clients include Baileyana, Jada, Sierra Madre, Lockwood and the annual Hospice du Rhône.
Michel-Schlumberger pairs with Cannon
Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate, Healdsburg, is teaming with Cannon Wines Limited to represent its wines around the globe. Newly appointed winery president Judd Wallenbrock hopes to increase Michel-Schlumberger's distribution from 18 to 50 states.
C.G. DiArie opens tasting room
C.G. DiArie has opened a tasting salon at 19919 Shenandoah School Road in Amador County's Plymouth; it includes picnic grounds, a waterfall and a koi pond. Visit cgdiarie.com for details.
Grower foundation awards scholarships
The California Wine Grape Growers Foundation awarded college scholarships to seven students, including six children of California vineyard employees. Ty Sabaska, Salinas, received the Robert N. Miller scholarship, given yearly to Central Coast students of viticulture/enology at Alan Hancock Community College or Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Antonio Aguado Zuniga, Cloverdale; Jesus Cashu, Calistoga; and Liliana Cardenas, Guadalupe, each received four-year, $4,000 annual scholarships. Yesenia Alduenda, Walnut Grove; Daisy Medina, Kelseyville; and Maribel Zavala, Soledad, each received two-year, $1,000 annual scholarships. The awards represent the most scholarship funding since the foundation was started in 1999.
Ventura wineries release map
Seven wineries in Southern California's Ventura County have joined forces to produce the first Ventura County Wine Trail Map. The map can be ordered from Monica Agyekum at (805) 983-1560; an online version is in the works and will be available at venturacountywinetrail.com.
Cinnabar names new president
Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery, Saratoga, promoted Suzanne Frontz to president. Frontz previously served as general manager, a role she will continue to fill.
Publisher Richard Cartiere dies
Wine journalist Richard Cartiere died June 2 following surgery for brain cancer. Cartiere, who was 51, was publisher of the "Wine Market Report" newsletter focused on wine business in the North Coast. A graduate of California State University, Sacramento, he had worked as a reporter for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and the Associated Press; he was co-founder of Wine Business Monthly.
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