From left: David Weiss, Keith Brandt and Bruce Merrilees                                                                                               Photo by Nathan De Hart

Winegrape Commission Seats Board Members

 

At its meeting in early May, the Lake County Winegrape Commission board of directors seated three recently elected directors who are looking to advance Lake County's wine industry through increased local involvement, expanded sustainable winegrape growing, and renewed energy. 

 

Two new directors, Keith Brandt and Bruce Merrilees, joined incumbent David Weiss in taking their seats on the board, which comprises eight directors, seven of whom are Lake County winegrape growers elected by other eligible growers, and one a public member, appointed by the board chair. Ballots are tallied by a third-party auditing firm with election results certified by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Directors serve two-year terms.

 

Other directors include Jonathan Walters, Brassfield Estate Winery; Broc Zoller, Zoller Vineyards; Bill Oldham, Oldham Vineyards; Bonnie Sears, Beckstoffer Vineyards; and Bill Brunetti, public member. The board also elected its officers for the coming year with Walters serving as Commission Chair, Zoller as Vice Chair, and Sears as Secretary-Treasurer.

 

The recently seated directors bring experience and perspectives to help the Commission in its work to represent Lake County winegrape growers in its marketing of the region's winegrapes. 

 

Merrilees is interested in "getting the locals involved." Formerly with Bella Vista Farming Company and now with Shannon Stahl Vineyards, the New Zealand native moved to the United States in 2003. Merrilees said his goal is to reach out to Lake County residents and businesses to get them involved in the county's wine industry. "I feel like the county can't fail if the locals are on board with it," he said.

 

He pointed to his local and international education and experience as assets he brings to the Commission board. Merrilees holds a bachelor's degree in Agriculture Science from Lincoln University, New Zealand.

 

Brandt, citing his experience as director of compliance with Shannon Ranches, said his goal for his term on the board is to assist the county's growers in their pursuit of certification of sustainable winegrowing. He said he would like to encourage winegrape growers to become certified sustainable as another step toward improvement of wine quality for Lake County. 

 

"I'd like to spark an interest in sustainable winegrowing among our small-acreage growers," Brandt said. "It would go a long way to propel the quality and the perception of quality of winegrapes in Lake County." Brandt holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from CSU Fullerton.

 

Weiss cites the strengths of the Commission and his desire to build on the organization's 24-year history of advancing the industry as his main reasons for continuing to serve.

 

"My personal priority will be to assist in the recruitment and development of prospective candidates to one day join the board and reinvigorate the organization with new ideas and energy that will sustain us into the future," Weiss said.

 

Weiss' agricultural leadership runs deep, having served on the Commission board in many roles, most recently as its vice chair, and as a former board member of the California Association of Winegrape Growers for six years and board chairman of the California Pear Advisory Board for seven years. Weiss holds a bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.

 

The two new directors take seats previously held by Peter Molnar who served the maximum of four consecutive terms and Buz Dereniuk who did not seek another term.

 

The Lake County Winegrape Commission is a marketing order established in 1991 to promote the region's premium winegrapes and to assist winegrape growers through marketing, research, and educational programs. For more information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission, call (707) 279-2633, or visit www.lakecountywinegrape.org.