News Briefs California
Riverbench hires new winemaker
Riverbench Vineyard & Winery, located in the Santa Maria Valley, hired Clarissa Nagy as winemaker. Before joining Riverbench, Nagy had been making wine for Bonaccorsi Wine Co. since 2006. Nagy replaces Chuck Ortman, who retired at the end of the 2011 season. Details: riverbench.com.
Clos Du Val promotes winemaker Clos Du Val Winery promoted Kristy Melton from assistant winemaker to winemaker at the Napa Valley winery. Melton, who was hired in 2010 to assist chief operating officer and head winemaker John Clews in an ongoing effort to modernize winemaking operations, will oversee the winery’s signature series of wines. Details: closduval.com.
Napa growers hire membership director The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) hired Bette Abbott as the organization’s new director of membership. Abbott will focus on all member outreach efforts, emphasizing the value of belonging to the winegrowing organization. Born and raised in St. Helena, Abbott previously owned and operated three retail stores. Details: napagrowers.org.
Growers honor John Kautz The California Association of Winegrape Growers presented its Grower of the Year Award to John Kautz, owner of Kautz Farms in Lodi. The association also honored Nat DiBuduo, president of the Allied Gape Growers, with its Leader of the Year award. Details: cawg.org.
CADE, Plumpjack name sales director PlumpJack and CADE wineries of the Napa Valley hired Sandra Roberts as director of sales. Roberts will be responsible for domestic sales, development of a sales and marketing plan and strategic sales for both wineries. Roberts comes to PlumpJack and CADE wineries after managing sales for Crimson Wine Group and its four wineries. Details: cadewinery.com, plumpjackwinery.com.
New owners acquire Limerick Lane Michael Collins sold his Healdsburg winery, Limerick Lane Cellars, to Jake and Alexis Bilbro of Healdsburg. Terms of the sale were not made public. The Bilbros will add their own 10 acres of vines to the estate’s existing 18 acres.
Clos Du Val promotes winemaker Clos Du Val Winery promoted Kristy Melton from assistant winemaker to winemaker at the Napa Valley winery. Melton, who was hired in 2010 to assist chief operating officer and head winemaker John Clews in an ongoing effort to modernize winemaking operations, will oversee the winery’s signature series of wines. Details: closduval.com.
Napa growers hire membership director The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) hired Bette Abbott as the organization’s new director of membership. Abbott will focus on all member outreach efforts, emphasizing the value of belonging to the winegrowing organization. Born and raised in St. Helena, Abbott previously owned and operated three retail stores. Details: napagrowers.org.
Growers honor John Kautz The California Association of Winegrape Growers presented its Grower of the Year Award to John Kautz, owner of Kautz Farms in Lodi. The association also honored Nat DiBuduo, president of the Allied Gape Growers, with its Leader of the Year award. Details: cawg.org.
CADE, Plumpjack name sales director PlumpJack and CADE wineries of the Napa Valley hired Sandra Roberts as director of sales. Roberts will be responsible for domestic sales, development of a sales and marketing plan and strategic sales for both wineries. Roberts comes to PlumpJack and CADE wineries after managing sales for Crimson Wine Group and its four wineries. Details: cadewinery.com, plumpjackwinery.com.
New owners acquire Limerick Lane Michael Collins sold his Healdsburg winery, Limerick Lane Cellars, to Jake and Alexis Bilbro of Healdsburg. Terms of the sale were not made public. The Bilbros will add their own 10 acres of vines to the estate’s existing 18 acres.
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