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March 2017 WINES&VINES 23 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS destination marketing for Lake County. Ruzicka worked closely with the Lake County Winery As- sociation's previous executive di- rector, Terry Derenuik, who retired after leading the association for three years. Summers hires Venge as consultant Kirk Venge joined Summers Estate Winery in Calistoga as consulting winemaker. Venge will work with winemaker Ignacio Blancas on the winery's Bor- deaux varietals. Venge is also the winemaker and owner of Venge Vineyards, which his father Nils Venge founded in 1976. Summers Estate Winery, which is owned by Jim and Beth Summers, is cele- brating its 20th year and is known for producing a Charbono varietal from its estate vineyard. Knoth promoted at Sinegal Sinegal Estate Winery in Napa Val- ley announced the promotion of Ryan Knoth to winemaker. Knoth joined the winery as associate winemaker in 2015 and worked under the tutelage of Tony Biagi. Biagi will continue to work with the winery as consulting winemaker. In his expanded role, Knoth, who pre- viously worked at Staglin Family Vineyard, will manage and oversee all winemaking duties in both pro- duction and in the vineyard. Hoover named Paso Robles person of the year The Paso Robles Wine Country Al- liance named Paul Hoover as the 2016 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year. Hoover and his wife Patricia Hoover own Still Waters Vineyards, which includes a 60-acre vineyard. Paul Hoover has served on the board of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alli- ance Board of Directors for six years and also served on San Luis Obispo County's Ag Preserve Committee and the board of the Cal Poly Corp. NORTHWEST New winemaker at WillaKenzie Erik Kramer is the new director of winemaking at WillaKenzie Estate winery in the Willamette Valley. Kramer has worked in winemak- ing in the Willamette Valley for 13 years, and before coming to Or- egon, he made wine in New Zea- land, where he earned his graduate degree in viticulture and winemak- ing from Lincoln University. Kramer will be working with assistant winemaker Michael Caputo and enologist David Maas at WillaKen- zie, which was acquired by Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Jackson Family Wines in 2016. New hire and promotion at King Estate Brent Stone was promoted to the position of winemaker, and Cody Stacey was hired as assistant winemaker at King Estate Winery in Eugene, Ore. Stone joined the winery as lab manager in 2011 and most recently was director of quality assurance and laboratory operations. Stacey most recently was the associate winemaker at Cairdean Vineyards in St. Helena, Calif., where he helped design the winery. Stone and Stacey join winemaker Spencer Spetnagel and assistant winemaker Barrett Ros- teck under the leadership of Ray Nuclo, director of viticulture and winery operations. Washington growing group changes name The Washington Winegrowers debuted a new name and logo at Brent Stone Cody Stacey