Viticulture briefs

<p class="bold allcaps">Wine labeling bill nearly law</p> <p>The California Legislature unanimously approved a proposed wine label law for Sonoma County vinters that will require them to put Sonoma County on any label that names a local appellation.</p><p>The legislation means that any wine labeled with an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located entirely within Sonoma County — such as Russian River Valley or Dry Creek Valley — must also include the word "Sonoma County" on the label, starting in 2014.</p><p>The bill is the product of a 10-month process of collaboration among the wine industry association in the county. The governor still needs to sign the bill into law.</p><p>Dating back to 1989 and as recent as 2008, the Legislature has approved with strong bipartisan support conjunctive labeling laws for three other California winemaking regions — Napa Valley, Lodi, and Paso Robles.</p><p>AB 1798 passed the state Senate 36-0 on Monday and the Assembly 74-0 on Friday.</p><h3>Vintners group promotes Cottingham</h3> <p>Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance hired its longtime marketing and events director Maureen Lamb Cottingham to the position of executive director. Cottingham had been appointed interim executive director in June.</p><p>Cottingham has been with the SVVGA for 5 years. The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance is a non-profit trade organization serving over 500 vintners, growers and associates in Sonoma Valley.</p><h3>SSU names head of wine business dept.</h3> <p>Sonoma State University hired Ray Johnson to head its Wine Business Institute.</p><p>Johnson has been teaching and writing about wine while serving as Assistant Director of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.</p><p>Johnson has a company, TasteWine, and has taught seminars across the country.</p><p>He is currently working on a new book with SSU Professor Liz Thach called Wine Commerce: How Wine is Distributed and Sold Around the World, which will serve as the text for a class in the Institute's new online certification program.</p><p>Join Johnson at a wine and cheese tasting on Oct. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. The event is organized by the SSU Alumni Association and the Wine Business Institute Alumni Council. Proceeds from a silent auction will benefit the Institute. For tickets, please visit Events at www.ssualumni.org.</p><p>— Nathan Halverson</p>