MARCH NEWS
and $160,000 will go toward an endowed
chair position. Details: auctionofwashingtonwines.org.
Sapporo
a
Nagoya
EAST
C E NTRAL
Chandler to lead
WineAmerica
Four Graces names acting GM
The Four Graces winery in Dundee, Ore.,
named Eugenia Keegan acting general
manager. Keegan has more than 35 years
of industry experience including previous
executive posts at wineries in Napa Valley. The company also promoted Rebecca
Tokyo Oliver from eastern sales manager to
national sales manager. Details: thefourgraces.com.
Promotion, hire
at King Estate
King Estate winery
in Eugene, Ore.,
promoted Steve
Thomson from executive vice president of sales to
executive vice presSteve
ident. Thomson
Thomson
also announced his
appointment to the Oregon Wine Board
by Gov. John Kitzhaber. The company also
hired Rick Durette as vice president of national sales. Details: kingestate.com.
Nebraska growers group names director
Jennifer Montgomery is the new executive
director of the Nebraska Winery & Grape
Growers Association. Previously Montgomery spent 10 years with WineAmerica
as the director of grassroots and political
affairs. Details: nebraskawines.com.
Mark Chandler
is the new executive director of
WineAmerica, the
national lobby for
American wineries. Chandler is
the former executive director of the
Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission in Lodi, Calif. WineAmerica, based
in Washington D.C., represents wineries
in 48 U.S. states. Details: wineamerica.org.
Thompson named Va. Grower of the Year
Virginia secretary of agriculture Todd
Haymore presented Len Thompson with
the Grower of the Year award at the VirThe North Dakota Grape Growers Associginia Vineyards Association���s annual meetation is now the North Dakota Grape and
ing. Thompson planted 6 acres of vines in
Wine Association. The group���s board voted
1999 and has served in several leadership
to change the name to better reflect both
sides of the state���s wine and grape industry. roles for the vineyard group; he is also a
member of the Virginia Wineries AssociaThis year, the group continues its efforts to
tion. Dr. Bruce Zoeklein received the vinesee two bills passed: one allowing wineries
yard group���s 11:01 AM Page 1
to sell to retailers, the other AlainFouquet_Jul06 5/17/06 lifetime achievement award.
to fund viticulDetails: virginiavineyardsassociation.com.
ture research. Details: ndgga.org.
North Dakota group changes name
www.alainfouquet.com alainfouquet@aol.com
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