North Bay Business Journal

Spotlight on Leaders at Independent Wine Companies

Following are profiles of the top day-to-day leaders from the Business Journal’s lists of the largest independently owned wineries under 100,000 cases, published in March, and the largest wine companies, published in May.

Vintner Jess Jackson dies at 81

GEYSERVILLE — Jess Stonestreet Jackson, the wine visionary who popularized Chardonnay in America in the early 1980s with his immediately-successful Kendall-Jackson winery and then became a pioneering architect of the ascendant American wine industry, died today at his Geyserville home after a long battle with cancer. He was 81.

Spotlight: Leaders in Green Technology

This report highlights 46 North Bay professionals in various fields who have been leading development and implementation of environmentally sustainable technologies, such as solar electric and geothermal energy, erosion control for better stream water quality and energy-efficient construction.

Top Projects: Warehouse: Biagi Bros. and Jackson Family Wines distribution center

AMERICAN CANYON — Eleven football fields or 10 Boeing 747 jetliners parked wingtip to wingtip could fit under the massive 15-acre roof of the new distribution center for Santa Rosa-based vintner Jackson Family Wines and Napa-based trucker and warehouser Biagi Bros.

‘Peak’ energy pricing looms for business

NORTH BAY — Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is rolling out a new rate plan called “Peak Day Pricing” in response to a statewide initiative led by the California Public Utilities Commission aimed at reducing energy use during periods of extremely high demand.

Projects to be honored for excellence, contributions to North Bay

NORTH BAY — The Business Journal will honor 12 North Bay real estate projects and the key industry players who made them possible at its fifth-annual 2010 Top Projects Awards reception on Dec. 8. Continue reading to see the list of winning projects.

Sonoma Co. business news: Week of Aug. 30, 2010

Send Business News items to the North Bay Business Journal, Attn: Business Register, 427 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401; fax 707-521-5292; or e-mail news@busjrnl.com.

Jackson to shift wine brand production from Arrowood

SANTA ROSA — Jackson Family Wines plans to shift production of the Arrowood brand this summer from its Sonoma Valley winery to the company’s Cardinale winery in Oakville to bolster the bottom line.

Wine Industry Business Journal: Spotlight: Leaders of the North Coast’s Independent wine companies

Following are profiles of the top day-to-day leaders from the Business Journal’s lists of the largest independently owned wineries under 100,000 cases, published in March, and the largest wine companies, published in May.

Jackson names president

SANTA ROSA – Rick Tigner, president of Jackson Family Wines sales and distribution, was promoted to president of Jackson Family Enterprises.

Warehouse goes green

AMERICAN CANYON — The 650,000-square-foot Kendall Jackson Family Wines Distribution Center earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it one of the largest LEED projects in the state.

Jackson to close grapevine nursery

SANTA ROSA — Jackson Family Wines plans to close its 17-year-old grapevine nursery near Madera, one of the largest in the country, early this summer because of limited demand from inside and outside the company.

Napa-Solano county industrial: Some new demand in 2010 as tenants see excellent terms

The industrial markets of Napa and Solano counties are seeing a modest amount of demand as we head into 2010.

Imports help overall wine sales; end of ’09 better; slow recovery seen

SACRAMENTO — Large scale importation of bulk and bottled wine helped boost total U.S. shipments by an estimated 2.1 percent last year, but wineries heavily impacted by shifting consumer demand may have to wait until 2011 for significant market improvement, an expert said at a major industry symposium here this morning.

Jackson Wine, firms collaborate on advance to water recylcling

NAPA — Civil engineering firm Riechers Spence & Associates and wastewater treatment systems integrator Heritage Systems, both of Napa, have pooled their resources in development and installation of a new water recycling system that helped Jackson Family Wines cut wash water use by 70 percent in a yearlong test.

Rain adds drama to tough economy

North Coast winegrape growers late last week were looking forward to a few warm, breezy days to dry out the remaining grapes on the vine and close out what has been a surprising, challenging season in terms of weather and economics.

New CEO, plan for Destination Council

NAPA – Armed with a new president and chief executive officer, the rejuvenation of the valley’s tourism council appears to finally be making progress, garnering support for the first time from cities countywide.

Wine: Napa printer acquires St. Helena firm; 3-liter ‘Mini-Barrel’ offered

Printing Services Napa Valley at the beginning of April acquired St. Helena commercial printer Albright Printing & Design from Tim Doran, whose family started it as Doran’s Printing, sold it in November 2002 and regained ownership recently. … Several new North Coast wineries and tasting rooms have opened or received a green light recently. … ***

In wine packaging news, 585 Wine Partners of Sonoma launched a 3-liter “Mini-Barrel” format for the Red Truck brand in Wal-Mart Stores’ Sam’s Club chain, with a wider retail rollout planned this year. … Andrews & Thornley Construction of Napa in mid-March started reconstruction on Napa Valley Vintners’ new headquarters in the former Jackse Winery in St. Helena. … The Academy of Wine Communications, a Napa-based trade group for wine marketing and publicity professionals, has new officials as the organization looks to expand membership beyond Napa and Sonoma counties and reach new-generation media such as blogs and social networks. … In wine shipping news, Inertia Beverage Group of Napa launched WineREvolution.com to allow restaurants and retailers in 12 states to purchase 60-plus brands not commonly distributed via traditional wholesalers. … Cork stopper distributor M.A. Silva Corks USA in Santa Rosa was certified by the Green Business Program Sonoma County, coordinated by the Sonoma County Economic Development Board and the Business Environmental Alliance. … Wine People items