News Briefs California
Gallo purchases Courtside Cellars
E. & J. Gallo Winery purchased Courtside Cellars in San Miguel, adding 34 acres of land and a 60,000-ton winery to its expanding Central Coast portfolio. Terms of the purchase were not made public. Courtside Cellars’ 7,000-ton custom-crush winery in San Luis Obispo was not part of the sale and will be renamed Phase 2 Cellars.
Link new president at Robert Young
Jessica Link is the new president of Robert Young Estate Winery in Geyserville. Link had been controller at Robert Young since 2007.
Fort Ross opens tasting room
Fort Ross Vineyard opened the first public tasting room in the Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area. The tasting room near Jenner will feature nine estate wines.
Christopher Creek names new winemaker
Mike Brunson is the new winemaker at Christopher Creek Winery in the Russian River Valley. Brunson was the winemaker and vineyard manager at Michel-Schlumberger for 16 years.
Silver Oak buys Sausal
The owners of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars purchased Sausal Vineyard and Winery in the Alexander Valley for an undisclosed price.
Peterson rejoins Napa Vintners
Becky Peterson has rejoined the Napa Valley Vintners group to serve as member and community relations director. Peterson worked for the vintners group from 1997 to 2005. Rex Stults is transitioning to the group’s new government relations director.
New director for ASEV
Leticia Chacon-Rodriguez from Treasury Wine Estates is the new board president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. James Kennedy of California State University, Fresno, is the new first vice president, and Lise Asimont of Francis Ford Coppola Winery is the new second vice president. Details: asev.org.
Treasury fills top Beringer role
John Grant is the new managing director for the Beringer Brand Business unit of Treasury Wine Estates. Grant will oversee the Beringer brand as well as Chateau St. Jean, Etude, Stags’ Leap and Be. wines.
Artesa appoints new winemaker
Dana Epperson is the new assistant winemaker for Artesa Vineyards & Winery as well as the new lead winemaker for Artesa’s second brand, Elements. Prior to joining Artesa, Epperson was an enologist for Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo.
Winemakers raise funds for clean water
Bob Levy, winemaker at Harlan and BOND, and Martha McClellan of Sloan and Checkerboard wineries, who also produce the Levy & McClellan brand, made a 2008 Napa Meritage wine labeled Wine to Water. Sales of the special release raised more than $122,000 to fund the construction of eight wells in Ethiopia to provide clean water to more than 10,000 people. Details: winetowater.org.
Link new president at Robert Young
Jessica Link is the new president of Robert Young Estate Winery in Geyserville. Link had been controller at Robert Young since 2007.
Fort Ross opens tasting room
Fort Ross Vineyard opened the first public tasting room in the Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area. The tasting room near Jenner will feature nine estate wines.
Christopher Creek names new winemaker
Mike Brunson is the new winemaker at Christopher Creek Winery in the Russian River Valley. Brunson was the winemaker and vineyard manager at Michel-Schlumberger for 16 years.
Silver Oak buys Sausal
The owners of Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars purchased Sausal Vineyard and Winery in the Alexander Valley for an undisclosed price.
Peterson rejoins Napa Vintners
Becky Peterson has rejoined the Napa Valley Vintners group to serve as member and community relations director. Peterson worked for the vintners group from 1997 to 2005. Rex Stults is transitioning to the group’s new government relations director.
New director for ASEV
Leticia Chacon-Rodriguez from Treasury Wine Estates is the new board president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. James Kennedy of California State University, Fresno, is the new first vice president, and Lise Asimont of Francis Ford Coppola Winery is the new second vice president. Details: asev.org.
Treasury fills top Beringer role
John Grant is the new managing director for the Beringer Brand Business unit of Treasury Wine Estates. Grant will oversee the Beringer brand as well as Chateau St. Jean, Etude, Stags’ Leap and Be. wines.
Artesa appoints new winemaker
Dana Epperson is the new assistant winemaker for Artesa Vineyards & Winery as well as the new lead winemaker for Artesa’s second brand, Elements. Prior to joining Artesa, Epperson was an enologist for Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo.
Winemakers raise funds for clean water
Bob Levy, winemaker at Harlan and BOND, and Martha McClellan of Sloan and Checkerboard wineries, who also produce the Levy & McClellan brand, made a 2008 Napa Meritage wine labeled Wine to Water. Sales of the special release raised more than $122,000 to fund the construction of eight wells in Ethiopia to provide clean water to more than 10,000 people. Details: winetowater.org.
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