Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/14611
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Appointments Heidi von der Mehden. John Fontes has been appointed South Orange County Sales Representative with TGIC Importers. Prior to this new posi- tion, Fontes was Orange County Sales Representative for Strange Wines and formerly Sales and Marketing Director for VitaLuce Cellars and Ethnic Marketing Manager for Rutherford Wine Company. On his decision to join TGIC Importers, Inc. Fontes says, “TGIC offers an incredible array of products for today’s wholesale customers. The challenges in our current economic climate are many, and the TGIC portfolio is ideally suited to provide both quality and value in the Southern California market.” Erick Castro. Leslie Lindholm, a Level One Sommelier, is now SoCal Chain Manager at TGIC Importers. Lindholm was previously a retail specialist with Regal Wine Co. Prior to that she garnered some 12 years experience in the industry including four years as a wine specialist at Young’s Market Company. Shelly Stein. Paul Ashworth. Wine industry icon Richard Arrowood has announced his decision to leave his long-time position as Winemaster at Arrowood Vineyards & Winery to make a full-time commitment to his newest venture, Amapola Creek. Founded in 2007 with wife Alis Demers Arrowood, Amapola Creek is a tiny ultra-premium winery that focuses on organically farmed, estate-grown, small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Zinfandel from the Sonoma Valley. Heidi von der Mehden has been promoted to head winemaker. She has worked side by side with Arrowood for the last three years and understands his winemaking philoso- phy of “quality without compromise.” Heidi joined Arrowood Winery in 2007 as associ- ate winemaker. Pernod Ricard USA appointed Erick Greg Davis. Castro as West Coast Brand Ambassador for Plymouth & Beefeater Gin. Previously General Manager for Rickhouse, a Future Bars property in San Francisco, Castro has received national accolades for his spirits program and is nominated for three awards at Tales of the Cocktail 2010. In his new role, he will spread the gospel of the cocktail by introducing classic and 1 / the tasting panel / august 2010 vintage recipes to a larger audience. —Deborah Parker Wong Sheldon “Shelly” Stein has been appointed President and Chief Executive Offi cer of Glazer’s Distributors. Stein—who served as Vice Chairman of Global Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch since March 2008—will assume total responsibility for Glazer’s bev- erage distribution business. Jerry Cargill, Glazer’s former President, will assume the new role of Chairman of the Glazer’s newly- created Advisory Board. Paul Ashworth is the new VP of Marketing for Terlato Wines International (TWI). Ashworth will be responsible for leading Terlato’s Premier Selections Division, including brands such as Santa Margherita, Rutherford Hill, Chimney Rock, Cuvaison Estate Wines and Markham Vineyards. He will also oversee TWI’s Corporate Communications and Creative departments. Ashworth was most recently SVP of Moët Hennessy’s West Region. In his new role, Ashworth will report to David Lane, TWI’s Chief Operating Offi cer. Greg Davis has joined the Maker’s Mark distillery in Loretto, KY as Director of Distillery Operations. He will report directly to Maker’s Mark Vice President Operations and Master Distiller Kevin Smith. Most recently, Davis has served as Master Distiller at the Tom Moore Distillery (formerly Barton’s) for the past ten years. Jenna Fagnan, President of Avión Tequila LLC, announced today the appointment of distributors in the premier tequila markets of New York and California. Empire Merchants, a division of The Charmer Sunbelt Group has been appointed distributor for New York and Young’s Market Company has been appointed distributor for California. Fagnan also announced the appointment of tequila industry veteran John Bilello to the position of Executive Vice President of Sales. Bilello joins Tequila Avión after having served most recently as Senior Vice President Global Sales & Marketing for Tequila Milagro. (See our review of Avión on page 57). PHOTO: DEBORAH PARKER WONG PHOTO COURESTY OF JACKSON FAMILY WINES