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JULY NEWS CALIFORNIA Crimson secures Seghesio Crimson Wine Group has acquired the 94,000-case Seghesio Family Vineyards, a historic, family-owned winery specializing in estate-grown Zinfandel wines. Seghesio Family Vineyards joins Crimson's estate-focused portfolio of do- mestic brands including Archery Summit, Chamisal Vineyards and Pine Ridge Vine- yards. Representing the third generation of the Seghesio family, whose history in Alexander Valley dates back to 1895, Pe- ter Seghesio will assume the role of wine- grower. Ted Seghesio will continue on as winemaker, and much of the Seghesio family will remain involved with day-to- day management and winery operations. Details: seghesio.com. frey selected as 2012 Unified chair Nick Frey of the Sonoma County Wine- grape Commission has been named chair of the 2012 Unified Wine & Grape Sym- posium Program Development Com- mittee. Frey was chosen by the Unified Symposium's managing committee, repre- senting the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the California Asso- ciation of Winegrape Growers, who have co-hosted the Unified Symposium for the past 17 years. The 2012 Unified Sympo- sium will return to the Sacramento Con- vention Center next Jan. 24-26. Details: unifiedsymposium.org. McClendon oversees white wine production Don Sebastiani & Sons, the 1.3-mil- lion case Sonoma Valley-based wine négociant, tapped Michelle McClen- don as winemaker to oversee the com- pany's portfolio of white wines. Mc- Clendon joins cur- rent winemaker Greg Kitchens, who will oversee Don & Sons' red wines. Both will work closely with executive winemaking consultant Nick Goldschmidt. Before join- ing Don Sebastiani & Sons, McClendon worked as assistant winemaker at Sono- ma-Cutrer Vineyards and was an associate McClendon Skinner vineyards opens tasting room The 2,000-case Skinner Vineyards recently opened its new tasting room and "green" technology winery in the Fair Play AVA of California's Sierra Foothills. Mike and Carey Skinner purchased the 67-acre prop- erty in 2007. Ranging in elevation from 2,300 to 2,750 feet, the property, known as Stoney Creek vineyard, includes origi- nal blocks of Syrah and Viognier planted by the previous owner in 2000. The vine- yard now has 20 acres planted with Rhône varieties that also include Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignane, Counoise, Petite Sirah, Grenache Blanc and Picpoul Blanc. Details: skinnervineyards.com. winemaker at Korbel Champagne caves. Details: donandsons.com. 20 Wines & Vines JULY 2011