North Bay Business Journal

Is an excursion train possible for Sonoma County?

Could an excursion train start rolling through Sonoma and Marin counties in the near future, bringing wine country tourists from Napa Valley and San Francisco via the Larkspur ferry terminal? … This summer, the footprint of the TastingRoom’s wine bottle transfer facility in Airport Gateway Center near Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport north of Santa Rosa expanded to 25,000 square feet from 16,000 square feet to accommodate the dozens of wineries that now use the service. … The owners of Russian River Vineyards and its Corks restaurant filed for U.S. Bankruptcy Court reorganization, and recently the amount owed was disclosed as nearly $3 million. … Bill Reading, founder of and portmaker for Petaluma-based Sonoma Valley Portworks, purchased the company from American Beverage Group Inc.

Wine: Rivercap plans Benicia capsule plant

Spain-based Rivercap is setting up manufacturing plant in Benicia to make polylaminate and PVC plastic capsules to top wine and spirits bottles.

The 26,500-square-foot plant will “increase responsiveness” for Rivercap customers in North America and tighten the partnership between the capsule supplier and its exclusive distributor on the continent, according to José Saenz, chief executive officer of Rivercap USA Inc.

Winery Exchange picks up Echelon

NOVATO — One of the results of Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines’ recent sales of wine assets is providing corporate alcoholic beverage brand creator Winery Exchange with a line of its own products.

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.

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.

Moth quarantine area to grow in Napa, Sonoma

NORTH BAY – State, federal and local agriculture officials are expanding the quarantine areas for the European grapevine moth in Napa and Sonoma counties after the insect was found in Kenwood, Sonoma and Calistoga.

New project profiles: Biagi/Jackson distribution center, Carneros Vintners

Editor’s note: The Business Journal features profiles of North Bay construction projects that are complete or nearly so. Send details to jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or fax to 707-521-5292.

Sonoma Valley Green housing project cuts costs with factory-built parts

SONOMA VALLEY – A planned 52-home development north of the city of Sonoma has been redesigned to include more environmentally friendly features while significantly lowering anticipated sale prices.

Wine: Hess Collection invests $30 million to increase vineyards, wine quality

The Hess Collection founder Donald Hess has started a $30 million, 10-year “quality improvement initiative” to upgrade his Napa County vineyards and wineries.