7/26/2013 - St. Helena, CA - Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), the trade association of more than 450 Napa Valley wineries, has appointed Shanghai-based consultancy AsiaMedia to handle its marketing and public relations activities in China, the world's fastest-growing wine market. AsiaMedia will extend Napa Valley's brand-building efforts in China through an extensive program of education and tasting events for trade partners, the media and consumers. Beijing-based Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting will continue to deliver wine education programs for NVV. "We are delighted to be working with AsiaMedia, which since its inception in 2001 has developed an extensive network in the Chinese wine market, including on-trade, off-trade and the wine media," commented Bruce Cakebread, president and COO of Cakebread Cellars and 2013 president of the NVV Board of Directors. "The consumption of imported and domestically produced wine in China is expanding very rapidly, and it is vital that we ensure strong brand positioning for Napa Valley wines as the market grows." Over the past dozen years, AsiaMedia has worked with China's leading wine importer; set up wine programs for high-end restaurants in Shanghai and Beijing; and handled PR for visiting wineries and wine personalities. AsiaMedia's NVV account team will be headed by managing director Patrick Cranley, a Maryland native who moved to China in 1995. Trained in China studies and business at Brown University and the University of Michigan, Cranley also studied and worked in Dijon, France. He holds WSET qualifications and serves as president of the Shanghai Wine Society. His writing and photographs have appeared in dozens of publications, and he authored the Winestyle column for City Weekend Shanghai. "For any professional marketer interested in wine, working with Napa Valley Vintners is a dream come true," says Cranley. "We are very much looking forward to the important work of expanding the Napa Valley brand in China, which is likely to remain the most exciting wine market in the world far into the future." About the Napa Valley Vintners The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents more than 450 Napa Valley wineries and collectively is a leader in the worldwide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit www.napavintners.com
Contact: Patsy McGaughy, Communications Director 707.968.4207 pmcgaughy@napavintners.com
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