Former Domain Chandon vineyard manager Zach Berkowitz is joining consulting firm Enologix (www.enologix.com). In related news, Enologix just purchased Global Vintage Quarterly magazine (www.globalvintage.com).

Keith Moak has been hired to serve as Cambria's general manager. He has held management positions with Chateau St. Jean, Christian Brothers Sales Company, William Hill and Robert Mondavi Winery.

The Wine Appreciation Guild announced the presentation of its 2001 Wine Literary Award to author and journalist Gene Ford. A Seattle-based wine professional and educator, Ford has been both a prolific author and a civil libertarian. He is best known for his widely read newsletters, The Moderation Reader and Healthy Drinking. The Wine Literary Award, which recognizes lifetime achievement, is given annually to an author who has made a substantial contribution to the literature of wine.

Tim Hanni's firm, WineQuest hired Ted Chappell. He will work with WineQuest on its wine list development programs and was beverage director for the Ritz Carleton Laguna Nigel. Dr. Gehard Ziemer will be the tasting and database administrator for WineQuest and Sue Ann Wercinski is going to be handling culinary programs and events. She is a scientist and chef instructor for Home Chef.

The prestigious 2001 Tete de Cuvée Award was presented to Daryl and Lisa Groom for their outstanding achievements in the wine profession. The award was presented at the tenth annual Côtes du Coeur International Fine Wine Auction and Celebrity Chef Dinner in March. The award is presented annually to an individual or family in recognition of outstanding achievements in winemaking and efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle in compliance with the American Heart Association's guidelines. Daryl is vice president of Geyser Peak Winery and is an executive committee member of Jim Beam Brands Company. Lisa has launched a small premium Sonoma County winery, Baystone.

Judy James is resigning from her 12-year post as executive director of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau to spend more time with her family.

Laura Salo Long was appointed vice president of business development of Jackson Family Farms. Long began her wine industry career with DeLoach Vineyards in 1984.

Scott Scheid was named president and COO for Scheid Vineyards. Mike Thomsen assumes the duties of CFO, a position held by Heidi Scheid since 1997. Heidi Scheid continues as senior vice president, treasurer and as a member of the board. Scheid Vineyards also announced that it will relocate its executive offices from Marina del Rey, California to Salinas, California. Scheid said the move will allow the viticultural and executive teams to work closely with wineries to help them meet their style, flavor and overall winemaking goals.

Aaron Pott was named winemaker for Beringer's St. Clement Vineyards in St. Helena. Pott had been imports winemaker with Beringer since 1998. Pott replaces Bill Ballentine, who is leaving to pursue his own boutique winemaking venture and plans to introduce a new label, William Cole.

SouthCorp Wines named Brian Wurtz, formerly senior vice president, sales and marketing for Rosemount Estates as senior vice president, national sales manager. Tim Matz, formerly senior vice president, sales and marketing for Rosemount, was promoted to senior vice president, national sales manager. Scott Hamilton, formerly senior vice president and CFO for Rosemount, will have the same role in the new company.

Andrew Walker of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at the University of California, Davis, was named as the recipient of the Louis P. Martini Endowed Chair in Viticulture. Created initially as a research endowment by Carolyn Martini-Cox, president of Louis M. Martini Winery, and brother Mike Martini, vice president, the Endowed Chair honors the pair's father, Louis P. Martini. In 1999, the Martini family re-directed the funds in order to create the endowed Chair. "We wanted a living, ongoing legacy emphasizing learning," explains Carolyn Martini, "as my dad was always very dedicated to education and long-term research. He knew that no industry can survive for long without those efforts." Walker's research focuses on the development of grape varieties and rootstocks, emphasizing pest and disease resistance.

Lise Asimont Blair was hired at Geyser Peak Winery as grower relations representative. Blair joins Geyser Peak from Cambria Winery & Vineyards in Santa Maria, California, where she was assistant vineyard manager. In her new position, she will report to viticulturist Mike Stutler.

Golden State Vintners announced the appointment of Buddy Masuda to the position of senior winemaker, GSV Central Coast and Mark Rasmussen to the position of senior winemaker, domestic finished wines. Masuda will assume responsibility as head of winemaking at GSV's Monterey winery and for customer, industry and grower relations for GSV's business on the Central Coast. Masuda joined GSV Monterey in 1997 as Production Supervisor and Enologist. Mark Rasmussen assumes the new position of senior winemaker, domestic finished wines. Rasmussen joined GSV in 1992.

Pierre Seillan was hired as consulting winemaker for Matanzas Creek Winery. Pierre, winemaker for the newly launched winery Vérité, will supervise all aspects of production from fruit sourcing to winemaking.

California Glass Company named Terry Sanzo as director of strategic planning and business development. Sanzo, a thirty-five year veteran of Owens-Brockway Glass Corporation, will facilitate customer relations.

Jeff Redding, director of conservation, development and planning for Napa County, submitted his resignation; his severance agreement gives him seven month's salary. "Politics" may have played a role in his departure.

Changes at Grove Street Winery: Winemaker Matt Cookson left Grove Street, where he was responsible for making Wolf Ridge wines and developing a reserve wine program for Headlands Estates Wine Company. Bill Arbios is filling in as consulting winemaker while a search continues. Gary Wu and Dennis Pasquini also left Grove Street abruptly.

Jackson Family Farms announced that Catherine Larsen was named director of sales and marketing for Cardinale, Lokoya and Atalon wineries in NapaValley. She was previously with Long Island's Channing Daughters Winery.

Marco Di Giulio is the new winemaker at Napa's Livingston-Moffett Winery. He succeeds John Kongsgaard, who moved on to dedicate time to his own projects. Di Giulio was cellar master at Pine Ridge, production manager at Atlas Peak and winemaker for Sonoma's Pezzi-King Winery. He was also winemaker at Cardinale and Lokoya.

Patricia Byrne was hired by the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission as tasting room manager for the Discover Lodi! Wine & Visitor Center. She will work with hospitality manager Kara Dondero, to provide visitor services. Byrne has an MBA from California State University Sacramento and has previous industry experience with the Amador Vintners Association, Peirano Estate Vineyards, and Clos du Lac Cellars.

Rutherford Benchmarks, owners and producers of Quail Ridge Vineyards and Cellars, Quail Creek Cellars, and Fox Brook Winery and marketing agent for Bell Wine Cellars, said Michael Colston and Robert Sullivan joined the sales team. Colston, the Southeastern regional sales manager, was formerly with Sebastiani Vineyard's Humphrey & Brown Group, which was recently purchased by Canandaigua Wine Company. Colston will manage the sales for the four wine brands in ten states. He will be based in Atlanta. Sullivan, the central regional sales manager, was previously the on-premise account representative for the Dallas based Centennial Fine Wine & Spirits.

The Court of Master Sommeliers awarded the title of Master Sommelier to Keith Goldston, Lawrence O'Brien and Robert Jones. Goldston, from Las Vegas, NV, is the sommelier at Aureole in the Mandalay Bay Resort. O'Brien, residing in Orlando, FL, is the sommelier at Emeril's Restaurant Orlando. Jones from Richmond, VA, is wine director at The Commonwealth Club located in Richmond.

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America named Peggy England vice president for public affairs and communications, replacing David Dickerson. England comes to WSWA from the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.

National Distributing named James 'Jimmy' Carlos as vice president, distribution systems. Prior to NDC, Carlos was vice president of operations at Servitex where he worked with industrial plants to improve operations and reduce costs.

Hess Collection Winery announced the appointment of Roberto Ceballos to director of visitor center and gallery. Roberto, has been with Hess since 1991.

The Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association elected Camille McBee as the president of the board of directors. The association has more than 400 members. McBee is director of marketing and general sales manager for La Buena Vida Vineyards and winery in Springtown and Grapevine Texas.

Kristina Ho, a first-year MBA student at Stanford University, is the recipient of the first Robert Mondavi/Benchmark Consulting Scholarship. She will spend the summer working in the marketing research department at Robert Mondavi Winery. There were more than one hundred applicants from prestigious schools such as Harvard, Columbia and Duke. Benchmark's Jody Shepard was in charge of the project. Benchmark Consulting is also conducting the search for an executive director at the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association.

Sheldon "Hack" Wilson, the founder of Chimney Rock Winery in Napa Valley, passed away on April 1, at the age of 85.