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| Business Beat:
03/01/2010
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Business Beat: Kunde winery takes on minority partner
During 1992-1994, Pat Roney was the president of Kunde Family Estate Winery. Now, over 15 years later, he’s back, as he and his Vintage Wine Estates have purchased a minority share in the winery and will act as managing partner. Vintage Wine Estates is a Santa Rosa-based marketing powerhouse specializing in direct to consumer marketing, including heavy focus on the Internet and telemarketing. For Kunde chairman Jeff Kunde, the business opportunities afforded by a relationship with Vintage Wine Estates were too good to pass up. “This is an opportunity to expand our sales and marketing capabilities,” said Kunde. “Pat has a tremendous organization for this, and he is very much on the cutting edge. We’ve known Pat for a long time and he’s a great family friend.” Kunde said that his family will still own a majority share of the winery, and still control the vineyard operations, which is a separate business. “The Kunde family members who work here will still be working here,” said Kunde. “None of that has changed.” Included in Vintage Wine Estate’s stable are a number of wineries, such as Windsor Sonoma Winery, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, and Grove Street Winery in Sonoma County, and Stone Fly Vineyards and Girard Winery in the Napa Valley. Vintage Wine Estates also sells wine-related products (i.e., stemware, wine cellar products, wine preservation systems) through its International Wine Accessories company. Roney is a partner in Vintage Wine Estates with Leslie Rudd, owner of specialty grocery stores Dean & Deluca, and the Oakville Grocery. For Roney, the minority ownership in the winery portion of the Kunde family enterprise means increased cost efficiencies for the Vintage Wine Estates portfolio. The Kundes currently have a permit to produce 250,000 cases of wine, but actually only produce about half that amount. Vintage Wine Estates can take advantage of the underused winemaking operations. “We will certainly utilize some of that capacity,” said Roney, who said that Vintage Wine Estates also produces private label wines for restaurants and other clients. Among its entities, Vintage Wine Estates currently produces about 300,000 cases of wine annually. Roney has a lengthy resume in the wine business. In addition to serving as president of Kunde between 1992-94, he has also served as president of Chateau St. Jean Winery in Kenwood, CEO of Dean & Deluca, senior vice-president of marketing for the former Christian Brothers Winery, and a senior project manager for The Seagram Wine Company. The entire Kunde estate is comprised of 1,850 contiguous acres, with about 700 of that planted in more than 20 different varieties of grapes. The Kunde family has a rich history in Sonoma County, starting when Louis Kunde who immigrated from Germany. Louis Kunde bought Wildwood Vineyards ranch in Kenwood in 1904. After his death, in 1922, the business was taken over by his son, Arthur “Big Boy” Kunde, who was succeeded by his two sons, Bob and Fred, Now, the operations are owned and operated by a fifth generation of Kundes. The existing winery off of Sonoma Highway in Kenwood was built in 1989, and had its first crush in 1990. Late Winter Sustainable Garden Tour Join Karen Boness of Kenwood Permaculture and Willow Landscape Design on Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., for an in depth look at a living, breathing permaculture garden located in Kenwood. This garden tour and lecture will introduce you to the principles and design concepts of this rapidly growing sustainable gardening movement. After just a few years this site has been transformed from a dry, thistle-infested slope into a richly productive and verdant garden. You’ll be immersed in the colors and aromas of food forests, habitat ponds, keyhole annual vegetable beds, a rooftop herb garden, and a grape-draped gazebo. You’ll learn how to think with a “permaculture mind” and transform your yard into a garden of incredible abundance. This workshop includes a 1 _-hour lecture and slide show followed by a two-hour garden tour, where you can see permaculture in action. The tour also includes a brief sheet-mulching demonstration. This tour is sponsored and organized by the San Francisco Botanic Garden Society. To register go to sfbotanicalgarden.org/education/Registration/register.html or contact Kitty Fisher, Education Coordinator, at 415-661-1316, ext. 400, or kfischer@sfbotanicgarden.org. Mayo appoints director of sales and marketing Mayo Family Winery recently appointed Courtney McCauley to Director of Sales and Marketing. Courtney has managed the Mayo Family Winery tasting room as Director of Hospitality since 2007. As Director of Sales & Marketing, Courtney will oversee all aspects of hospitality, community communications, and sales. For the past five years she has been responsible for overseeing the winery’s tasting room in Glen Ellen as well as managing the Mayo Family’s wine club. She is active in Sonoma Valley’s hospitality community and sits on the board of directors of the Heart of Sonoma Valley Association. “I love this Valley and its community of hospitality professionals,” said McCauley. “I’m looking forward to becoming even more involved and creating memorable experiences for visitors to our tasting rooms and to Sonoma Valley.” As Director of Sales & Marketing, Courtney will oversee all of the Mayo Family tasting rooms, its social media activities, community relations and events. Mayo Family Winery maintains two tasting rooms. At the Glen Ellen-based winery they showcase their small lot, single vineyard wines. At the Mayo Family Reserve Room in Kenwood, guests enjoy a seven-course, sit down food and wine pairing experience under the direction of Chef Max Porter-Elliot. Founded in 1990 by long-time Sonoma Valley residents Henry and Diane Mayo, Mayo Family Winery currently produces 8,000 cases of wine annually, selling 95 percent from its two tasting rooms and the Cellar Door, a co-op tasting room at the Lodge At Sonoma. Jeffrey H. Mayo is president of the winery. Michel Berthoud is the winemaker. For more information about Mayo Family Winery visit www.mayofamilywinery.com. Tree-shaping workshop at Wildwood Wildwood Farm Nursery & Sculpture Garden in Kenwood will be conducting a tree-shaping workshop on Saturday, March 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enjoy a casual introduction to the art of tree shaping and create a living work of art for your deck, patio or entry. There will be ample time for “hands on” learning with plenty of one-on-one assistance. Participants will also learn more about hundreds of different Japanese maples and other small trees suitable for container gardening. Due to popularity Wildwood Farm is offering two sessions this year. Bring clippers and gloves (if you use them). Cost of the workshop is $20, which includes a tree to take home. Workshop size is limited, so make a reservation today by calling 833-1161. Wildwood is located at 10300 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood. Cherry Blossom Festival at Landmark Landmark Vineyards’ first-ever Cherry Blossom festival will be held on Mar. 13, from 1-4 p.m. In the Japanese culture, the cherry blossom represents the cycle of life and how our lives blossom and fall. Indulge in Bento boxes, artisanal green teas, an oyster bar, delicious green tea chocolates, and, of course plenty of Landmark wine. Join Landmark and celebrate the blossoms. Admission ($25 per person, $10 per child) includes a Bento Box lunch with your choice of teriyaki chicken or California roll, a glass of Chardonnay or Syrah, and access to all event entertainment. Children are welcome at this event. There will be a special seminar to teach children the art of origami. Advance event ticket purchase is required. Tickets are on sale now at www.landmarkwine.com, or call 833-0226. The winery is located at the corner of Adobe Canyon Rd. and Highway 12 in Kenwood. Special rates at the Glenelly Too broke to travel? No worries. Take advantage of the Glenelly Inn’s low winter rates the first night and then pay half price on your second (and third and fourth) nights of your stay. You must mention this offer when booking your stay. This offer is for new reservations only, and based on availability, and offers may not be combined. This offer is not valid Mar 18-21 and expires March 31. To book your reservations, call 996-6720. The Glenelly Inn & Cottages is located at 5131 Warm Springs Rd. in Glen Ellen. Go to www.glenelly.com for more information. |
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