Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/400294
W i n e s & V i n e s n O V e M B e R 2 0 1 4 25 visitors' center. The 6,000-square-foot facil- ity overlooks the winery's historic FAY and S.L.V. vineyards. Barcelona-based architect Javier Barba designed the building, and Dan- iel Macdonald AIA Architects in Novato, Calif., and landscape architect Sandra Reed of ZAC Landscape Architects in Petaluma, Calif., oversaw construction. The winery is owned by a joint-venture partnership of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Marchesi Anti- nori, which purchased the winery and his- toric brand in 2007. The new visitor center is designed to showcase the partnership's investment in the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars estate and winemaking. Marcus Notaro has been the winemaker since 2013. Details: cask23.com. Wine Business Monthly to host conference for ultra-premium wineries Wine Business Monthly of Sonoma an- nounced the first Innovation + Quality con- ference, IQ 2015, featuring seminars and a tradeshow for ultra-premium wineries. IQ 2015 will take place March 4, 2015, at Charles Krug Winery in the Napa Valley. "Ultra-premium wineries have expressed a need for a conference dedicated to their unique issues," said publisher Eric Jorgensen. "This led WBM to create an exclusive gath- ering for ultra- premium wineries dedicated to the concept of using innovation to ad- vance wine qual- ity." The goal of IQ 2015 is to focus on the latest innovations and best practices that will drive the advancement and quality of the world's finest wines. IQ 2015 will feature educational sessions and tastings as well as hands-on demonstrations of the latest equipment and techniques cu- rated by WBM editors and ultra-premium wineries. For information about sponsoring IQ 2015, contact Tamara Leon at (707) 940-3937. Comfort leaving post at Sonoma Vintners The Sonoma County Vintners in Santa Rosa announced that executive director Honore Comfort will step down from her post in January after nine years of leading the organization. During Comfort's tenure with the vintners, the group spearheaded a joint marketing and branding campaign for the Sonoma County's wine in- dustry and led an effort to pass a conjunctive- labeling law for all wines made with Sonoma County grapes. The board has retained an executive recruitment firm to conduct a na- tionwide search for Comfort's replacement. Workshop names Leffert its winemaker and general manager The Workshop Urban Wine Collective in San Luis Obispo announced that Jeremy Leffert has been promoted to general manager and winemaker. In addition to offering wine-pro- duction services, The Workshop also provides a tasting room, public relations and sales sup- port for its clients. Prior to joining The Work- shop, Leffert was the winemaker for Hearst Ranch Winery. Details: theworkshopslo.com. Honore Comfort N O V E M B E R N E W S N O V E M B E R N E W S www.alainfouquet.com alainfouquet@aol.com AlainFouquet_Jul06 5/17/06 11:01 AM Page 1 Stag's Leap