Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/877508
October 2017 WINES&VINES 25 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS Shoptaw joins Red Tail Ridge Taylor Shoptaw is the new assis- tant winemaker at Red Tail Ridge Winery in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Shoptaw earned a winemaking degree at Lincoln University in New Zealand and be- fore joining Red Tail Ridge worked harvests in Oregon, New Zealand, California and Australia. SUPPLIER M.A. Silva opens new facility, hires GM M.A. Silva opened a new sparkling wine and cork closure manufactur- ing facility in Santa Maria de Feira, Portugal. According to a news re- lease, the move reflects the vertical integration of M.A. Silva USA and M.A. Silva Portugal and will allow the company to significantly in- crease production to keep up with recent growth in the cork market. The 64,500-square-foot build- ing is the result of a $4.1 million investment by the cork supplier and created 35 jobs. The company also announced Ted DeHaan is the new general manager of M.A. Silva USA. DeHaan joins the com- pany with a 15-year background in the packaging industry, where he worked in a variety of leadership positions and holds a degree in industrial and systems engineering from the Ohio State University. Tremeaux building new cooperage Tonnellerie Tremeaux, a coo- perage in Beaune, France, an- nounced it is building a new custom atelier, or studio, designed for both barrel production and on- site wine tastings. Once complete, the company will move all produc- tion from the existing facility to the new one. Founded in 2010 by Bur- gundy native Ludovic Tremeaux, the tonnellerie has since become known for its seasoned French oak barrels and unique, 1-meter- high chimney stacking method. While Tremeaux says the stacking method requires more space in the stave yard, it provides optimal air flow, and the wood is more ex- posed to the elements. Ardagh opens Napa office The Ardagh Group, Glass-North America announced the opening of a new office in Napa, Calif., to better serve customers of Ardagh Direct, a program launched in Jan- uary to provide wineries west of the Rocky Mountains direct access to Ardagh Group glass bottles. Flowcrete names Americas VP Flowcrete Americas in Spring, Texas, named Ben Smith its new vice president. Smith previously was Flowcrete Americas' national manager for Canada. Smith joined the company after working as sales manager of BASF Corps. Performance Products Group and holds a bachelor of environmental engineering and a master of engi- neering from Deakin University in Australia. Wagner retiring from Balzac Balzac Communications & Market- ing in Napa, Calif., announced its founder Paul Wagner is retiring from his position as president. Wagner will take the title president emeritus and will remain a strategic con- sultant to the food and beverage marketing communications agency. Chief executive officer Michael Wangbickler will replace Wagner as president. Wangbickler has man- aged the company for the past three years and joined the agency in 2004. Thornburn promoted at TricorBraun WinePak Fairfield, Calif.-based TricorBraun WinePak, a wine bottle distribu- tor and subsidiary of TricorBraun, promoted Michelle Thornburn to packaging consultant. Thornburn formerly acted as account coor- dinator and prior to that position worked in the purchasing depart- ment for Columbia Packaging, which was acquired by Tricor- Braun in 2008. Michael Wangbickler