Viticulture briefs: Foley enters into partnership with Banshee Wines

Foley enters partnership with Banshee Wines

Foley Family Wines of Santa Rosa has formed a partnership with Banshee Wines, a Healdsburg winery that has cultivated a following among younger consumers drawn to its Sonoma County pinot noirs.

The companies will remain independent but the deal will allow Banshee - which was formed in 2010 - to start accessing fruit from Foley, which is the 20th largest winery in the country and farms 3,000 acres of vineyards worldwide. Foley also has its own distribution company.

“We knew that if we were successful, we would eventually need to align ourselves with a strategic partner who could help us grow beyond the amazing foundation that we established with our small, core team,” said Banshee CEO Baron Ziegler in a statement. “Our partners along the way have helped create something very special in these brands, and we are confident that Foley Family Wines will help us to continue the crusade of bringing great, authentic wines to consumers.”

Banshee will continue to source grapes from its other third-party vineyards.

“Their fresh, on-trend labels and unique approach to premium winemaking is something we’re excited to showcase in the Foley Family Wines portfolio,” said Hugh Reimers, president of Foley Family Wines.

Group forms to advocate ?for smaller wineries

Some smaller wineries have created the Craft Wine Association, a nonprofit group that supports small-scale, independent wineries. The group is based in Salem, Oregon.

“There is a major need in the marketplace to close the gap between consumers and small wineries,” Craft Wine Association founder Carole Lawson said in a statement. “Our mission is to connect craft wine producers with craft lovers through partnerships, education and outreach.”

The members include Heritage Oak Winery near Lodi and Joseph Sogge Wines in Sommerset.

The group offers its members a seal that can be placed on their ?wine labels, certifying the wine is produced in lots of fewer than ?5,000 cases and production was supervised from start to finish by their winemaker.

Sonoma nonprofit seeks intern to work in Hungary

A Sonoma nonprofit is seeking an intern to work the grape crush in Tokaj, Hungary this fall.

The Sonoma Sister Cities Association is looking for a candidate for the position. The group will pay $1,200 toward the price of the round-trip air flight. Tokaj-Hetszolo Wine Estate will provide room and board and a small stipend for leading ?English-speaking tours of the winery.

Sonoma and Tokaj have been sister cities since 2012.

For more information contact Sylvia Toth at 707-938-0224 or tokaj2@sonomasistercitiesassociation.org.

Compiled by Bill Swindell. Submit items to bill.swindell@pressdemocrat.com.