Avenue Vine

Other officers of the Board elected for the 2007 term are: Vice President, Scott Wallace, Vice President, Operations, Buena Vista Carneros; Secretary, Armando Ceja, Ceja Vineyards; and Treasurer, Tory Sims, Chief Financial Officer, Cuvaison Estate Wines.

I am delighted to turn the reins of leadership over to Steve Sangiacomo, said MacRostie. We have turned the corner on building a new organization, are actively implementing our three-year strategic plan, have expanded our membership and attained financial stability. Steve has been a part of this change and, as a member of a family with deep roots to the wineries and other growers in this region, he was the perfect choice to lead our growth toward the next level.

In addition to the election of officers, John Clews, Vice President of Vineyard and Winery Operations, Clos Du Val, has also been elected a new member of the CWA Board of Directors. He replaces Michael Havens of Havens Wine Cellars, whose term has ended.

Clews joined Clos Du Val in 1999, after acting as general manager/chief enologist at Steele Wines, and working at Newton Vineyard in Napa Valley and Preston Vineyards in Sonoma County. His depth of experience in winemaking, operations and the expansion of a renowned brand is expected to further enhance and strengthen the strategic focus of the Carneros Wine Alliance.

He joins Eileen Crane, President, Domaine Carneros, Armando Ceja, winemaker, Ceja Vineyards, Larry Hyde, Hyde Vineyards, Tory Sims, Chief Financial Officer, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Steve Spadarotto, Senior Vice President, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, and Scott Wallace, Vice President, Operations, Buena Vista Carneros, in addition to Sangiacomo and MacRostie as members of the Board.

The Carneros Wine Alliance, comprised of more than 85 members, is known for the unique partnership between its growers and vintners. In addition to the stellar membership of the Carneros Wine Alliance, it is a well-known secret that many of the wine industry most famous vintners source their grapes from Carneros.

Carneros encompasses a little bit of Napa and a little bit of Sonoma, spanning the southern reaches of both counties. Los Carneros, which means the Ram in Spanish, is a fully independent, federally designated cool climate appellation known for its unassailable Chardonnay, elegant Pinot Noir, and, in recent years, special sites that enable Syrah, Merlot and a range of other varietals to flourish. A rustic, wind-swept agricultural area, Carneros was one of the first wine regions to be designated an American Viticulture Area (AVA) in 1983 based on climate rather than political boundaries.

Press Contacts:
Steve Sangiacomo
Chair, Board of Directors
Carneros Wine Alliance
Sangiacomo Vineyards
707-938-5503

Phyllis Gillis
Executive Director
Carneros Wine Alliance
707-253-2678
Carneros Wine Alliance Website: www.carneros.com

Source: Press Release; “CARNEROS WINE ALLIANCE ELECTS NEW OFFICERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS; JOHN CLEWS OF CLOS DU VAL ALSO ELECTED TO BOARD,”CARNEROS, CA--January 16, 2007