California Ag Network

Tag: Winegrowers

  • Sonoma County Winegrowers name new Director of Marketing and Public Relations

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (November 27, 2017) – Sonoma County Winegrowers has received a great deal of media attention in recent years.  From being recognized a global leader in its quest for

    Amy Landolt joins following career in wine marketing

    100% wine sustainability to providing insight on annual harvests to most recently sharing a perspective on the impact of last month’s fires has required a lot of interaction with the media around the world.  So when the organization recently went looking for a new director of marketing and public relations, it wanted someone with wine industry knowledge and marketing experience.  They found it in California wine industry veteran, Amy Landolt, who was just announced as the organization’s new Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

    “Amy possesses both the wine marketing experience and communications expertise that we were looking for,” said Karissa Kruse, president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We are thrilled she is joining us and I know Amy will add immediate value to our team and to our grower members.” 

    Amy has worked throughout California’s premier wine regions including in Paso Robles, Temecula, Napa and Sonoma County.  Most recently she was the senior marketing manager at Pernod Ricard USA where she worked on the Kenwood Vineyards and Mumm Napa brands.  Prior to that, she was the marketing manager at Benziger Family Winery and Imagery Winery in Glen Ellen.  She is a graduate of San Diego State University and earned an MBA at Cal-Poly, San Luis Obispo.  Her responsibilities at Sonoma County Winegrowers will include leading public relations efforts with trade and consumer media, coordinating the Sonoma County marketing strategy and manage community relations.

    “I am honored to be joining the team at Sonoma County Winegrowers,” said Landolt. She added, “I truly believe that every step of my career has prepared me for this great opportunity to promote and preserve Sonoma County’s rich history of agriculture and sustainability on behalf of our region’s winegrape growers and their families.”

  • Sonoma County Winegrowers Name New Education & Communications Manager

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (July 20, 2017) – With Sonoma County Winegrowers well on their way to becoming the first 100% sustainable winegrowing region in the United States by 2019, now is the time to expand our education efforts to key stakeholders such as sommeliers, wine buyers and  consumers. The goal is to share the benefits of sustainable wine and communicate the many positive impacts it provides to the environment, grape growers, community and consumers.  To do that, Sonoma County Winegrowers has announced the hiring of Melissa Vogt as its new Education and Communications Manager.

    After moving to Sonoma County in 2012 to pursue her Master’s Degree at Sonoma State University, Vogt knew she wanted to continue following her passion and work in the wine industry.  Her dream evolved when she noticed the Sonoma County Winegrowers announcement for the Education and Communications Manager position.  She jumped at the opportunity to work with a global leader in wine sustainability.  Her responsibilities will include overseeing the communications efforts directed at winegrape growers, the wine trade and influencers, as well as consumers, and educational outreach including tours, events and related activities.

    “We are fortunate to add the unique background and skill set that Melissa possesses,” said Karissa Kruse, president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We take great pride in our team and the resources we provide to our grower members and Melissa is a shining example of our commitment to be the best.”

    Vogt’s career began as a freelance writer for the Examiner covering wine tasting events in San Francisco.  Her talent and experience led to her freelancing for additional publications and expanding her scope of coverage from wine tasting to include food and restaurants throughout Northern California.  After earning her Master’s Degree in Rhetoric and Composition, she was hired by Wine Country This Week to write about the wine community.  She would later create and produce content for wine offers on SommSelect where, as the wine communications director, she mentored under Master Sommelier, Ian Cauble.  With her growing expertise and experience, Vogt was hired in 2015 as the Deputy Editor at Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate where she had the lead role in editing one of the world’s most prestigious wine review publications.

    “I am really excited to join Sonoma County Winegrowers,” said Vogt. She added, “I cannot think of a better way to support my local community and pursue my passion than by working on behalf of our region’s winegrape growers and their families.”

     

  • Sonoma County Winegrowers Host 18th Annual Pruning Championship

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (March 27, 2017) – Sonoma County Winegrowers held the 18th Annual Sonoma County Pruning Championship at the SRJC Shone Farm on February 24, 2017. Thirty-eight vineyard workers from across Sonoma County competed for the title of best pruner in the region.

    We are proud to recognize Rosendo Avila of Emeritus Vineyards in Sebastopol for taking home the first place trophy and winning a cash prize of $1,500, among other prizes such as tools and gift cards from our sponsors. Samuel Campos of Vimark Vineyard Management in Geyserville finished in second place, Javier Diaz Correa of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards finished in third place, and Erick Silva of Perez Farming Services finished in fourth place.

    Contestants were judged on speed, precision, as well as the accuracy and quality of the cuts. The pruning contest was followed by a lunch and awards ceremony in the vineyards. More than 100 grape growers, wine industry representatives, community members, sponsors, media and others were in attendance to cheer on the competitors and celebrate our vibrant workforce.