New Officers and Board Directors Named
June 15th – SAN FRANCISCO — Randall Lange, co-founder of LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards in Lodi, Calif. was elected Wine Institute Board Chairman for the 2023-24 fiscal year at the organizations’ 89th Annual Board of Directors Meeting June 12-14, 2023.
Other officers elected were Matt Gallo of E. & J. Gallo Winery in Modesto, first vice chairman; Robin Baggett of Alpha Omega Winery in St. Helena and Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo, second vice chairman; Alex Ryan of The Duckhorn Portfolio in St. Helena, treasurer; and Gretchen Roddick of Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, secretary. Robert P. Koch is president and CEO of Wine Institute.
Rick Tigner, president and CEO of Jackson Family Wines, is the outgoing chairman and becomes an ex-officio board member.
“I am honored to be elected Wine Institute’s Chairman,” said Randall Lange of LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards. “This organization has paved the way for California’s wine producers to grow into an invaluable and sustainable part of the state’s economic landscape and a provider of beautiful wines to the world. There are critical issues before us and policy challenges that affect wine producers of all sizes in California. I look forward to chairing the organization and working with its leadership to forge California’s next generation of wine growth.”
In the 1870s Randall and Brad Lange’s great-grandparents set down agricultural roots in Lodi and began a family farm growing non-irrigated watermelons. By 1916 the family purchased its first vineyard. The vineyards expanded to include the River Ranch and the DeVries Road Ranch, where the twins grew up helping work the farm while exploring the surrounding land. After returning from college in the 1970s, the twins purchased a small vineyard from their dad and began their farming partnership and built their lives as neighbors, raised their families and reignited their love for the land. In 2006, LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards was launched with a state-of-the-art wine production facility in the heart of their estate-run, Certified California Sustainable vineyard.
“Wine Institute and our more than 1,000 members are fortunate to have such a dedicated and compassionate leader for our incoming chairman,” said Robert P. Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute. “Randy and six generations of the Lange family have all been pioneers in California wine’s sustainability, innovation and economic growth. Randy’s leadership will be critical to our success as we face new challenges and the continued evolution of a wine community that employs more than 422,000 Californians and creates $73 billion in economic activity in this great state.”
Wine Institute’s membership also elected new district and at-large directors and their alternates. District directors and their alternates were elected on a one-member, one-vote basis in each district, following nominations by regional winery associations.
2023-24 DISTRICT DIRECTORS
Northern
- Kaj Ahlmann, Six Sigma Winery
- Alternate John C. Kane, Bonterra Organic Estates
Sonoma
- Julie Pedroncelli St. John, Pedroncelli Winery
- Katie Wetzel Murphy, Alexander Valley Vineyards
- Louis M. Foppiano, Foppiano Vineyards
- Alan Ramey, Ramey Wine Cellars
Alternates
- Steven MacRostie, MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
- Jim Perry, Brown-Forman Corporation
- Tobin Ginter, Rodney Strong Vineyards
- Christopher Lloyd Strieter, Senses Wines
Napa
- Delia Viader, Viader Vineyards
- Robin Baggett, Alpha Omega
- Michael Reynolds, HALL Wines
- Paul Leary, Palmaz Vineyards
- Michael Baldacci, Baldacci Family Vineyards
Alternates
- Karen Fontanella, Fontanella Family Winery
- Christopher Hall, Long Meadow Ranch Winery
San Francisco Bay
- Christine Wente, Wente Family Estates
Alternate
- Bill Cooper, Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards
Monterey Bay
- Scott Scheid, Scheid Vineyards
Central Coast
- Maeve Pesquera, DAOU Vineyards & Winery
- Gretchen Roddick, Hope Family Wines
- Caine Thompson, Robert Hall Winery
- Nicholas Miller, Miller Family Wine Company
Alternate
- Clarence Chia, Justin Vineyards & Winery
Southern California
- Steve Kahle, Woof’n Rose Winery
Alternate
- Linda McWilliams, San Pasqual Winery
Sierra
- Steve Millier, Milliaire Winery
Northern Interior
- David Phillips, Michael David Winery
Alternate
- Randall Lange, LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards
Southern Interior
- John Allbaugh, Bronco Wine Company
Alternate
- Kyle W. Ray, ASV Wines
All members elected 20 at-large directors who had been nominated by the Institute’s Finance and Administration Committee.
2023-24 AT-LARGE DIRECTORS
- Giancarlo Bianchetti, Bonterra Organic Estates
Alternate:
- Erik Olsen, Bonterra Organic Estates
- Ryan Bogle, Bogle Vineyards
Alternate:
- Warren Bogle, Bogle Vineyards
- James Coleman, E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Matt Deegan, Constellation Brands, Inc.
Alternate:
- Sam Glaetzer, Constellation Brands
- Ben Dollard, Treasury Wine Estates
Alternate:
- Ben Duemler, Treasury Wine Estates
- Debra Dommen, Treasury Wine Estates
Alternate:
- Jayne Froyd Treasury Wine Estates
- Jeffrey Dubiel, The Wine Group
Alternate:
- Keith Bauman, The Wine Group
- Matthew Gallo, E. & J. Gallo Winery
Alternate:
- Stephanie Gallo, E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Amy Hoopes, The Wine Group
Alternate:
- Jeannie Bremmer, The Wine Group
- Cheryl Indelicato, Delicato Family Wines
Alternate:
- Mark Merrion, Delicato Family Wines
- Katie Jackson, Jackson Family Wines
- Peter Larson, Trinchero Family Estates
Alternate:
- Roger Trinchero, Trinchero Family Estates
- Daniel Leonard, Bronco Wine Company
Alternate:
- Chris Mifsud, Bronco Wine Company
- Lawrence T. Lohr, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
Alternate:
- Jeff Humphreys, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
- Ed Matovcik, Constellation Brands
Alternate:
- Tiffany De Liberty, Constellation Brands
- Alex Ryan, The Duckhorn Portfolio
Alternate:
- Sean Sullivan, The Duckhorn Portfolio
- Viviann Stapp, Jackson Family Wines
Alternate:
- Carolyn Wassem, Jackson Family Wines
- Robert Torkelson, Trinchero Family Estates
Alternate:
- Anthony Torres, Trinchero Family Estates
- Matthew Towers, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers
Alternate:
- Anuj Girdhar, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers
- Jolene Yee, Delicato Family Wines
Alternate:
- Corey Beck, Delicato Family Wines
