John Grant appointed to Foster's Division Vice President, California

In March 2010, Foster’s Wine Estates Americas announced the appointment of John Grant to the new position of Division Vice President, California. In this role, he is be responsible for directing all activities of Foster’s California sales teams and distributor management within the state.

Grant brings more than 25 years of sales, marketing and executive leadership experience to Foster’s. He is a past President of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates and most recently served as the President of Constellation Wines Australia.

Grant has been recognized for his marketing, sales and leadership skills by being voted Australian Marketer of the Year and twice leading teams that have won “Brand of the Year” titles.

“John is a highly skilled leader with a proven record of building high performance teams and winning where he competes,” said Mike Holden, Senior Vice President of Sales. “John brings a unique set of skills to this critical position.”

Grant will be based out of Foster’s North American Headquarters in the NapaValley. He is a 1997 graduate of the PMD (Program for Management Development) at Harvard Business School. John lives in Healdsburg with his family.

About Foster’s Wine Estates Americas (FWEA): This is the premium wine portfolio owned by Foster’s Americas, a regional division of Foster’s Group of Australia. With a proud history that dates back to the 1800's and a legacy marked by the highest commitment to making quality wines and producing strong business returns, FWEA produces and markets an international portfolio of award-winning brands from iconic estates like Beringer Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean in California, Penfolds, Rosemount and Wolf Blass in Australia, Castello di Gabbiano in Italy, and Matua Valley in New Zealand. Many of these estates were founded by pioneers in their regions and continue to craft wines at the forefront of quality, innovation and regional expression. More information can be found at http://www.fosterswineestates.com/.

Patz & Hall, The Coppola Companies - George Coope

George Coope, Executive Vice President and Managing Director at Demeter Group, brings more than 20 years of investment banking and corporate development advisory experience with consumer and retail companies to the wine industry and other clients.

The Demeter website notes the following: "Prior to Demeter Group, he co-founded the food and beverage practice at Hambrecht & Quist LLC (H&Q). Overall, he has been involved in transactions totaling more than $3 billion. George also worked in R&D and operations at Miller Brewing and in corporate development at General Electric.

He is a director of Patz & Hall Wine Company, and a former director of The Coppola Companies, the parent company of Rubicon Estate and Francis Ford Coppola Presents LLC. George graduated with a BA in anthropology from Stanford University, an MS in food science and technology from the University of California at Davis and an MBA (1981) from Harvard Business School. "

WISE Academy, Aged Cabernet Trust, Wine Industry Technology Symposium, Ambrosia Wine Catalogue, Winetasting Network - Lesley Berglund

Lesley Berglund, an accomplished wine industry entrepreneur & CEO, is also a third generation Napa Valley native from a grape growing family.

Lesley is an accomplished wine industry entrepreneur, CEO and board member with a focus on driving industry change. Over the past 18 years in the wine industry she has started up the equivalent of seven new businesses, acquired and integrated four companies and led during periods of dramatic change. As co-founder and former CEO of the Ambrosia Wine Catalogue/the Winetasting Network (which she sold to 1-800 Flowers in 2004) she has deep experience in consumer direct marketing of fine wines.

Lesley has served on the board of nine wine-related companies and trade associations. In 2006, she co-founded the Specialty Wine Retailers Association. In 2008, she co-founded the WISE ACADEMY. This is awinery sales executive education business -- the only wine industry education, training and certification program dedicated solely to direct-to-consumer sales and marketing-- go to (WISE Academy) for more information.

Lesley serves as Co-Chair of both the Wine Industry Technology Symposium and the Green Wine Summit.

She also owns and operates the Aged Cabernet Trust, an aged Cabernet investment company that has provided successful returns to investors for the past 25 vintages.

Lesley has an MBA from Harvard Business School (Class of 1991)and a BA in Economics from Wesleyan University. She is a member of both the Young Presidents Organization and the Entrepreneurs Organization and has completed the Kellogg Woman’s Director Development program. Lesley is a third generation Napa Valley native from a grape growing family.

More about Aged Cabernet Trust: (from the website)

"For more than two decades, Aged Cabernet Trust has been engaged in the purchasing, aging and marketing of Cabernet Sauvignon. Each year, we raise money from investors to buy current release wines and store the wine until it is ready to be consumed. We then re-release the wines back into the market, selling them to a select group of wine enthusiasts, specialty wine retailers and exceptional restaurants.

Wines chosen to become part of our portfolio are all beautifully constructed, age-worthy wines, and have solid brand recognition that will guarantee interest in the years to come. Until re-released, when the aged wines are ready to be enjoyed, proper cellaring in a Napa-based bonded and temperature-controlled warehouse is insured.

To compare fine aged Cabernet Sauvignon with its youthful counterpart is nearly like comparing two different varietals. Colors evolve from purple and violet tints to progressively more brick red and eventually tawny colors. The fruit-forward aromas fade and a more complex nose develops. The taste changes, as stringent tannins fade and are replaced by a smoother and rounder mouth feel. In great aged Cabernet Sauvignon, these various taste and aroma components integrate, yielding more richness and complexity."

Grape Experience; WSET Instructor - Adam Chase

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ADAM CHASE holds a DWS (Diploma in Wines & Spirits) and is Candidate for MW.

Adam owns Grape Experience with offices in Boston and San Francisco, where he teaches all levels of the WSET program (Wine and Spirits Educational Trust). He is formerly the Associate Dean of Wine Studies at Copia in Napa, California.

WSET says, "He won't admit to it, but he is one of the "favorite" WSET instructors in America - his love and in-depth knowledge of wine always makes for an exciting class. Adam has worked in the wine industry for 10 years as an educator, retailer and consultant. He is an Associate with the Institute of Wine and Spirits and holds the Honors Diploma certification from London's Wine and Spirits Educational Trust. He is also a candidate for the Master of Wine."

Adam earned his MBA at Harvard in 1990.

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WineCircle Consulting - Peter Grossman

WineCircle Consulting is led by Peter Grossman, who is founder and CEO. Peter has trained and managed buyers and merchandise managers at Bevmo!, and at other retail chains. He brings the “behind the scenes” experience and expertise that can truly help clients create actionable plans to sell more wine. Peter’s extensive track record of accomplishments in sales, marketing and merchandising in the wine industry is second to none.

Peter’s core competencies include product mix optimization, pricing strategy, inventory management, supply chain logistics, marketing effectiveness, operations efficiency, and team evaluation, starting from the ground up.

Prior to founding WineCircle, Peter was Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager at Beverages & more!, a 60 plus unit alcoholic beverage superstore chain. He was recruited by its CEO to grow its business significantly, which he accomplished during his tenure.

At Bevmo!, Peter was the sales and merchandising leader on the five person senior management team that nearly doubled sales from less than $200 million to over $375 million, quintupling earnings in a three year period. Peter accelerated the growth of the business by increasing the focus on quality branded and private label products. He reallocated inventory investment to improve turnover and sales. By hiring and leading the appropriate talent, he built the business and the merchandising organization. Peter enhanced the growth of the wine business by increasing the productivity of the stores and the internet. Peter has extensive contacts in the wine industry.

Prior to joining Bevmo!, Peter owned and operated his own business for a number of years. Sales increased from $13 million to nearly $19 million and profitability improved. Peter understands how to grow small businesses. He comprehends how to get things done within the constraints of a small business. Peter also built little known products and categories into successful national businesses in a number of senior executive roles with branded, national retail chains, including Egghead and The Sharper Image.

Peter has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School (1978), and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, where he graduated magna cum laude.

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Global Wine Partners: Scott Becker

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Scott Becker is Vice President at Global Wine Partners, specializing in wine industry mergers, acquisitions and investments. Global Wine Partners provides investment banking services for wine business transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, valuations, strategic advisory, asset management and corporate finance services in raising debt and equity capital. The bank has wine investment joint ventures with private equity firms and other major financial institutions. The bank is headquartered in St. Helena, CA.

Scott started with Global Wine Partners in 2007 and joined the firm full-time in 2008 after completing his Master's in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

He previously worked with Cargill, Inc. in corporate development. Before business school, Scott served in the U.S. Air Force as a Special Agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy summa cum laude in civil engineering in 2001.

Scott was Co-President of the Harvard Business School Wine & Cuisine Society and is currently pursuing his Diploma through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

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California Grapes International - Amy Hanson

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Amy Hanson is Vice President of Marketing for California Grapes International. She spends much of her time in California, and much of her time in Hong Kong, opening the Chinese market to California wines.


According to the Website, "California Grapes International, Inc. is your leader in international wine sales and distribution. The current business model of wine distribution and sales in the United States and abroad does not provide for an effective sale strategy beyond the direct sale of a wineries’ tasting room. The biggest challenge is the absence of value being provided to the buyer.

California Grapes International, Inc. has developed the necessary plan to achieve this “Value Added” sales and distribution model. In looking to international markets for the deployment of this plan we have identified and developed the necessary marketing, operations and sales support mechanisms to help domestic wineries realize the opportunity of international sales." USA headquarters are in San Jose, CA.

Wines currently represented are:

C. G. DiArie

Robledo Family Winery
Bumgarner

Cartlidge & Browne

Ceja

Domaine Carneros

Tudor

Radog
Fopolli
Russian Hill
Ruston
Miraflores
Terre Rouge
Easton
White Oak

Amy is a graduate of Harvard College, class of 1992.

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Heritage Link Wines: Selena Cuffe and Khary Cuffe

Visit the website of this company, which imports wines from Africa:
(information below from the website)

ABOUT THE COMPANY:
Heritage Link Brands is the preeminent importer and distributor of wine from the African continent and its Diaspora. We are the largest company in the United States dedicated to importing and distributing wine produced by indigenous African vintners and people of African descent throughout the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA.


Selena Cuffe
Selena Cuffe is the President and CEO of Heritage Link Brands, LLC. She presides over the company's strategic and operational direction. With over 10 years of general management experience, she has served in key roles for United Airlines, Procter & Gamble, and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), overseeing initiatives for over 20 countries.

Cuffe is a graduate of Stanford University and holds a Master of Business Administration, with honors, from Harvard University. She is also certified, with merit, by the UK-based Wine and Spirits Educational Trust, (WSET).

Khary Cuffe
Khary Cuffe serves as Chief Financial Officer for Heritage Link Brands, LLC. He directs fiscal control functions and oversees business development activity and regulatory affairs. Formerly with Prudential Financial and UBS Investment Bank, Cuffe has a decade of experience in public and corporate finance, with transactional experience in Mortgage Backed Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions, Debt, Equity, and Initial Public Offerings. He was also a marketing executive with the Procter & Gamble Company.

Cuffe is a graduate of Wesleyan University and holds Masters degrees from the Harvard Business School and John F. Kennedy School of Government.

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