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34 Wines&Vines January 2015 wine industry news 145 Jordan Street • San Rafael, CA 94901 • 415-457-3955 • Fax 457-0304 • www.boswellcompany.com Advocate and launched Vinous in May 2013. WineAmerica launches new website The wine industry advocacy group WineAmerica launched an updated website featuring new educational and business tools. The Wash- ington D.C.-based organization worked with Grow Creative in Portland, Ore., to offer new fea- tures including: a state statute and policy database covering three major topics (taxes, regulation and direct shipping); a detailed map of wineries in Congressional districts; guidelines for wineries on how to engage with members of Congress and a list of all state and regional winery associations. SUPPLIER NEWS Bruni partners with Italian firm Bruni Glass Packaging announced a partnership with the Italian firm Labrenta SRL to expand the Euro- pean company's presence in the North American market. Labrenta produces a wide range of closures from natural corks to plastic and aluminum products that can be produced in a variety of custom shapes, sizes and colors. Promotion at WineDirect Andrew Kamphuis has been pro- moted to the post of president and chief operating officer of the direct- to-consumer sales-support firm WineDirect. Joe Waechter remains CEO of the Napa, Calif.-based company. Kamphuis joined the firm after it acquired Vin65. Improvements at Vintage Nurseries Vintage Nurseries announced it has spent more than $4 million in renovations and upgrades at its nursery in Wasco, Calif. The com- pany has improved the drainage and flooring as well as installed new air handling, temperature and humidity controls and better roll-up doors on its grafting room to better protect against pest and pathogen contamination. A new system to capture defrost water from the cold-storage room is expected to save the firm more than 18,000 gallons of water per day as part of a goal to reduce water usage by a minimum of 25% during the next three years. The company also rebuilt its shade house and up- graded its greenhouse with better flooring and drainage to ensure a clean and sterile environment. New hires at Maverick Custom closure supplier Maverick Enterprises of Ukiah, Calif., an- nounced Janette Brooks is the company's new chief financial offi- cer. She joins Maverick after work- ing as the chief financial officer and controller for a manufacturing company in California. Debby De Lapo, a veteran of the packaging business, is the company's new customer care representative. Andrew Kamphuis Debby DeLapo Vintage Nurseries