Wine Industry Report

Terlato Wine Group (TWG), a leading producer of luxury wines, recently announced the promotion of Doug Fletcher to Vice President of Winemaking. Fletcher had previously held the title Director of Winemaking.

“Doug has been a key player in implementing our family’s vision of creating world-class wines from the very best vineyards,” TWG Chairman Anthony J. Terlato said. “This promotion is recognition of that fact, and also reflects the unique, strategic insight Doug provides in our quest.”

TWG properties include Chimney Rock Winery in the Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District; Rutherford Hill Winery in Napa Valley; majority positions in Alderbrook Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys; and Sanford Winery & Vineyards in Santa Barbara County.

In addition, in the past year, the company launched two new luxury brands – Terlato Vineyards in California, and Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier, a joint venture with Michel Chapoutier in Australia’s Victoria state.

“As much as we’ve accomplished in the past five years, I know the future will see developments that are even more exciting,” Fletcher said. “The excellence and breadth of the Terlatos’ holdings, combined with the family’s commitment to quality, makes this a dream job.”

Fletcher has more than a quarter-century experience in wine. He is perhaps best known for his work at Chimney Rock, where, beginning in 1987, he developed a reputation for producing wines that emphasized full fruit and beautiful texture. He earned particular praise for “Elevage,” considered by many the quintessential Stags Leap District wine.

In his role as TWG Director of Winemaking, which he assumed in 2001, Fletcher has guided Rutherford Hill and Alderbrook to new heights, while also bringing to fruition two of Tony Terlato’s key ambitions: a white counterpart to Elevage; and the wines under the Terlato Vineyards label, including a Russian River Pinot Grigio, Dry Creek Valley Syrah and “Angels’ Peak,” a Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley.

Fletcher supervises winemakers at all the Terlato wineries; however, vineyard acquisition, development and management are also under his watch, with TWG Viticulturalist Rob Weinstock reporting directly to him. In recent years, TWG has acquired and developed state-of-the-art properties in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

Fletcher has been on the board of directors and served as president of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association, and held similar positions with the Napa Valley Technical Wine group, an organization started in the late 1940s which brings together winemakers from all over Napa Valley to discuss wine issues of the day.

Fletcher is a graduate of the University of Oregon, where he studied biology. He lives in Napa with his wife, food writer Janet Fletcher.

The Terlato Wine Group (TWG) is the parent company of wine operations that specialize in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. Owned and operated by the Terlato family, the Group’s flagship company is Paterno Wines International (PWI), Leaders in Luxury, in the United States. With a global portfolio of more than 40 brands from a host of world-class wine producers, PWI presently markets more than one out of every eight bottles of wine over $14 sold in America. TWG also holds the family’s investments in vineyards, wine production joint ventures and wineries in some of the world’s most esteemed wine regions, including: Napa Valley; Sonoma County; Santa Barbara County; Victoria, Australia; and the Rhône Valley.

The Paterno Wines International portfolio of brands includes: Napa Valley: Chimney Rock, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Markham Vineyards, Rutherford Hill and Terlato Vineyards; Sonoma County: Alderbrook, Hanna, Rochioli and Terlato Vineyards; Santa Barbara County: Sanford; California Appellation: Glass Mountain; Oregon: Argyle and Sokol Blosser; Italy: Baglio di Pianetto, Barone Ricasoli, Ca’ del Bosco, Ca’ Marcanda (Gaja Toscana); Florio Martinez Marsala, Gagliole, Gaja, Il Poggione, Kettmeir, Lungarotti, Santa Margherita, Torresella; and Distilleria Nonino (Grappa); France: Champagne Bollinger, Chapoutier, Domaine Chanson, Domaine Louis Moreau, Josmeyer, Langlois-Chateau and Tour des Laurets; Australia: Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier, Domaine Tournon, Heathcote Estate, Two Hands and Yabby Lake Vineyard; Argentina: Tamarí; Canada: Peller Estates Icewine; Chile: Viña Tarapacá; Greece: Boutari; New Zealand: Wairau River; Belgium: Chimay. For more information, visit www.paternowines.com.