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28 WINES&VINES January 2017 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS Regional News CALIFORNIA Russian River growers hire executive director The Russian River Valley Wine- growers named Wendy Hilberman as its first executive director. Before joining the growers' group, Hilberman worked in leader- ship roles for nonprofits and businesses. Prior to moving to Sonoma County, Hilberman was the executive officer of a state commission that reported to the governor of Oregon. An Oregon native, Hilberman holds a master's degree in public administration from Portland State University and a bachelor's degree from the Uni- versity of Oregon. New winemaker at Smith Family Larry Brooks is the new wine- maker at Smith Family Wines in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA of Monterey County. Brooks is the former vice president and chief operating officer of the Chalone Wine Group and most recently ran his own consulting business. Early in his career, Brooks purchased grapes from Rich Smith, the founder of Paraiso Vineyards, and became consulting winemaker for Paraiso in the early 2000s. Smith Family Wines still produces wine under the Paraiso Vineyards label. Brooks will work with Justin Murphy, who is a third-generation vintner in the Smith family and creator of the family's Irie brand. MacPhail joins The Calling James MacPhail is the new as- sociate winemaker for The Calling, which is the wine brand developed by Deutsch Family Wines & Spir- its CEO Peter Deutsch and CBS sports commentator Jim Nantz. MacPhail joins winemaker Dan Goldfield in overseeing vineyard selection and winemaking of the Sonoma County-based wine brand. MacPhail is the founder of MacPhail Wines and has been making wine since the mid-1990s. Bianchi names new winemaker Chris Stanton is the new wine- maker for Bianchi Winery and Tasting Room in Paso Robles. Stanton has more than 20 years of winemaking experience and takes over for Tom Lane, who is retiring this year. Before joining Bianchi, Stanton partnered with his brother to launch Sobriquet wines in Napa Valley and was the general manager of Blackjack Ranch Vine- yards & Winery in Solvang. James MacPhail Wendy Hilberman