Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/122527
MAY NEWS Sonoma Growers Choose Leader Group's marketing director and vineyard owner promoted to president S an Rafael, Calif.—Karissa Kruse says one of her top priorities when she assumes the position of president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers is to continue the joint marketing effort the organization developed with the county's vintners and tourism groups. Kruse, who had been hired as the winegrowers' marketing director in August 2012, has been picked by the group's board to replace outgoing president Nick Frey, who officially retired May 1. Kruse will continue to implement the group's community outreach program to help Sonoma County residents who don't work in the wine industry to gain a better understanding of it. "They often don't even know as much about our vineyards and wineries as our visitors," she said. And while the county's wine and grower groups have improved the region's reputation in the wine trade and press, Kruse admitted the same isn't necessarily true for the see the roughly 1,800-member group, which recently changed its name from the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission to the Sonoma winesandvines.com County Winegrowers. Learn more: Search keywords Growers pay $1.2 "Karissa Kruse." million to the group in assessments collected from grape sales. Kruse earned a master's degree in marketing and a bachelor's in economics from the The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the winegrowers, Kruse worked for General Mills, Karissa Kruse joined the Sonoma County Universal Studios and Dairy Management Winegrowers as marketing director in 2012. Inc., a national marketing group for the people living in the group's own backyard. U.S. dairy industry. Kruse owns a 25-acre parcel in the Ben"We haven't done as good of a job of relatnett Valley AVA, of which 5 acres are planted ing to our community," she said. to Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Frey joined the county's grapegrowers grapes are used for Kruse's Argot Wines, association in 1999. He will stay with which makes about 2,000 cases. "I'm not the group through the end of the year to just the president, I'm a client," she said. help ensure a smooth transition. When AlainFouquet_Jul06 5/17/06 11:01 AM Page 1 —Andrew Adams the change is complete, Kruse will over- Digital conference to focus on wine labels L abels & Labeling magazine is hosting a free digital conference focused on the wine industry. The June 18 conference, sponsored by Wines & Vines magazine, will cover recent trends in the wine industry based on statistics compiled by WinesVinesDATA. Other experts will discuss new label materials and printing processes that companies are employing to make their products stand out from the crowd. A case study discussion will focus on a winery that successfully streamlined the process of working with its designer and label convertor to create an ideal wine label. Contact Tasha Ventimiglia at tventimiglia@labelexpo.com to participate in the conference. Labels & Labeling magazine was launched in London, England, in 1978 by founding editor Mike Fairley. Today Labels & Labeling is read in 114 countries. Labelsandlabeling.com was launched in 2001 and quickly expanded from an online home for the magazine to the global portal for the label industry. With news updated every day, it is read by www.alainfouquet.com alainfouquet@aol.com label printers and converters, brand owners, designers and suppliers looking for the latest innovations. win eS & v i n eS M AY 20 13 21