American Vineyard Foundation Announces 2009 Board of Directors

Napa, CA – The American Vineyard Foundation, an organization whose mission is to raise funds that address grape and wine industry research priorities, announces its new Board of Directors for 2009. Bob Gallo (E & J Gallo Wines), Fred Franzia (Bronco Wine Company) and Jerry Lohr (J Lohr Vineyards), are among a distinguished group of industry leaders who continue to serve on the Board to determine policy and provide guidance and direction for the AVF.

In addition to these well-known names, the Executive Committee is comprised of Art Caputi, Jim Frisinger, Hal Huffsmith, and Tony Stephen. Member Sheldon Parker succeeds Andy Hoxsey, who resigned in April 2009. During his tenure, Hoxsey was instrumental in rallying members to increase donations and expand the contributor base. Custom crush clients who conduct business with Andy at the Napa Wine Company are encouraged to support the AVF with one dollar per ton of grapes processed, which Andy then matches dollar for dollar. Giovanni Rossini also assumes a position on the Board following his father Al’s resignation.

“Both Andy and Al served on the AVF Board for a number of years, providing leadership, guidance and vision in raising research dollars and directing the funding of projects designed to answer some of our enology and viticulture questions. We will miss their presence at the Board meetings,” says Executive Committee member Jim Frisinger.

Hal Huffsmith, Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President of Vineyard Operations at Trinchero Wine Estates, has dedicated an enormous amount of time and effort over the past three years to move the organization forward and build a solid collaborative base with other industry research funding agencies. Huffsmith notes that, “This has been a rewarding process. We have continued partnering and expanding the wine and grape research funding participants, and we have used the Unified Grant Management web site to coordinate the RFP, review and subsequently fund the prioritized research projects. The industry is now in a good position to maximize the return on each research dollar invested.”

About the American Vineyard Foundation

The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. Basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader. The AVF provides a unique opportunity to unify the industry through an industry-wide research effort to maintain this progress.

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