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20 WINES&VINES February 2018 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS CALIFORNIA New interim leader for Sonoma Vintners Michael Haney, director of mem- bership and government relations for the Sonoma County Vintners, was named the group's interim executive director. Haney replaces Jean Arnold Sessions, who left the executive director post in January. Haney produces wine under the Black Dog Cellars label and served for 11 years as board member and three years as ex- ecutive director of the l'Ete du Vin wine auction. During his tenure, the organization raised more than $15 million for cancer-related re- search and services. Signorello set to rebuild with cave Ray Signorello Jr., owner of Napa Valley's Signorello Estate winery that was destroyed in the October wildfires, retained Taylor Lombardo Architects to oversee the design and Nordby Construction Co. to manage the construction of a new winery. The plan is to build a "modern, state-of-the-art build- ing" that takes advantage of the property's views and will include a commercial kitchen. Signo- rello is also adding an estimated 8,000-square-foot cave system. SSU dean joins cannabis venture William Silver, former dean of So- noma State University's School of Business and Economics, is the new CEO of the Santa Rosa can- nabis firm CannaCraft. In his role with SSU, Silver also oversaw the school's Wine Business Institute. In the statement announcing his new position, Silver said Canna- Craft's revenues have doubled every year for three years, and he hopes to help the company con- tinue growing with an eye toward replicating the CannaCraft brand in other cannabis-friendly states. The company employs about 180 people and makes nearly 150 products under five brands, in- cluding AbsoluteXtracts cannabis oils, Care By Design medicines and Satori chocolates. New winemaker at Mendocino Wine Co. Greg Winter is the new director of winemaking at Mendocino Wine Co. (MWC) and Parducci Wine Cel- lars in Ukiah. Winter will join head winemaker Bob Swain in producing the national brands Parducci, True Grit, Paul Dolan Vineyards, Moniker Wine Estates, ZinPhomaniac and Sketchbook. Prior to joining MWC, Winter worked as a winemaker at R.H. Phillips, Valley of the Moon and most recently as the director of winemaking at Hogue Cellars. Swain, who has been at the helm of Parducci Wine Cellars for the past 20 years (13 as head winemaker for MWC), will retire at the end of 2018. Swain assumed the role of head winemaker in 1997. Lake County winery group elects board The Lake County Winery Associa- tion elected Christian Ahlmann of Six Sigma Ranch, Jessie Zielsdorf of Langtry Estate (Foley Family Wines) and Randi Sedrick of Wildhurst Vine- yards as new members. Returning directors include Gregory Graham of Gregory Graham Wines, Cindi Olof of Olof Cellars, Matt Hughes and Amanda Bolla of Brassfield Estate Winery, Raven Sprague of Steele Wines, Richard "Kaz" Kasmier of Regional News Greg Winter