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

Afternoon Brief, September 27th

Southern Oregon is known for it’s abundance of wineries. But smoke from wildfires in recent years has sometimes affected the taste of the wine. Smoke damage from wildfires are costing wineries billions of dollars across the west coast...

Heritage Clones & Selections of Pinot Noir: Oddballs in the Modern World

It’s those heritage clones: 2A/ Wädenswil, Calera, Pommard, Martini, Mount Eden, and Swan that fascinate true Pinot lovers, as they have rich stories to tell. By Laura Ness Pinot Noir […]

Afternoon Brief, April 6th

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 06 TRENDING STORY   7 Women Sue Over Alleged Sexual Assault by Former Windsor Mayor Dominic Foppoli; Winery and Service Club Named in Case Seven women have joined […]

Afternoon Brief, February 23rd

Cold Snap Could Trigger Problems for North Bay Grape Growers: Plummeting temperatures this week are cause for concern among some North Bay grape growers, prompting fears that the unseasonably cold conditions could damage their crops...

By Cheryl Durzy, Founder & CEO, LibDib -  When I founded LibDib 3.5 years ago I had a mission to provide three-tier compliant wholesale alcohol distribution to all wine and spirits Makers, no matter the production or distribution size. My goal (then and now) is distribution for any brand, in every market. Today, we are well on our way to reaching that goal: LibDib is currently in 5 markets (CA, NY, FL, CO, WI) and another 8 will go online this year. Coming from the Maker side of this business (I spent 20 years developing the wholesale channel for my family’s winery in the Northern Central Coast) I sometimes have blinders on to anything that is outside the norm of what I call “everyday business.” My original business plan called for independent accounts doing business with independent Makers, one case at a time. That was my definition of “everyday business.” However, as every good start up does, we pivoted. Our “everyday business” continues to grow (thanks to our amazing vintners