The new Lake County Winery Association's 2010 Board of Directors. From left to right starting with the back row: Adawn Wood, Kaj Ahlmann, Steve Tylicki, Nick Buttitta, Gregory Graham and Mike Noggle; front row, LCWA Executive Director Monica Rosenthal, Bonnie Sears, Valerie Ramirez and Chris Skarada. Photo by Casey Carney.

KELSEYVILLE – Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) members welcomed the group's 2010 slate of directors this month when the association held its first board meeting of the new year.

Members of the LCWA Board of Directors are Kaj Ahlmann of Six Sigma Ranch & Winery, Gregory Graham of Gregory Graham Wines, Steve Tylicki of Steele Wines, Nick Buttitta of Ros d'Oro Vineyards, Adawn Wood of Shed Horn Cellars, Valerie Ramirez of Wildhurst Vineyards, Bonnie Sears of Snows Lake Vineyard, Mike Noggle of Noggle Vineyards and Chris Skarada of Tulip Hill Winery.

The directors were seated at the meeting Jan. 15 at Moore Family Winery, LCWA Executive Director Monica Rosenthal announced.

Rosenthal joined the new board in thanking three members for their service over the last year.

Loretta Byrne of Tulip Hill Winery, Sandy Tucker of Langtry Estate & Vineyards, and Cielo Fox of Brassfield decided not to seek election and extend their terms on the board, Rosenthal reported

However, the three will “continue their commitment to LCWA on various committees,” she said.

Byrne will chair the Wine Adventure Weekend Committee. Tucker is co-chair for the People’s Choice Wine Awards Committee and Fox will continue to serve as a member of the Events Committee.

Following the LCWA Board meeting, association members, community representatives and friends enjoyed a potluck party at the winery.

The event featured a barbecue by the Suenram Family’s Smokin S BBQ Co. along with Lake County wines provided by LCWA wineries and attendees, Rosenthal noted.

Acting LCWA Chair Kaj Ahlmann greeted guests and made a brief presentation about the association’s current projects and upcoming events.

As part of its goal to promote Lake County as a premier wine region, the LCWA is involved in a collaborative project with the Lake County Marketing & Economic Development Department to develop an in-county winery and tasting room directional signage system.

Ahlmann also told attendees to mark their calendars for this year’s Wine Adventure Weekend, scheduled for July 24-25, and the People’s Choice Wine Awards with the expert panel judging of competition entries taking place in August and the “people’s choice” tasting, judging and voting following in September.

Guests attending the gathering included Lake County Supervisor Jeff Smith and his wife Cathleen, Bill and Patti Brunetti, Chuck March of the Lake County Farm Bureau, Lake County News Editor Elizabeth Larson and her husband John Jensen, Lake County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton and her husband John, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce Director Lori Peters and her husband Jim, and Lake County Winegrape Commission Secretary/Treasurer Buz Dereniuk and his wife Terri.

The Lake County Winery Association was founded in 2007 and works closely with the County of Lake, the Lake County Winegrape Commission, and other county businesses and organizations to increase tourism throughout Lake County.

For more information about the association, visit the LCWA website at www.lakecountywineries.org.

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