WBM_2023_September

Design Award Winners

THE MERVEILLEUSE COLLECTION

THE ART OF DEFYING NORMS WITH ELEGANCE

The Bourgogne MERVEILLEUSE possesses voluptuous curves that catch everyone’s eye. A legacy of traditional shapes is combined with a creative, unique design, resulting in a completely reimagined silhouette. Bordeaux MERVEILLEUSE is a feast for the eyes and promises a sensational taste! This bold bottle design will complement any marvellous wine looking for a vessel to re ect their sensory masterpiece.

Innovation in Design and the Vineyard

WINEBUSINESS MONTHLY

September 2023 • Volume XXX No. 9

Editor Cyril Penn

Managing Editor Erin Kirschenmann

Assistant Editor Katherine Martine

PWV Editor Don Neel

Eastern Editor Linda Jones McKee

Copy Editor Paula Whiteside

Contributors L.M. Archer, Bryan Avila, Richard Carey, Christopher Chen, W. Blake Gray, Mark Greenspan, Michael S. Lasky

Design & Production Sharon Harvey

Director, Analytics Group Alan Talbot

Editor, Wine Analytics Report Andrew Adams

Events Director: Danielle Robb

Web Developers Burke Pedersen, Peter Scarborough

Marketing Specialist Katie Hannan

President & Publisher Eric Jorgensen

Associate Publisher & Vice President of Sales

Tamara Leon

ADVERTISING

Account Executives Hooper Jones, Laura Lemos, Ashley Powell

Account Support Representative Aidan O’Mara

ADMINISTRATION

Vice President – Data Management Lynne Skinner

Project Manager, Circulation Liesl Stevenson

Financial Controller Katie Kohfeld

Data Group Program Manager Rachel Cunningham

Research Assistant Sara Jennings

Public Relations Mary Jorgensen

Chairman Hugh Tietjen

Publishing Consultant Ken Koppel

Commercial Advisor Dave Bellon

For editorial or advertising inquiries, call 707-940-3920 or email info@winebusiness.com

Copyright 2022 Wine Communications Group, Inc.

Short passages can be quoted without permission but only if the information is attributed to WineBusiness Monthly

WineBusiness Monthly is distributed through an audited circulation. Those interested in subscribing for $39/year, or $58 for 2 years, call 800-895-9463 or subscribe online at subs.winebusiness.com. You may also fill out the card in this magazine and send it in.

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perfection.

Aaron Pott

vintner, Pott Wine, “Winemaker Trial: Aging Natural Wine in Amphora and Barrel” , page 12

“This wine has a fresh edge to it where so many of these natural wines have some serious microbial problems with them. As a wine lover, I love it because its f-ing good. It starts out smelling like a bear cave shortly before it bursts open with flavor.”

John Roncoroni

UC Cooperative Extension Weed Science Farm Advisor, Emeritus, “Best Weed Management Practices for Winegrape Vineyards”, page 22 “When using conventional herbicides, it’s important that you use them judiciously. Make sure that the herbicide you use will be effective on the problem weeds. Use them at the proper timing for the best control. Use enough to be effective without using more than needed.”

Chris Lueck

founder and president, BIG Recyclers’ program, “New Winery Glass Recycling Outreach Programs to Capture Glass Bound for Landfills”, page 58

NEW TEXT TK

“What we’re trying to develop is a system where we can begin to promote a truly circular economy that is wine-bottle specific.”

Adam Beak

managing director, BMO Wine Division, “SVB Acquisition Just One of Many Bank Deals”, page 66

“After the past year, it’s become apparent that we’re back to our historical market which only fluctuates a couple of percentage points a year.”

Ray Rouleau

Vermont Information Processing (VIP) “VIP Rolling Out Updated Reporting System”, page 82

“The transparency and real-time nature of the information exchange allows the wineries to work within the market with their distributors. Looking forward, our goal is to help wineries with national account execution, better price alignment with their wholesalers and better forecasting to assist with supply chain.”

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Marchesi Frescobaldi Acquires Domaine Roy & fils

Marchesi Antinori Completes Acquisition of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars from Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

Rack & Riddle Acquires Weibel Family Winery

Paso Robles CAB Collective Earns Conservation Agriculture Planning Grant

Spring Mountain Vineyard Sold for Millions After Lengthy Bankruptcy Proceedings

WINEMAKER TRIAL

Aging Natural Wine in Amphora and Barrel

Bryan Avila

TRIAL LEAD: AARON POTT, VINTNER, POTT WINE

For natural wine lovers, these wines represent a true artistic expression of the vintner coupled with a pure, un-adulterated product of nature with no additives. These wines are often bottled in flint glass, boldly displaying their non-conformance. To others, they are abrasive, unrefined and unpredictable wines with aromas ranging from fresh fruits to nail polish or burnt hair. The struggle with natural wines is that they are often still biologically active by the time they are bottled. This means that, like raw kombucha or dairy products, natural wine’s oxidation state, microbial stability and, most importantly, flavor profile are a constantly moving target. It is very common to find microbial aromas, such as nail polish, rotten eggs or mercaptans, in natural wines, the bane of the trained winemaker or afficionado. In this article, cult vintner/winemaker Aaron Pott recognizes the allure and challenges of natural wine and puts his own spin on the category with his natural wine label, Agnès Sorel. It’s an exploration that compares two vessel types, amphora and barrel, and their flavor profiles versus their oxidative and microbial characteristics.

TRIAL OBJECTIVE:

In 2007, Pott teamed up with his wife Claire to create Pott Wine, a Napa Valley label produced, in part, from the couple’s 200-acre vineyard property on Mt. Veeder. He continues to consult for a limited number of Napa Valley producers, among them Blackbird Vineyards, Seven Stones Winery, Greer Wines, Perliss Vineyards, St. Helena Winery and Fe Vineyards.

BACKGROUND:

TRIAL DESCRIPTION:

A vintner compares the microbial ecology and oxidative impact between amphora and barrel when no sulfur is added to grapes and during aging on Mt. Veeder Cabernet Franc.

This

section sheds light on how real-world producers use their experience, scientific knowledge and systems-based thinking to evaluate new solutions fit for commercial-scale production. These articles provide a brief trial summary with context and an interview with the trial lead to help spread the word about current work occurring in the United States’ wine industry. Articles spotlight innovative solutions coming from academia, consultants, suppliers and production teams. Bryan Avila is the co-founder of the Vintners Institute, Guild & Academy. Want to see your trial here? Share your trial at: vintnersinstitute.com/trialsandtroubleshoots

FIGURE 1: Rousseau open-top fermenter.

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vs.

Aging Natural Wine in Amphora and Barrel

After eight months of aging in their respective vessels, the baseline barrel with sulfites added contained a VA level that was on par with the amphora. The natural wine barrel was 20% higher than the sulfited control and the amphora. This may imply that the amphora’s surface may be more cleanable than the barrel, underscoring the investment of time spent on diligent sanitation. The Scorpion microbial analysis helps tell this story about why the two natural wines were so different. While each treatment showed evidence of the same types of microorganisms, the barrel-aged natural wines showed higher

levels of both acetic acid bacteria and lactic acid bacteria. Both are bacteria known to cause an elevation in VA.

This knowledge is important because it provides the natural winemaker with insights into the types of processing tools and sanitation practices that can be employed when making natural wine. This is important because when only pressed grape juice and a smidge of sulfites are allowed, it helps to know how a wine style can be influenced to deliver a palatable style with some level of control.

According to Aaron, “You can see that the amphora is much cleaner and that the acidity and pH differ as well.” The amphora turned out to be a cleaner option, but the oak added density and dimension to the wines, resulting in more intrigue in the final blended product.

FIGURE 4

FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 2: Neutral oak barrels FIGURE 3: 400-liter Gusmano Manetti amphora with the red arrow pointing to the Ersatz patron Saint of Cabernet Franc known as Franc-y.

FIGURE 5: Oxidative impact quantified as volatile acidity

FIGURE 6: Microbial load assessment via ETS Labs Scorpion Analyses.

FIGURE 4: The results of standard aging analyses after eight months of aging.

CRUSH

BARREL & BULK STORAGE

CANNING & BOTTLING

WINE & BEVERAGE

Email: matthew@bintobottle.com

Phone: 707-492-5270

Post-Mort Q&A

What was the motivation to conduct this trial? Why were you interested in evaluating natural wine?

Which grape varieties did you study? Why did you pick those?

How did you design your experiment? What parameters did you measure?

Who else worked with you on this trial?

What were the team’s initial hypotheses before beginning the experiment?

How did you evaluate or measure the effectiveness of the application(s)? What was the most important outcome of the trial that winemakers can use?

“Bin To Bottle is a true onestop shop. e winemaking team has done and seen it all before, and this gives me the con dence to lean on their knowledge, understanding, and expertise with harvest, aging, and bottling logistics. I appreciate that they love small brands and support the requirements of making quality wines in an energetic and garagiste style.”

Dan Petroski Massican Wines

CUSTOM

Were the results as you predicted or did anything unexpected occur?

Aging Natural Wine in Amphora and Barrel

Do you plan to conduct a follow-up trial to re-test these results?

What are your next steps in regard to natural wine?

On the other hand, I don’t think that sulfites are an evil entity. They are a very strong antimicrobial; but when used, you can lose some of the zeitgeist of the wine. Also, natural wines don’t age well. Spoilage microbes can make a lot of histamines and aldehydes, which are more likely to give someone a headache than sulfites. WBM

References:

1. academieduvinlibrary.com/natural-wine-from-counterculture-to-mainstream/

What was your and your team’s impression of the resulting wines in each vessel?

2. Raw Wine Charter of Quality: https://www.rawwine.com/charter-of-quality

Why Aren’t There More Bioherbicides to Replace Problematic Chemicals?

Pam Marrone, Ph.D.

Pam Marrone is the executive chair and co-founder of the Invasive Species Corporation.

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Each of our national print magazines is published six times a year and is free to qualified professionals currently employed in the hospitality industry.

For more information, contact publisher/editor-in-chief Meridith May at MMay@SommJournal.com.

Why Aren’t There More Bioherbicides to Replace Problematic Chemicals?

Summary and Conclusions

References

1. F.E. Dayan, D.K. Owens, S.B. Watson, R.N. Asolkar and L.G. Boddy (2015). Sarmentine, a natural herbicide from Piper species with multiple herbicide mechanisms of action. Frontiers in Plant Science. 6: Article 222.

2. F. E. Dayan, S.O. Duke (2014) Natural compounds as next-generation herbicides, Plant Physiology, 166(3): 1090-1105.

3. Duke, S.O. (2012) Why have no new herbicide modes of action appeared in recent years? Pest Manag. Sci. 68:505-512.

4. Duke, S.O., F.E. Dayan, L.G. Boddy, R.N. Asolkar, D.K. Owens, Z. Pan, J. BajsaHirschel, C.A. Carbonari and G.L.G.C. Gomes (2020) Modes of action of two natural herbicides in the bioherbicide MBI-014, Weed Science Society of America Meeting, March 4, 2020.

5. Duke, S.O. and F.E Dayan. 2022. New herbicide modes of action for new commercial herbicides – Searching for the “Holy Grail”. Pest Manag. Sci. 78:13031313.

6. S.O. Duke, Z. Pan, J. Bajsa-Hirschel, F.E. Dayan and L.G. Boddy (2019) A new herbicide mode of action from a bioherbicide component, Spliceostatin C. 14th Internat. IUPAC Cong. Crop Protect. – May 23, 2019, Ghent, Belgium.

7. Eckelkamp, M. (2021) Bigger future for biologicals, AgWeb July 22, 2021, www. agweb.com/news/business/technology/bigger-future-biologicals

8. International Herbicide Resistance Weed database (2021) www.weedscience.org/ Home.aspx.

9. Marrone, P.G., Status of the biopesticide market and prospects for new bioherbicides (2023). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ps.7403.

10. Marrone, P.G., Prospects for Bioherbicides. Outlooks Pest Manag, 32: pp. 214-217 (2021).

11. Pucci, J. and E. Sfiligoj (2021) Herbicide-resistant weed struggle unmatched in U.S. agriculture, Agribusiness Global, 6 July 2021. www.agribusinessglobal.com/ agrochemicals/herbicides/herbicide-resistant-weed-struggle-unmatched-in-u-sagriculture/

12. Westwood, J, R. Charudattan, S. Duke, S. Fennimore, P. Marrone, D. Slaughter and R. Zollinger (2018) Weed management in 2050: perspectives on the future of weed science. Weed Science, 66 (3): 275-285.

13. Wolfe, J.C., J.C. Neal, C.D. Harlow and T.W. Gannon (2016) E icacy of the bioherbicide Thaxtomin A on smooth crabgrass and annual bluegrass and safety in cool-season turfgrasses. Weed Technology 30:733-742.

Best Weed Management Practices for Winegrape Vineyards

Late spring at McNab Ranch, Bonterra Organic Estates vineyard Block #8 Cabernet Sauvignon, located in Mendocino County. Two non-till systems implementing Pellenc undervine cultivation as a method of organic weed suppression."

MARYBETH BENTWOOD

Management Practices

Practices

Take-aways

Author’s Note: I would like to thank my colleagues, local pest control advisors, research cooperators, winegrape growing organizations, viticulturalists and vineyard managers, and experienced practitioners of many of these methods of weed management for allowing me to learn from them in developing these best management practices and share them with others.

LEASING

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CUSTOM LABELS

We can work with you to create a custom label for a completely unique wine that you can sell, gift or use for promotional purposes. We have access to a range of world-class white, red and rosé wines that can be bottled in different sizes and quantities to suit your tastes.

SHINERS

Ask about our bottled inventory of high quality wines from our farmed vineyards available for your creative use.

Recurring Benefits of Spatial Agriculture and Digital Biology

Richard Carey

Plant Water Movements

BOX 1 : Pascal (Pa) a Standard International unit (SI) unit of pressure. Pounds per square inch (psi) is a non-SI unit of pressure commonly used in the United States.

To convert pascal to psi, you can use the following conversion formula:

1 psi = 6894.75729 Pa. or 6.89 MPa.

Therefore, 1 Pa is equal to 0.000145037738 psi. You may see this number representing the pressure of one atmosphere of pressure.

Recurring Benefits of Spatial Agriculture and Digital Biology

The Need for a Digital Pressure Bomb

FIGURE 1: This detailed design shows a microtensiometer with functional parts.

FIGURE 2: An example of the continuous stem potential measurements with the microtensiometer in a grapevine in California with concurrent pressure chamber stem potential readings (dots). A direct field calibration of the sensor was made with the first two pressure chamber readings after installation. Sensor installation made by M. Santiago and pressure chamber data from K. Shackel and V. Volkov.

processing,bottling,labelingandmoreforwine, beer, spirits, & cider

FIGURE 3: An installed FloraPulse microtensiometer on a grapevine

FIGURE 4: A FloraPulse microtensiometer installed on a grapevine with its protection materials and its connection with the data collection and transmission equipment.

FIGURE 5: Seasonal patterns of (a) vapor pressure deficit (VPD), (b, c) total water incident (irrigation + precipitation), (d) soil moisture (as volumetric water content, VWC) and (e) trunk water potentials (trunk) for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapevines during the 2020-21 season. Approximate phenological stages are shown on top of VPD graph: FL = flowering; BC = bunch closure; V = veraison; PH = approximately one week pre-harvest.

Microtensiometer Development

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FIGURE

FIGURE 6: Diurnal patterns of VPD, PAR, trunk, stem, leaf water potentials and leaf stomatal conductance (gs) on low- and high-VPD days for Shiraz (SHI) and Cabernet Sauvignon (CAS) grapevines.

FIGURE 7: The photo on the left is the original size FloraPulse microtensiometer. The center image shows the new microtensiometer in position on a grapevine that is connected to the data transmitter. The right has the small unit installed.

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 3

FIGURE

FIGURE 6 Ψ

References

1. Pagay, V., M. Santiago, D. A. Sessoms, E. J. Huber, O. Vincent, A. Pharkya, T. N. Corso, A. N. Lakso and A. D. Stroock. (May 2014) “A Microtensiometer Capable of Measuring Water Potentials Below -10 MPa.” Royal Society of Chemistry

2. Black, II, W. L., M. Santiago, S. Zhu and A. D. Stroock. (July 2020) “Ex Situ and In Situ Measurement of Water Activity with a MEMS Tensiometer.” Analytical Chemistry .2020, 92, 716-723.

3. Lakso, A. N., S Zhu, M. Santiago, K. Shackel, V. Volkov and A. D. Stroock. (2022) “A Microtensiometer Sensor to Continuously Monitor Stem Water Potenials in Woody Plants – Design and Field Testing.” Acta Hortic. 1335. ISHS 2022. DOI 10.17660/ ActaHortic.2022.1335.39.

4. Pagay, V.. (2021) “Evaluating a Novel Microtensiometer for Continuous Trunk Water Potential Measurements in Field-grown Irrigated Grapevines.” Irrigation Science 2022, 40:45-54.

5. Blanco, V., L. Kalcsits (2021) “Microtensiometers Accurately Measure Stem Water Potential in Woody Perennials.” Plants 2021, 10, 2780. https://dpo/prg/10.3390/ plants10122780

6. Luo, Y., C-L. Ho, B. R. Helliker and E. Katifori. (2021) “Leaf Water Storage and Robustness to Intermittent Drought: A Spatially Explicit Capacitive Model for Leaf Hydraulics.” Frontiers in Plant Science 12:725995, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.725995.

7. Jain, P., W. Liu, S. Zhu, C. Y-Y. Chang, J. Melkonian, F.E. Rockwell, M. A. Gore and A. D. Stroock. (2021) “A Minimally Disruptive Method for Measuring Water Potential in Plants Using Hydrogel Nanoreporters.” PNAS 2021. 118, 23, e2008376118. https:// doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2008276118

2023 PACK Design Awards

Classic Luxury Redesign Non-glass Series

Erin Kirschenmann

Verallia'scommitments forasustainablefuture

-46%*

reductionin2030for scope1&2 CO2emissions vs2019

<40%

scope3 emissionsbelow 40%oftotalCO2emissions in2030 in2050 for scope1&2 CO2 emissions

*Validatedby ScienceBasedTargetsforscope 1&2(inabsolutevalue)

Best Classic Format Design

1st PLACE

Bonny Doon

2022 Clairette Blanche

$14.99

WINERY DESCRIPTION: Having perfect clarity is as rare as a good wine. Fortunately for the DEWN wine club, Bonny Doon delivered both. Keeping one’s eye open to all that can be is the purpose of this spirited wine. The design encircles the concept of clarity in optical vision as well as mental clarity. The textures and line work add the nuance of time and the distinct typography speaks to eras of fortune tellers and diviners, or the search for Perfect Clairetty: In the case of our wine, “lightness captured in glass”.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“As usual, Bonny Doon has produced something unique and unusual and representative of the playfulness of the brand.”

“Classic Bonny Doon- I love labels that make you think and then when you connect the dots... you smile. Brilliant.”

“Back label content is strong.”

“What are you going to do with Randall Grahm, who manages to fit Goethe and Gone with the Wind (and himself!) on the back label? And multiple dimensions of the clarity concept on the front? I think you give into him. I'm guessing this is catnip to his fans, and I, for one, would love to taste this.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: WarRoom Cellars

DESIGNER: Motif Designs

BOTTLE VENDOR: O-I

CLOSURE VENDOR: Ramondin USA, Inc.

LABEL VENDOR: All American Labels

Best Classic Format Design

2nd PLACE

Sunny with a Chance of Flowers

Rosé

$19.99

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“I think this package tells you everything you need to know about the wine. It's perfectly clear about what it is, down to the carb and protein counts.”

“I like the reference to the low ABV on front label.”

“Labels are appropriate for the target customer.”

“This wine knows who it's for. :)”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Scheid Family Wines

DESIGNER: Jess Giambroni/ Theresa Scripps

BOTTLE VENDOR: Ardagh Glass Packaging – North America

CLOSURE VENDOR: Star Crowns Packaging

LABEL VENDOR: G3 Label—Tapp Napa

3rd PLACE

One Stone Cellars

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon

$20

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“There's a lovely relationship here between the art and the cause. I love that it's handsome and striking, not some misguided concept of ‘feminine.’"

“Love the mission, the use of a female artist's original art to deliver on same, etc.”

“I can't imagine any of my friends not picking up this bottle if they saw it on a shelf or at the table. It feels modern and gives the impression of being a high-quality wine for this price point.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Ancient Peaks Winery

BOTTLE VENDOR: TricorBraun WinePak

CLOSURE VENDOR: Amcor

LABEL VENDOR: MCC Label (Multi-Color Corp)

Best Luxury Package Design

1st PLACE

Round Pond Estate

2021 Honouren Cabernet Sauvignon

$100

WINERY DESCRIPTION: In tribute to our founder, Honouren is a commemorative label showcasing portraits submitted by our Round Pond community of those living with, or lost to, Alzheimer’s Disease. It is our hope that by doing so, we will be able to honor loved ones and also remind families that they are not alone. This is our way of bringing together community and raising vital funds for the fight.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Like the concept!”

“Great combination of string cause marketing with an alluring package.”

“A touching tribute! On the packaging: everything that any consumer would need to make an informed purchase is on the front and back label.”

“I would normally see a collage of photos as a jumble, but this is sweet and meaningful. It works because of the clear and heartfelt family message on the back.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

DESIGNER: Buro

BOTTLE VENDOR: Encore Glass

CLOSURE VENDOR: Portocork America

CAPSULE VENDOR: Amcor

LABEL VENDOR: MCC Label (Multi-Color Corp.)

Best Luxury Package Design

2nd PLACE

Fuyu No Tsuki

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Dessert Wine

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“Definitely a unique presentation for dessert wine. Feels whimsical while conveying quality.”

“Elegant and clean with bottle shape alluding to a tawny port bottle.”

“I love this whole package! The rabbit—and the bottle—are adorable. And the details have a clear and appropriate audience in mind, who will "get" them. I'm not in that audience, but I'd like to taste this wine too!”

CONTRIBUTORS:

DESIGNER: Joey Ovenstone

BOTTLE VENDOR: Global Package

CLOSURE VENDOR: Vinolok

LABEL VENDOR: MCC Label (Multi-Color Corp.)

3rd PLACE

Presqu'ile Winery

2021 Pinot Noir $62

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“Could see folks looking at this for quite some time. The detail and texture is interesting.”

“Love the visual cues to sense of place.”

“Lovely! Dig the map on the front label, the story on the back label, and the holistic come together of the package.”

“A vineyard map is pretty inside baseball for a front label!”

CONTRIBUTORS:

DESIGNER: Leo Basica

BOTTLE VENDOR: TricorBraun WinePak

CLOSURE VENDOR: ACIC Cork and Closures

CAPSULE VENDOR: Cork Supply USA

LABEL VENDOR: MCC Label (Multi-Color Corp.)

Best Series Category

1st PLACE Métier

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Red Blend

$20-$30

WINERY DESCRIPTION: Métier translates as cra , trade or forte. DeLille Cellars collaborated with Seattle artist Becca Fuhrman to create artistic designs that celebrate the undeniable human presence in winemaking. e sun and moon iconography tie in connection to the land and the notion of diurnal shi , which creates ideal growing conditions throughout Washington state's Columbia Valley AVA. Métier is available in 20 states and four countries and is rapidly growing since the wine's rst release in 2022.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“I like that these feel as if they could stand alone but still make sense in a set.”

“Love the concept.”

CONTRIBUTORS

WINERY: DeLille Cellars

DESIGNER: Internal

BOTTLE VENDOR: Pioneer Packaging

CLOSURE VENDOR: G3 Enterprises

LABEL VENDOR: Leading Edge Labels

65 Years of California Pure

Gallo Glass has been proudly supporting California’s wine industry for 65 years. Our bottles are made with up to 70% recycled glass and California-sourced raw materials. We’re committed to providing our customers with the highest levels of service and stability by investing in best-in-class quality, e iciency, and sustainable manufacturing. We are here for your long-term supply needs and o er a broad range of color and bottle selections that continue to serve California’s wine industry.

Best Series Category

2nd PLACE

e Ordinary Fellow

$115/750ml 4pack

WINERY DESCRIPTION: A base label with hidden imagery and a story is overlaid by a rotating sleeve with die cuts set to reveal hidden art components and hidden descriptors that complete sentences.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“It works well as a group and plays off itself nicely.”

“This is fun! I might want to know a little more about the wine, but this offers enough reason to pull the bottles off the shelf.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: The Ordinary Fellow

BOTTLE VENDOR: Saverglass

CLOSURE VENDOR: Scott Laboratories

LABEL VENDOR: Eurostampa

3rd PLACE

Precept Wine

Bar West

$14.99

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “I do like the traditional minimalistic approach typically used on this style of bottle. The use of color is great.”

“The packaging is more upscale than most all in the category, with the twin-top finishes on more spirit'y bottles.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

DESIGNER: Precept Wine

BOTTLE VENDOR: Ardagh Glass Packaging - North America

CLOSURE VENDOR: Tallis

CAPSULE VENDOR: Maverick Enterprise, Inc.

LABEL VENDOR: Trysk Print Solutions

Best Redesign Category 1st PLACE

Bien Nacido Black Label

2021 Pinot Noir "The Captain"

$125

WINERY DESCRIPTION: We created a new design that is sophisticated, elegant, and timeless, while paying homage to the iconic adobe house located on the vineyard. Our label features gold-foiled embossing on premium paper, with a double layer to emphasize the luxury nature of the brand. With a two-part design that elegantly complements the classic burgundy bottle with its gold capsule, it exudes a timeless elegance that creates a premium and high-class look, positioning the Estate Tier wines on the top shelf where they belong.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“This does bring the top tier of Bien Nacido up-to-date. They went with classic, which seems appropriate for the price. Nice.”

“This looks much more expensive than the original.”

“The use of black and gold in the redesign makes a huge difference. Feels much more elegant.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Miller Family Wine Company

DESIGNER: Jordan Jelev, the Labelmaker

BOTTLE VENDOR: Encore Glass

CLOSURE VENDOR: UFS Natural Cork by Scott Labs

CAPUSLE VENDOR: Tin by ACIC

LABEL VENDOR: Printing House Daga LLC

Best Redesign Category

2nd PLACE

Harney Lane

Old Vine Zinfandel

$44

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“This is a great new look for Harney Lane. The design is nuanced but modern and elegant.”

“Successfully done...”

“Definitely feels more modern.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Harney Lane Winery

DESIGNER: Affinity Creative Group

BOTTLE VENDOR: Spirited Packaging

CLOSURE: G3

CAPSULE VENDOR: Rivercap

LABEL VENDOR: ASL Print FX

3rd PLACE

Island Grove Wine Company

$12.99

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“The new package is way more appealing—from modern label to bottle shape.”

“The move to a form of bikini label with an information-packed lower half brings more gravitas.”

“Much better than original.”

“Much, much cleaner design.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Island Grove Wine Co.

BOTTLE VENDOR: O-I

CLOSURE VENDOR: Waterloo Container Co.

LABEL VENDOR: In Touch Label Solutions

Best Non-Glass Category 1st PLACE

Really Good Boxed Wine

$65/3L

WINERY DESCRIPTION: Our thoughtfully designed, fully-recyclable packaging bridges innovation and a deep respect for traditional winemaking, featuring an abstract vineyard pattern on natural kra with a bold, color-contrasting label that evokes modernism. Structurally, it’s designed to be the height/width of a burgundy bottle. And with key consumer information front-facing—vintage, varietal, region, and brand—it ts seamlessly (and disruptively) in a bottle section with wines of comparable quality.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“Appreciate the amount of info on the side of the box.”

“Interesting attempt at high-end box wines. Need more of these.”

“Well done! Ample quality cues with humor... and the green element of being fully recyclable is great. Nice pairing pointers and bulleted tasting notes.”

“They've named what we've all been waiting for! I think the recyclable box has a huge future in wine, and I like that this has a natural look and feel. Kudos to them.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Really Good Boxed Wine

DESIGNER: Maker Creative

CONTAINER VENDOR: Mission Packaging

LABEL VENDOR: Mission Packaging

Best Non-Glass Category

2nd PLACE

Flybird Cocktails

$13.99/250ml 4pack

JUDGES’ COMMENTS:

“Never seen anything like this but can't imagine folks not picking up this package and turning it around. Fun, unique presentation.”

“The reusable shot glasses seem like a positive step—if they function well in re-use, and people follow through. This is innovative! And affordable. There's not a wonderful explanation of what the beverage is, but there's no mystery about when you should pour it!”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Don Sebastiani & Sons

DESIGNER: Chad Vaughan

CONTAINER VENDOR: One87 Wine and Cocktails, LLC

LABEL VENDOR: G3 Label—Tapp Napa

4-PACK CARRIER & MASTER PRINTER: Pacific Southwest Container

SHOT GLASS: Field Manufacturing Corp.

3rd PLACE

Underwood

Rosé Bubbles

$7/12oz

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Different look for the Underwood can. Fun design.”

“Love the concept of hiking with cans.”

“I like the concept a lot. I don't get the specifics of this vista or the scenery illustrated, but I like the spirit of this.”

CONTRIBUTORS:

WINERY: Union Wine Co.

CONTAINER VENDOR: Ball Corp.

New Winery Glass Recycling Outreach Programs to Capture Glass Bound for Landfills

Recycling Benefits of Alcoholic Beverage Glass

IN CHICAGO: MORE THAN 100 PARTICIPATING BARS AND RESTAURANTS

Pam Strayer

EASTERN WASHINGTON WINERIES LOWER LANDFILL BILLS BY RECYCLING LOCALLY

Tragedy and Resolve of 2020 Memorialized in Bottle Art

PACKAGING VENDORS

CANARD VINEYARDS

Andrew Adams

M. A. Silva has been our partner for years. Their customer service leads the way, creating a true connection between sales and fulfillment. We have been very happy with their quality, and deep connections in the industry.

— Anne Fogerty, Assistant Winemaker, Rivers-Marie Wines

Retail Sales Analysis

Retail Wine Sales Decline 1 Percentin June

WineBusiness Analytics

SALES VALUE DOWN 1 PERCENT IN JUNE

SALES VOLUME DOWN 4 PERCENT IN JUNE

Source: NIQ Latest 4 weeks—ended Jun 17

CABERNET SAUVIGNON STARES DOWN CONTENDERS

Source: NIQ Latest 52 weeks—ended Jun 17

Methodology

Sourced from NIQ, these figures represent o -premise retailer wine sales to the consumer aggregated across a variety of channels nationwide, including grocery, drug, mass merchandisers, convenience, dollar, military, as well as a selection of warehouse clubs, and liquor channel geographies and liquor channel retail chains. NIQ figures are updated and released every four weeks.

Produced by WineBusiness Analytics, the Wine Analytics Report is the industry’s leading source of market insights, objective analysis and data.

NIQ Table Wine Category Segments

SVB Acquisition Just One of Many Bank Deals

Mergers and Acquisitions Change Top Financial Firms Serving the Wine Industry

Andrew Adams

Andrew Adams is the editor of the Wine Analytics Report and was a writer and editor at Wines & Vines magazine for nearly a decade. Adams grew up in the city of Sonoma, Calif. and graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism. In addition to working at daily newspapers for more than a decade, Adams worked in the cellar and lab at the former Starmont winery in Napa Valley.

Want

Ask

If you don’t think a bank can help you optimize growth, minimize risk and help your winery flourish, maybe it’s time to bank differently.

At Comerica, we’ve become the Leading Bank for Business by providing more than just banking basics, because we’re not just business bankers. We’re business financial advisors, here to help plan, guide and consult.

With a $350 million wine industry portfolio, nearly 150 years of experience and the industry-specific knowledge your wine business needs, we can help you grow and protect the fruits of your labor.

Bank Failures and Acquisitions

“There are few (if any) good reasons to keep money in excess of the $250,000 FDIC insurance limits in your bank. Some businesses may need to keep larger balances in their bank accounts to cover daily transactions, but they should be intelligently allocating their money among banks and other investments in a prudent way, both to manage risk and maximize their earnings.”

Gregory Germain, professor of law at Syracuse University, in a university statement

SVB Acquisition Just One of Many BankDeals

•First Citizens Bank acquired Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023. The Silicon Valley Bank brand is now the name of the division of First Citizens Bank that services the wine industry.

•BMO bought Bank of the West from BNP Paribas in February 2023.

•JP Morgan Chase acquired First Republic Bank in May 2023 and has announced it does not plan on continuing to use the First Republic Bank brand.

•Farm Credit West and Northwest Farm Credit Services merged in January 2023, to become AgWest Farm Credit.

•Umpqua Bank acquired Columbia Bank in March 2023 and will operate under the Umpqua Bank brand as one of the largest banks in the United States headquartered on the West Coast.

•U.S. Bank acquired Union Bank in February 2023

LEADING FINANCIAL COMPANIES SERVING THE WINE INDUSTRY

BMO NORTH AMERICA

COMERICA

F&M BANK

AGWEST FARM CREDIT

BANK OF AMERICA

RABOBANK

BANK OF THE SIERRA

INSURANCE COMPANIES

JOHN HANCOCK FINANCIAL SERVICES

SILICON VALLEY BANK, DIV. OF FIRST CITIZENS

EXCHANGE BANK

PGIM (PRUDENTIAL)

METLIFE AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENTS/FINANCE

MECHANICS BANK

U.S. BANK

WELLS FARGO

UMPQUA BANK

FARM CREDIT SYSTEM

AMERICAN AGCREDIT

SBA LENDER

LIVE OAK BANK

BANK OF MARIN

BUYER’S GUIDE Select Winery Lending Vendors

This list of select vendors is generated using the WineBusiness Buyer’s Guide.

AgWest Farm Credit

Spokane, WA | (866) 552-9172 | agwestfc.com

American AgCredit

Santa Rosa, CA | (800) 800-4865 | agloan.com

BMO

San Francisco, CA | (415) 354-7509 | bmoharris.com/wine

Founded in 1916, American AgCredit is part of the nationwide Farm Credit System, and is the nation’s fifth largest Farm Credit cooperative. American AgCredit specializes in providing financial services to agricultural and rural customers throughout California, Hawaii, Nevada, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico – as well as to capital markets customers throughout the country. We offer a broad range of agricultural loan, leasing and insurance services from orchard, timber, row crops, winery and livestock financing to equipment leasing and construction financing.

See our ad page 77

Baker Boyer Bank

Walla Walla, WA | (509) 525-2000 | bakerboyer.com

Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Santa Rosa, CA | (707) 293-2553 | baml.com

Bank of Marin

Napa, CA | (707) 265-2022 | bankofmarin.com/wine

Whatever your size, product portfolio or geographic coverage, every wine producer, wholesaler and distributor needs a financial partner that understands the factors that can impact their business. From emerging consumer trends and industry consolidation, to commodity fluctuations and economic cyclicality, our experienced team of specialists understands how these factors affect your business and are ready to help. With over 30 years of sector focus and a national presence, we have a track record of bringing proven solutions across a wide range of capital structures and economic cycles.

See our ad page 70

Capital Farm Credit

Austin, TX | (866) 886-4425 | capitalfarmcredit.com

CoBank

Denver, CO | (800) 542-8072 | cobank.com

Comerica Bank

San Francisco, CA | (415) 954-0830 | comerica.com

Energized by the great work of our wine customers and committed to doing our part to help them grow, we have just the right tools and expertise to deliver creative and flexible solutions that address your unique and often complex business challenges. With assets of $2.5 billion and 24 offices in Napa, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco and Alameda counties, Bank of Marin remains deeply committed to investing in Bay Area businesses. To discuss our many customized financial products for wine-related businesses, contact anyone on our wine industry team today.

See our ad page 71

Bank of the Finger Lakes

Geneva, NY | (315) 789-1500 | wayne.bank/?location=BOFL

Bank of the Sierra

San Luis Obispo, CA | (805) 431-4801 | bankofthesierra.com

Bank of the West (BMO)

Napa, CA | (707) 501-5150 | bankofthewest.com

Banner Bank

Walla Walla, WA | (509) 527-3636 | bannerbank.com

At Comerica, we’ve become the Leading Bank for Business by providing more than just banking basics, because we’re not just business bankers. We’re business advisors, here to help plan, guide and consult. Learn more at comerica.com/wine. Comerica ranks first nationally among the top 25 U.S. financial holding companies, based on commercial and industrial loans outstanding as a percentage of assets, as of March 31, 2019. Data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

See our ad page 67

Exchange Bank

Santa Rosa, CA | (707) 524-3301 | exchangebank.com

F&M Bank - Napa

Napa, CA | (707) 757-8500 | fmbonline.com

Farm Credit East

Enfield, CT | (860) 741-4380 | farmcrediteast.com

Farm Credit of the Virginias, ACA

Staunton, VA | (540) 886-3435 | farmcreditofvirginias.com

First Republic Bank, JPMorgan Chase

San Francisco, CA | (707) 251-4114 | firstrepublic.com

First United Bank

Lubbock, TX | (855) 382-7827 | firstunited.bank

Full Circle Finance

Wenatchee, WA | (888) 223-2600 | fullcirclellc.us

HTLF Financial Solutions Food & AgriBusiness

Dubuque, IA | (563) 589-2100 | htlf.com

JPMorgan Chase

San Francisco, CA | (415) 315-3966 | chase.com

Live Oak Bank - Wine & Craft Beverage Lending

Wilmington, NC | (707) 921-1102 | liveoakbank.com/wcb

Lyons National Bank

Lyons, NY | (315) 946-4871 | bankwithlnb.com

M&T Bank

Buffalo, NY | (800) 724-2440 | www3.mtb.com

Mechanics Bank

Napa, CA | (707) 227-9300 | mechanicsbank.com

MetLife Investment Management’s Agricultural Finance Group

Fresno, CA | (559) 435-0206 | metlife.com/ag

PGIM Real Estate Finance, Agricultural Finance

Roseville, CA | (916) 789-4071 | pgimref.com/agloans

Rabo AgriFinance

Santa Rosa, CA | (855) 887-9274 | raboag.com

Rabo AgriFinance is the agricultural lending entity of Rabobank Group, the premier lender to the global food and agricultural industry. Through long-term business relationships, clients have access to valuable global industry knowledge and a suite of financial solutions that gives producers the products to prepare for, and take advantage of, market opportunities. This comprehensive suite of services includes loans, insurance, input finance and effective risk management products. Opportunity awaits. Learn more at RaboAg.com

See our ad page 79

Rabo AgriFinance - Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa, CA | (707) 591-8000 | raboag.com

Rabobank

San Francisco, CA | (415) 782-7800 | rabobank.com

Silicon Valley Bank, division of First Citizens Bank

Napa, CA | (707) 967-1367 | svb.com

The Commercial Bank Mason, TX | (323) 347-6324 | tcbmason.com

U.S. Bank (purchased Union Bank) Napa, CA | (707) 254-1481 | usbank.com

Umpqua Bank Santa Rosa, CA | (707) 579-2265 | umpquabank.com

Wells Fargo Commercial Banking Office Santa Rosa, CA | (707) 584-3150 | wellsfargo.com

Local expertise with a global perspective

At Rabo AgriFinance, we o er a full suite of customized nancial services and insurance products for leading wineries, growers and agribusinesses.

Tap into the global nancial strength, expansive networks and vast resources and knowledge from one of the world’s largest and most innovative agricultural lenders.

Life is Too Short for Bad Wine Distribution Agreements: 10 Key Considerations

Matthew J. Lewis, Nate A. Garhart

1. Know Your Partner

3. Define the Territory

2. Don’t Go Naked

4. Identify the Products

Matthew J. Lewis is a partner and Nate A. Garhart is special counsel in the Wine Industry Group at Farella Braun + Martel, a law firm with o ices in San Francisco and St. Helena, Calif.

Matthew J. Lewis Nate A. Garhart

5. Determine Exclusivity

“It can be tempting to overlook these ‘divorce’ provisions at the beginning of the distributorship ‘marriage,’ but overly generous termination provisions can lead to punitive costs, discouraging an otherwise needed termination.”

6. Define the Term, Termination and Consequences

8. Spell Out Marketing and Sales Targets

9. Address Intellectual Property

10. Designate Required Reporting

7. Specify Pricing and Payment

Conclusion

VIP Rolling Out Updated Reporting System

Andrew Adams

Andrew Adams is the editor of the Wine Analytics Report and was a writer and editor at Wines & Vines magazine for nearly a decade. Adams grew up in the city of Sonoma, Calif., and graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism. In addition to working at daily newspapers for more than a decade, Adams worked in the cellar and lab at the former Starmont winery in Napa Valley.

Fill the Void

Jake Lorenzo

This is not Jake Lorenzo complaining about prices. This is about attitude.

Rutherford Wine Company promoted Janet Hammer to the role of director of sales, national accounts, e ective immediately. Jennifer Burke was selected to lead as the intermountain regional sales manager and Chad Hause will serve as Rutherford’s Northern California area sales manager. Hammer started at Rutherford Wine as the regional sales manager for the intermountain territory. Burke has previously worked at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits and the Duckhorn Portfolio. Hause has also worked at Southern Glazer’s in addition to Grigch Hills Estate and the Cabernet Corporation.

Kimberli Rogers has been appointed as Signorello Estate’s national sales manager-west. In her new role, Rogers oversees sales of Signorello Estate, as well as other brands from the Wines of Ray Signorello portfolio: S by Signorello, Edge, and Trim for the western United States. She’s also focused on increasing the portfolio's brand recognition, working with ne wine retailers, and placing wines at restaurants Before joining Signorello, Rogers worked as director of western sales and national accounts for Silverado Vineyards.

Sokol Blosser Winery has selected Shannon Eastman to serve in the newly created role of director of sales, central division. In this new role, Eastman is based in Scottsdale, Ariz., and is in charge of sales in 20 states in the central U.S. including Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee and Ohio. Before joining Sokol Blosser, Eastman worked at Paci c Highway Wines where she was the director of sales for the southern region.

Winebow announced that Aileen Sevier now serves as the director of marketing for the company’s Upper Le Campaign, a commitment to focus on becoming the “go-to” distributor for wines in the Paci c Northwest area. In this newly created role, Sevier collaborates with wineries from America’s “Upper Le ” ( the Paci c Northwest) to advance the recognition/market position of Washington and Oregon wines throughout the Winebow wholesale footprint. Prior to joining Winebow, Sevier served as vice president, strategy and marketing at Early Mountain Vineyards in Virginia. She holds an M.B.A. from Brandeis University’s International School of Business and is a graduate of the WSET Diploma program.

Brian Kelleher is Napa-based Kale Wines’ new general manager. In this role, Kelleher focuses on developing sales and marketing as well as strengthening the organizational structure of the company. He previously worked at Elizabeth Spencer Winery as the general manager, Pahlmeyer, LLC. as the vice president, sales and marketing, Pietra Santa Winery as the national sales manager and the V2 Wine Group where he managed national sales for Torbreck Vineyards and Winery, La Follette Wines, and Quivira Winery.

Nicholas Skinner has been appointed Valette Wines Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and wine club manager. In this role, Skinner is in charge of driving sales, engaging customers, and building brand loyalty for the brand. Before joining Valette Wines, Skinner worked as a tasting room manager for Peju Province Winery. He has a degree from the wine business program at Sonoma State University and is a certi ed Sommelier with a WSET Level ree certi cate.

Janet Hammer

Kimberli Rogers

Nicholas Skinner

Shannon Eastman

Brian Kelleher

Chad Hause

Jennifer Burke

Aileen Sevier

ley Vineyards, Anaba Wines, Andretti Winery, Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, Artesa Vineyards & Winery, Ascentia Wine Estates, B Cellars, B R Cohn Winery, Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek Vineyards, Bell Wine Cellars, Bennett Lane Winery, Benziger Family Winery, Bergevin Lane Vineyards, Bergstrom Winery, Bianchi Winery and Tasting Room, Black Hills Estate Winery, Black Stallion Estate Winery, Blackbird Vineyards, Bogle Vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards, Buccella, Burgess Cellars, C Donatiello Winery, Cain Vineyard and Winery, Cakebread Cellars, Cameron Hughes Wine Co., Castello di Amorosa, Caymus Vineyards, Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery, Chance Creek Vineyards (Bock), Chappellet Winery, Charles Krug Winery, Chateau Bianca, Chateau Diana, Chateau Montelena Winery, Cline Cellars, Clos Du Bois, Clos Lachance Winery, Clos Pegase Winery, Constant-Diamond Mountain Vineyard, Constellation Wines, Constellation Wines U.S., Continuum Estate, Conway Family Wines, Copain Wines, Coquelicot Wines, Corliss Estates, Cornerstone Cellars, Cru Vin Dogs Wine Group, Crushpad, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Darioush Winery, Dashe Cellars, David Bruce Winery, De Loach Vineyards, Del Dotto Vineyards, Delicato Vineyards - Custom Resource Group, Derby Wine Estates, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Dierberg/Star Lane Vineyard, Domaine Carneros, Ltd., Domaine Chandon, Domaine Serene Vineyards & Winery, Don Sebastiani & Sons, Dono Dal Cielo Vine-

The Wine Industry’s Leading Online Job Site

More wineries use than any other online job site. winejobs.com

yard, Dry Creek Vineyard, Duckhorn Wine Co., Dutton-Goldfield Winery, E & J Gallo Winery, Ehlers Estate, Enkidu Wine, Fantesca Estate & Winery, Far Niente Winery, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Fetzer Vineyards, Fleury Estate Winery, Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards, Foley Family Wines, Francis Ford Coppola Presents, Frank Family Vineyards, Freixenet Sonoma Caves, Fritz Winery, Frog’s Leap Winery, Galante Family Winery, Glenora Wine Cellars, Goosecross Cellars, Grgich Hills Estate, Groth Vineyards & Winery, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Hagafen Cellars, Hahn Family Wines, Hall Wines, Hanna Winery, Hedges Family Estate, Heitz Wine Cellars, Hess Collection Winery, Hudson Vineyards, Ironstone Vineyards, J F J Bronco Winery, J Lohr Vineyards & Wines, J Vineyards & Winery, Jack Neal & Son Vineyard Mgmt, Jarvis, Jordan Vineyard & Winery, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Justin Vineyards & Winery, Keller Estate, Kendall-Jackson, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Kenzo Estate, King Estate Winery, Knights Bridge Winery, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Krupp Brothers Estates/Stagecoach Vineyards, Kunde Family Estate, La Crema, Laird Family Estate, Lambert Bridge Winery, Lancaster Estate, LangeTwins Winery & Vineyards, Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Lewis Cellars, Littorai Wines, Long Meadow Ranch Winery, Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, Lynmar Winery, Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery, Martinelli Winery, Medlock Ames, Mendocino Wine Co./Parducci Wine Cellars, Merriam Vineyards, Merryvale Vineyards, Michael-David Winery, Monterey Wine Co., Mumm Napa, My Wines Direct, Napa Wine Co., Number 9, Nelson Family Vineyards, Nicholson Ranch, Nickel & Nickel, Niner Wine Estates, Oak Ridge Winery, O’Neill

Created & Managed by WINEBUSINESS MONTHLY

Vintners & Distillers, Opus One, Owl Ridge Wines, Patz & Hall Wine Company, Paul Hobbs, Peju Province Winery, Pezzi King Vineyards, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Plumpjack Winery, Prairie Berry Winery, Precept Wine Brands, Premier Pacific Vineyards, Quintessa Vineyards, Quixote Winery, R B Wine Associates - Rack & Riddle Custom Crush Wine Services, Raymond Vineyards, Regusci Winery, Reynolds Family Winery, Ridge Vineyards, Robert Hall Winery, Robert Oatley Vineyards, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Robledo Family Winery, Rodney Strong Wine Estates, Roederer Estate, Rombauer Vineyards, Rosenthal - The Malibu Estate, Round Pond Estate, Rubissow Family Wines, Rutherford Hill Winery, Rutherford Ranch Winery, S V P Winery, Saddleback Cellars, Saintsbury, San Antonio Winery, Saracina Vineyards, Sawyer Cellars, Schramsberg

Vineyards & J

I found my job at winejobs .com

Executive Roles

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits announced the appointment of Alan Wizemann to the role of chief digital o cer, e ective Aug. 15, 2023. In this role, Wizemann is responsible for the company’s enterprise-wide digital initiatives, including the B2B eCommerce Proof® platform. Wizemann has several decades of experience in digital product development, omni-channel experiences, technology, and entrepreneurship and has worked at big name companies like Target.

British Columbia-based TIME Family of Wines announced the appointment of George James to the role of company president. James brings 20 years of experience in the wine, hospitality and hotel industry to the role. He is the current treasurer for the BC Wine Grape Council. Most recently James served as vice president of nance at Phantom Creek Estates.

Kind of Wild Wines, a certi ed organic and vegan direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine brand, has named celebrity chef Katie Lee Biegel as company partner and co-founder. Biegel is currently the co-host of Food Network’s, “ e Kitchen” and the host of her own show, “Beach Bites with Katie Lee” on the Food Channel. In addition to her work in food-related media, Biegel is the author of several best-selling cookbooks and her own novel–which was adapted to a Hallmark Channel movie–and has contributed to various T.V. shows and magazines.

Winemaking

Arizona-based Aridus Wine Company named Michael Hellman as its new winemaker. Hellman succeeds founding winemaker Lisa Strid, who was winemaker at Aridus for seven years. Most recently, Hellman was the senior winemaker for Texas Custom Wine Works where he managed all aspects of winery operations. Hellman is a Texas Tech University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in plant and soil science, specializing in viticulture and enology.

Andrew Haugen has been appointed head winemaker at Odette Estate Winery in Napa. In this position, Haugen oversees all daily winemaking operations for the Odette and Adaptation labels and collaborates with vineyard manager Oscar Renteria at Oso Vineyard. Haugen has worked at wineries around the world including Church Road Winery in New Zealand, Howard Park in Australia, and Gran Moraine in Oregon. He joined Odette Estate in 2015.

Associations and Education

e Wine Market Council appointed Dr. Liz ach, MW, as its new president e ective Aug. 1, 2023. She succeeds President Dale Stratton. As president, ach spearheads the Council’s mission to provide market research on U.S. wine consumer buying habits and works with the Wine Market Council team to help develop analyses and insights that encourage wine companies to make informed business decisions.

Professor Edward Spang has taken the helm as the new director of the UC Davis Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science e ective Aug. 1, 2023. Spang is an associate professor with the department of food science and technology and in this new role, succeeds wine chemist Andrew Waterhouse, professor emeritus with the university’s department of viticulture and enology.

In Memoriam

On Aug. 2, Martignetti Companies announced that former vice president, corporate wine of Martignetti Companies, Nick Bourke, died a er a two-year battle with ALS. Bourke, who was an integral leader in the company, worked for Martignetti for 35 years until his retirement in 2021. He was instrumental in building and developing the company’s ne wine portfolio in building strong relationships with suppliers and wineries. Outside of work, he was an avid cyclist and an outdoor enthusiast.

W. Rockwell “Rocky” Wirtz, whose legacy includes helping to grow North America’s “third largest wholesale beverage company,” died on July 26, at the age of 70, according to a Wirtz Corporation press release. In addition to his many other roles, he was the co-chairman of the aforementioned Breakthru Beverage Group.

Michael Hellman

Dr. Liz Thach, MW

Edward Spang

Katie Lee Biegel

W. Rockwell Wirtz

George James

Andrew Haugen

Alan Wizemann

Beverage Trade Show

Master Classes & Tastings

September 10-12, 2023

San Diego, California

Town & Country Resort

The Only Beverage Trade Show on the West Coast Bringing Together the Entire Adult Beverage Market Co-located with SommCon, the premier wine conference in North America, the SommCon Beverage Expo connects importers, distributors, and on- & off-premise buyers with domestic and international beverage brands in wine, beer, spirits, and the emerging low and no alcohol category.

Mentorship & Networking Register at sommconusa.com

Sponsor & Exhibit Inquiries: Michael Nesbit michael@fastforwardevents.com

Martin Bernal-Hafner, winegrower, Alta Orsa Winery

“As a small operation, I often fi nd myself wearing many hats and devoting most of my time to the vineyard and winery. WineBusiness Monthly is an invaluable resource for staying up to date on the latest research, trends, and practices in the wine industry. I especially enjoy articles by Mark Greenspan, whose depth of knowledge in the vineyard never ceases to amaze me. He played a key role in setting the direction of our farming practices at Alta Orsa, and we are deeply grateful for his guidance.

“As a curious mind and an experiment-driven learner, I relish reading about winemaker trials and experiments. Recently, I was struck by an article in the November 2022 edition of WineBusiness Monthly titled, “Tablas Creek Levels Up Organic Practices to Regenerative.” It was enlightening to read about how different ground management practices led to various levels of organic matter and active carbon in the soil and reassuring to see that we are moving in the right direction with our no-till practices. Tablas Creek has long been a source of inspiration for me, so I love to consume any bit of knowledge from them that might be useful to our small operation. After all, we are all stewards of the land and we can learn so much from each other .”

WINERY NAME AND LOCATION: Alta Orsa Winery (AO) is a testament to the power of regenerative organic agriculture. Nestled in the Mendocino highlands above Hopland, and working in partnership with other holistic vineyards in the North Coast region, AO is committed to crafting wines that not only express the unique character of their terroir, but also embody a deep sense of stewardship and care for the land. By prioritizing sustainable practices within, and beyond its fences, AO drives farming forward and hopes to inspire a new generation of growers.

ANNUAL CASE PRODUCTION: 1,000 cases

PLANTED ACRES: 12 acres

CAREER BACKGROUND: My journey in wine began in the cellar of M. Chapoutier in the Rhone Valley where I first fell in love with the culture and the community that surrounds this ancient craft. It was where I was first introduced to biodynamics, a way of farming that captured my imagination and guided my view of ecosystems and the importance of microfauna in farming. Building on this experience, I honed my skills under the tutelage of Paul Hobbs at Vina Cobos in Mendoza. Upon returning to California, I embarked on a journey through various positions at Paul Hobbs and Crossbarn Wineries, deepening my knowledge of the industry and refining my craft.

In early 2019, I assumed the mantle of leadership at Topel Estate Winery, determined to transform it into something truly special, Alta Orsa Winery. As the steward of our farming, winemaking, and sales, I have made it my mission to integrate new practices like livestock integration, cover cropping, forest restoration and low-intervention winemaking into the very ethos of our operation. While our vineyard has been no-till organic since its inception, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in regenerative agriculture and to honoring the land that sustains us with every bottle we produce. I also serve on the board of the Mendocino Winegrowers to help support and promote our local growers and wineries.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL CHALLENGE?

Establishing Alta Orsa Winery has been no small feat. With very little institutional knowledge carried over from the Topel family, we essentially had to start from scratch. We had to establish everything from our farming practices and winemaking protocols to our packaging design, systems, and website--all on the budget of a micro-winery and with a very small team. It has been a challenging journey but one that has been immensely rewarding. Despite the climactic challenges and public health issues of the last few years, the AO community continues to grow. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of those who share our vision of a regenerative, sustainable future.

VARIETALS THAT YOUR WINERY IS KNOWN FOR:

Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir

Since our founding in 1999, Vinventions has been on a journey to create a more sustainable future with our customers, partners and associates. Everyday we strive to be the most innovative, sustainable and trusted global supplier of closures and service solutions in the wine industry.