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NO VEMBER NEWS Rebirth for Napa's Napa Valley's most popular destinations. Raymond held a grand opening Sept. 28 to introduce the changes to the community. Boisset installed an elaborate "Theater of Nature," a farming demonstration showcasing the impact of compost on plants, con- figurations of different grape varieties, herbs and fruits that ex- press aromas and flavors associated with various wines and the impact of different cover crops. The exhibit is expansive, using land that might have grown valuable Cabernet grapes. Demonstrations attempt to explain the principles and practices S of Biodynamic farming. Chickens, sheep and standoffish goats il- lustrate the role of animals in the farming system, rows of plants are used to produce Biodynamic teas—as is a pit containing the controversial manure-filled cow's horns—plus manual mixing machines for the teas. GovtLiaison_Dir08 11/29/07 2:00 PM Pag APPROVALS TTB LABEL Low per-label costs Gov't. Liaison Negotiations or Footwork Reasonable Hourly Rates TRADEMARK SEARCHES As Low as $185 Your trade names or designs are searched at the U.S. Patent Office to help establish valuable ownership Over 100 years' total staff experience handling every government liaison need for industry. or avoid costly legal liability. Phone or write for details. Phone: (703) 524-8200 Fax: 525-8451 TOLL-FREE 1-800-642-6564 Major Credit Cards Accepted www.trademarkinfo.com Since 1957 200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 321 Arlington, Virginia 22203 20 Wines & Vines nOVeMBeR 2011 Raymond Vineyards Boisset Family's hospitality center opens at formerly low-key winery t. Helena, Calif.—Two years after Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates bought Raymond Vineyards, he un- veiled additions and innovations at the venerable 275,000- case winery that Boisset hopes will transform it into one of The Red Room at Raymond vineyards features a bar, lounge, piano and player, billiards, velvet poker tables, Pac-Man, chess and pinball. The winery encourages visitors to have a glass of wine while perus- ing the exhibits. They also can hear an audio tour on their iPhones. winesandvines.com Innovative education and glitz Inside the visitor center and winery lie a cor- nucopia of activities. The exhibits and programs were designed by Karen MacNeil, head of the wine center at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. The Blending Room is set up as a classroom and laboratory where guests can blend their own Bordeaux-variety wine from four base wines—and, for $100, take a bottle home. The over-the-top crowning touch, however, is the private Red Learn more: Search keyword "Raymond." Room, which visitors called "reminiscent of Las Vegas"—or an 1890s New Orleans bordello. Red Room memberships are $500 per year or free to any guest who spends more than $2,000 with Raymond Vineyards in one year. —Paul Franson French-born wine executives organize S t. Helena, Calif.—The French Wine Ex- ecutives, an association of French-born winemakers and wine industry suppliers working in the United States, met Sept. 30 at Raymond Vineyards to enjoy the new hospitality facilities with Raymond's owner, Jean-Charles Boisset, network with each other and enjoy the cooking of French-born Michel Cornu, Raymond's corporate chef. The association has grown to 54 people since Jacques Brix, vice president and director of sales for Wines & Vines, organized the first gatherings in 2009, with help from Melanie Thomas and Stephane Janson of Janson Capsules. Twelve members are winemakers or winery principals. To date the group's goals have remained low key, emphasizing the exchange of stories and professional experiences over food and BYOB wines from the members. "It's all geared to improve these people's services and business results in the North American wine industry," said Brix, himself a native of southwest France. Brix said the next steps for the group are to approve a name, write a mission state- ment, solidify rules for membership and meetings, and to discuss further expansion. —Jim Gordon