Sonoma State University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Linda Nowak as Interim Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute (WBI). Nowak, a distinguished educator and respected leader in the field of wine business, returns to the role she held from 2007 to 2010, when she was instrumental in furthering WBI’s reputation as a global leader in wine business education. Nowak’s extensive background in marketing, business administration, and wine education uniquely positions her to lead WBI during a transitional period. She holds a Ph.D. in business administration from Saint Louis University, with a major in marketing and a minor in international business. She earned her MBA from Mercer University and her Bachelor of Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Nowak is no stranger to Sonoma State University, having served as a professor of marketing from 1996 to 2010. Her tenure included notable achievements as Executive Director of WB

Sonoma State University’s (SSU) Wine Business Institute (WBI) announces the launch of A Report on the Wine Industry Today, offering a fresh perspective on the current landscape, the opportunities and the challenges facing wine industry leaders in 2023. Faculty contributors to the inaugural issue include Economics Professors Chong Kim and Rob Eyler along with Wine Business Professor InHaeng Jung. Contributing Board Members include Jay Johnson, President, RNDC West Region at Republic National Distributing Company, Ed Adams, Vice President, Capital Markets Group at American AgCredit and Gary Heck, President & Chairman of Korbel Champagne Cellars. “While this year has been a challenging one for the wine industry, there are bright spots and companies who are exploiting opportunities; our approach is to highlight success,” noted Ray Johnson, Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute. Johnson added, “The length of each issue will be deliberately brief,

Afternoon Brief, September 27th

Washington Considers Allowing Fingerprint Scan, Facial Analysis to Buy Alcohol, Cannabis: The Washington State Legislature may consider legislation giving the State Liquor and Cannabis Board further rulemaking authority regarding the use of biometric age verification by private entities selling alcohol or cannabis products...

Afternoon Brief, December 22nd

€2 Million of ‘Fake Champagne’ Confiscated from Producer Over Fraudulent Practises: A Champagne producer has been confiscated of nearly 300,000 bottles from their cellar, after mixing certified grapes with disqualified varieties...

Afternoon Brief, December 20th

Has Wine Country Become Too Expensive for Its Own Good?: One thing became very clear over the course of this year: Visiting Wine Country has gotten really expensive...

Serena Holdren Joins Korbel’s Executive Team

GUERNEVILLE, CA, November 1, 2021 – Gary B. Heck, President and Owner of Korbel Champagne Cellars, announced today that company veteran Serena Holdren has been named Assistant Vice President – Human Resources, joining Korbel’s Executive Team.  In this new role, she will oversee a 6-member HR department that serves 350 employees. Holdren has been with […]

Sonoma County Wine Auction Announces 2021 Vintner Honoree

Spectacular Auction Lots Revealed Benefiting Sonoma County’s Largest Charitable Fundraiser Santa Rosa, CA (August 18, 2021) — Today, the Sonoma County Vintners Foundation announced the Vintner Honoree for this year’s Sonoma County Wine Auction as the venerable Gary B. Heck, President, Chairman and Owner of historic Korbel Champagne Cellars. The team also unveiled the list of exclusive live auction lots for the […]