News Briefs California
Jordan hires director of wine
Greg Miller is the new director of wine at Jordan Vineyard & Winery in the Alexander Valley. Miller will workin wine production, viticulture, hospitality, communications and sales. Prior to joining Jordan, Miller received an enology degree from the University of California, Davis, and won the Tastevin Scholarship internship at Maison Joseph Drouhin winery. Details: jordanwinery.com.
Copain Custom now Punchdown Cellars
Murano Group announced that its subsidiary, Santa Rosa-based Copain Custom Crush, now has the name Punchdown Cellars. The new name is part of a marketing effort that includes a stronger social media presence and a new website. Details: punchdowncellars.com.
Veteran Lake County commission leader departing
Shannon Gunier, who served 20 years with the Lake County Winegrape Commission, announced she would be leaving her post. Gunier said she would help find and train her replacement. During her time with the commission, the number of vineyard acres in Lake County grew from 3,000 to nearly 9,000. Details: lakecountywinegrape.org.
CADE announces new winemaker
Danielle Cyrot is the new winemaker at CADE Estate Winery in Napa following former winemaker Tony Biagi’s departure to Hourglass Wine Co. Prior to joining CADE, Cyrot was the winemaker at St. Clement Vineyards in St. Helena. Details: cadewinery.com.
West Coast Wine Partners form sales deal
Following its purchase of Valley of the Moon Winery and the Lake Sonoma Winery brand, West Coast Wine Partners of Napa has teamed with V2 Wine Group of Sonoma, which will handle the sales and distribution of the two brands. Details: v2winegroup.com.
Vintners make Asia trade visit
A delegation of more than 40 California vintners visited major cities in Asia during October. The tour, organized by the Wine Institute, made stops in Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China. The group represented a dozen California wine regions and showcased more than 110 brands at consumer, media and trade events. Details: discovercaliforniawines.com.
Pali Wine Co. opens tasting room
Pali Wine Co., a producer of vineyard-designate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Oregon and California, opened a new tasting room in Santa Barbara. The new tasting room is part of the city’s Urban Wine Trail, which features 17 other wineries. Details: paliwineco.com.
Opus One names international sales leader
Laurent Delassus is the new vice president of international sales and marketing for Opus One winery and will work out of the company’s new office in Bordeaux, France. Delassus is the former managing director for exports for the Bordeaux negociant Veyret-Latour. Details: opusonewinery.com.
Parallel adds business manager
Parallel Napa Valley winery hired Lindsay Faith Weinhold as manager of business development. Weinhold is the former director of hospitality and marketing for Von Strasser Winery.
Gary Farrell makes two hires
Stephanie Friedman is the new direct-sales manager and Andy Barker is the new tasting room manager for Gary Farrell Winery in the Russian River Valley. Friedman is the former director of sales and hospitality for Quivira Vineyards & Winery, and Barker worked in management for the Stellar Restaurant Group in Boston and the Union Square Hospitality Group in New York.
Hanzell hires sales and marketing manager
Christopher Huber is the new director of private client sales and marketing for Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma. Huber is the former manager of direct-to-consumer sales at Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley.
Mather joins Thornhill Cos.
Richard Mather is the new business manager of Central Coast Wine Services and Paso Robles Wine Services, two custom-crush wineries owned and operated by Thornhill Cos.
Adler Fels names new marketing manager
Debra Morris is the new marketing and public relations manager at Adler Fels Winery in Santa Rosa. Prior to joining Adler Fels, Morris was the beverage channel marketing manager for Longview Paper Co. Details: adlerfels.com.
Author releases guide to Napa Valley
Paul Franson, Wines & Vines’ senior correspondent and publisher of the NapaLife newsletter, has released his latest book, “The NapaLife Insider’s Guide to Napa Valley.” Franson said his new guide doesn’t “waste space” on details readily available online but offers unfettered and frank listings about the very best wineries, restaurants, hotels and other attractions in Napa Valley. Details: napalife.com.
Copain Custom now Punchdown Cellars
Murano Group announced that its subsidiary, Santa Rosa-based Copain Custom Crush, now has the name Punchdown Cellars. The new name is part of a marketing effort that includes a stronger social media presence and a new website. Details: punchdowncellars.com.
Veteran Lake County commission leader departing
Shannon Gunier, who served 20 years with the Lake County Winegrape Commission, announced she would be leaving her post. Gunier said she would help find and train her replacement. During her time with the commission, the number of vineyard acres in Lake County grew from 3,000 to nearly 9,000. Details: lakecountywinegrape.org.
CADE announces new winemaker
Danielle Cyrot is the new winemaker at CADE Estate Winery in Napa following former winemaker Tony Biagi’s departure to Hourglass Wine Co. Prior to joining CADE, Cyrot was the winemaker at St. Clement Vineyards in St. Helena. Details: cadewinery.com.
West Coast Wine Partners form sales deal
Following its purchase of Valley of the Moon Winery and the Lake Sonoma Winery brand, West Coast Wine Partners of Napa has teamed with V2 Wine Group of Sonoma, which will handle the sales and distribution of the two brands. Details: v2winegroup.com.
Vintners make Asia trade visit
A delegation of more than 40 California vintners visited major cities in Asia during October. The tour, organized by the Wine Institute, made stops in Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China. The group represented a dozen California wine regions and showcased more than 110 brands at consumer, media and trade events. Details: discovercaliforniawines.com.
Pali Wine Co. opens tasting room
Pali Wine Co., a producer of vineyard-designate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Oregon and California, opened a new tasting room in Santa Barbara. The new tasting room is part of the city’s Urban Wine Trail, which features 17 other wineries. Details: paliwineco.com.
Opus One names international sales leader
Laurent Delassus is the new vice president of international sales and marketing for Opus One winery and will work out of the company’s new office in Bordeaux, France. Delassus is the former managing director for exports for the Bordeaux negociant Veyret-Latour. Details: opusonewinery.com.
Parallel adds business manager
Parallel Napa Valley winery hired Lindsay Faith Weinhold as manager of business development. Weinhold is the former director of hospitality and marketing for Von Strasser Winery.
Gary Farrell makes two hires
Stephanie Friedman is the new direct-sales manager and Andy Barker is the new tasting room manager for Gary Farrell Winery in the Russian River Valley. Friedman is the former director of sales and hospitality for Quivira Vineyards & Winery, and Barker worked in management for the Stellar Restaurant Group in Boston and the Union Square Hospitality Group in New York.
Hanzell hires sales and marketing manager
Christopher Huber is the new director of private client sales and marketing for Hanzell Vineyards in Sonoma. Huber is the former manager of direct-to-consumer sales at Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley.
Mather joins Thornhill Cos.
Richard Mather is the new business manager of Central Coast Wine Services and Paso Robles Wine Services, two custom-crush wineries owned and operated by Thornhill Cos.
Adler Fels names new marketing manager
Debra Morris is the new marketing and public relations manager at Adler Fels Winery in Santa Rosa. Prior to joining Adler Fels, Morris was the beverage channel marketing manager for Longview Paper Co. Details: adlerfels.com.
Author releases guide to Napa Valley
Paul Franson, Wines & Vines’ senior correspondent and publisher of the NapaLife newsletter, has released his latest book, “The NapaLife Insider’s Guide to Napa Valley.” Franson said his new guide doesn’t “waste space” on details readily available online but offers unfettered and frank listings about the very best wineries, restaurants, hotels and other attractions in Napa Valley. Details: napalife.com.
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