3/25/2009 - St Helena, CA-The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association representing nearly 350 member wineries in the famed appellation broke ground Thursday, March 19, 2009, on a permanent home in St Helena. The group’s office, complete with conference rooms and a working vineyard, will be in the soon-to-be transformed historic all-wooden Jackse (jack-see) Winery on Library Lane in the downtown district. The winery was originally built around the turn of the 20th century, founded by early Napa Valley winemaker Stephen Jackse—who interestingly was one of the few vintners arrested for bootlegging during Prohibition. After Repeal, the winery operated until 1951 and since then has sat vacant. The original grape press still remains. The NVV will re-purpose the old winery into a 21st century LEED-certified office that will house the staff who work on promotion and protection of the premier appellation, as well as on the world's top charity wine auction, Auction Napa Valley.
NVV Board President Paula Kornell of Oakville Ranch Winery, along with dozens of the region's vintners, gathered for a BYOS,Bring Your Own Shovel, at the site, to put spade to earth for the official groundbreaking. She said, "This is an extremely exciting and momentous occasion as vintners, community leaders and Auction beneficiaries gather here today to celebrate Napa Valley Vintners' finally, after 65 years, having a home for our organization."
"Local Napa Valley general contractors Andrews and Thornley will lead the project and two-thirds of the sub-contractors on the project are from Napa Valley, so we are thrilled to support our community in this way, especially in these difficult times," said vintner project leader, Bob Torres of Trinchero Napa Valley. The group expects to occupy the space by the end of the year.
In 2009, the trade group celebrates its 65th anniversary. Founded in 1944 by seven vintners, today it is the essential organization with nearly 350 member wineries, and a staff of 22 producing top-notch programs. In addition to ANV, the NVV programs include Premiere Napa Valley, Taste Napa Valley—marketing missions domestically and internationally, Master Napa Valley for advanced level MW and MS candidates, Napa Valley Rocks appellation education programs for consumers and front-line wine trade, the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in partnership with Meadowood Napa Valley, and The Napa Valley Wine Educators Academy in partnership with The Culinary Institute of America. Additionally the group works to protect the Napa Valley appellation in the U.S. and around the world and champions the wine industry’s most comprehensive farming and production programs known as Napa Green Land and Napa Green Winery.
To learn more visit www.napavintners.com
Click for photo of the groundbreaking
Contact: Terry Hall, Communications Director 707-968-4217 thall@napavintners.com
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