SAN FRANCISCO – Wine Institute, the public policy advocacy group representing nearly 1,000 California wineries, announced the election of Kathleen Heitz Myers of Heitz Wine Cellars in St. Helena as its board chairman for 2012-2013. The election was held at Wine Institute’s 78th Annual Meeting of Members at Lake Tahoe where other board officers elected included: Chris Fehrnstrom of Constellation Wines U.S. in San Francisco, first vice chairman; Carolyn Wente of Wente Family Estates in Livermore, second vice chairman; Greg Coleman of E. & J. Gallo Winery in Modesto, treasurer; and Margie Healy of Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, secretary. Robert P. (Bobby) Koch remains president and CEO of Wine Institute.
“I am honored to support the Wine Institute’s work on state, federal and international public policy. We will continue to focus on defeating tax increase proposals, expanding direct-to-consumer shipping, enhancing our wine exports, and promoting the adoption of sustainable winegrowing practices,” said Heitz Myers. “As vintners and grapegrowers, we have a long-term commitment to California with deep roots in many communities. We recognize the importance of communicating to the public that the wine industry generates 330,000 jobs and nearly $62 billion in economic impact to California annually.”
Heitz Myers has been president of Heitz Wine Cellars since 1998. As the second generation to lead the family business, she has continued to advance the winery’s international reputation. She is a dedicated advocate for California wines and is highly regarded for her leadership as past president of the Napa Valley Vintners, past chair of Auction Napa Valley, member of the Land Trust of Napa County Advisory Council and past president of the Napa Valley Exposition board of directors. The Wine Institute membership also elected new district- and at-large directors and alternates. District directors and their alternates were elected on a one-member-one-vote basis in each district, following nominations by regional winery associations. They are:
| DISTRICT | DIRECTOR | ALTERNATE |
|---|---|---|
| Northern: | Kaj Ahlmann Six Sigma Winery, Lower Lake | Fred Weibel, Jr. Weibel Family Wine Group, Hopland |
| Sonoma: | Hank Wetzel Alexander Valley Vineyards, Healdsburg Julie Pedroncelli St. John J. Pedroncelli Winery, Geyserville Louis M. Foppiano Foppiano Wine Company, Healdsburg | Steven MacRostie MacRostie Winery & Vineyards, Sonoma Donald Patz Patz & Hall, Sonoma Greg Wilcox Lambert Bridge Winery, Healdsburg |
| Napa: |
Dennis Cakebread Cakebread Cellars, Rutherford Kathleen Heitz Myers Heitz Wine Cellars, St. Helena Paula Kornell Oakville Ranch, Napa Suzanne Groth Groth Vineyards & Winery, Oakville | Mike Reynolds Hall Wines, St. Helena and Rutherford Robin Baggett Alpha Omega Winery, Rutherford Marketta Fourmeaux Marketta Winery, Napa Dale Bleecher Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Calistoga |
| San Francisco Bay: | Earl Ault Cedar Mountain Winery, Livermore William Cooper Cooper-Garrod Vineyards, Saratoga | John Kinney Occasio Winery, Livermore Bill Murphy Clos LaChance Wines, San Martin |
| Monterey Bay: | Scott Scheid Scheid Vineyards, Salinas | Cheryl Indelicato Delicato Family Vineyards, Monterey |
| Central Coast: | Justin Baldwin Justin Vineyards & Winery, Paso Robles Gary Eberle Eberle Winery, Paso Robles Stephen Miller Central Coast Wine Services, Santa Barbara Brook Williams Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards, Los Olivos | Laura Mohseni Riverbench, Santa Maria Michael Hartmann Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, Solvang Gretchen Roddick Hope Family Wines, Paso Robles Alex Villicana Villicana Winery, Paso Robles |
| Southern: | Alexander McGeary Shadow Mountain Vineyards & Winery, Warner Springs | Claudio Ponte Ponte Family Estate, Temecula |
| Sierra: | Steven Millier Milliaire Winery, Murphys Stewart Perry Fawnridge Winery, Auburn | Scott Klann Newsome-Harlow Wines, Murphys Vacant |
| Northern Interior: | David Lucas The Lucas Winery, Lodi | David Phillips Michael-David Winery, Lodi |
| Southern Interior: | Michael Blaylock Quady Winery, Madera | William Nakata ASV Wines, Inc., Delano |
All members elected 20 at-large directors who had been nominated by the Institute’s Finance and Administration Committee. Alternates were chosen by at-large directors.
| AT-LARGE DIRECTOR | ALTERNATE |
|---|---|
| Giancarlo Bianchetti Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland | Sebastian Lopez Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland |
| Stephen Brauer Treasury Wine Estates, Napa | John Grant Treasury Wine Estates, Napa |
| James Coleman E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto | Gregory Coleman E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto |
| Cindy DeVries Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland | Jorge Lyng Fetzer Vineyards, Hopland |
| Debra Dommen Treasury Wine Estates, Napa | Sandra LeDrew Treasury Wine Estates, Napa |
| Chris Fehrnstrom Constellation Wines U.S., San Francisco | James Finkle Constellation Brands, Victor |
| John Franzia, Jr. Bronco Wine Company, Ceres | Daniel Leonard Bronco Wine Company, Ceres |
| Joseph Franzia Bronco Wine Company, Ceres | Fredrick Irwin, Jr. Bronco Wine Company, Ceres |
| Matthew Gallo Gallo Family Vineyards, Healdsburg | Stephanie Gallo E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto |
| Tobin Ginter Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg | Carmen Castaldi Rodney Strong Vineyards, Healdsburg |
| Margie Healy Korbel Champagne Cellars, Guerneville | Daniel Baker Korbel Champagne Cellars, Guerneville |
| Chris Indelicato Delicato Family Vineyards, Manteca | Frank Indelicato Delicato Family Vineyards, Manteca |
| Steven Lohr J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, San Jose | Thomas Selfridge J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, San Jose |
| James O’Malley Brown-Forman Corporation, Louisville | Donald McClellan Brown-Forman Corporation, Louisville |
| John Sutton The Wine Group, Livermore | Laurie Jones The Wine Group, Livermore |
| Robert Torkelson Trinchero Family Estates, St. Helena | Ronald Larson Trinchero Family Estates, St. Helena |
| Roger Trinchero Trinchero Family Estates, St. Helena | Erik Lawrence Trinchero Family Estates, St. Helena |
| Brian Vos The Wine Group, Ripon | Jeff Dubiel The Wine Group, Ripon |
| Carolyn Wente Wente Family Estates, Livermore | Christine Wente Wente Family Estates, Livermore |
| Jay Wright Constellation Wines North America, Canandaigua | Michael Walker Constellation Brands, San Francisco |
The Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group for California wineries and affiliated businesses with its members accounting for 95 percent of California wine production and 85 percent of U.S. wine production. Based in San Francisco, with offices in Sacramento, Washington, D.C., six regions across the U.S. and 15 foreign countries, the Wine Institute is guided by 80 vintners who are members and alternates of an active board of directors. The board elects the chairman and officers on an annual basis.
Journalists requiring further information should contact communications@wineinstitute.org or 415/512-0151.
