Stag's Leap Wine Cellars names Pruss winemaker

Julia Winiarski, director of vineyards and winemaking at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, has announced the appointment of Nicolette Pruss to winemaker. Pruss will oversee winemaking at the highly acclaimed family-owned estate, which specializes in crafting vineyard-designated and Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon.

"Nicki has been a valuable member of the winemaking team since 1998," said Winiarski. "She crafts wines of balance and elegance, a trademark of the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' style. We are delighted to promote Nicki and know that her winemaking talent and sensibility will continue to result in wines that distinguish Stag's Leap Wine Cellars as among the best in the world."

Pruss joined Stag's Leap Wine Cellars in 1998 as an intern and was shortly thereafter promoted to enologist. Her talents were quickly recognized and nurtured by founding winemaker, Warren Winiarski. As associate winemaker since 2001, she guided the production of all Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' wines, from the vineyard to the bottle, including CASK 23, S.L.V. and FAY Estate cabernet sauvignons. She was also instrumental in taking the Napa Valley regional cabernet program to the estate-based Artemis Cabernet program, and revitalizing the winery's sauvignon blanc program with a style that has been widely successful.

"It is an honor to be a steward of this land as well as the reputation and tradition of the Winiarski family and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars," said Pruss. "With such outstanding vineyard sites to work with, I enjoy the creative challenge of working with nature to produce world-class wines."

Pruss holds a certificate in viticulture and winery technology from Napa Valley College, a B.A. in biological sciences from UC Santa Barbara, and is a doctor of podiatric medicine -- cum laude from the Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Chicago./Register

Rex Stults takes post with Napa Valley Vintners

Napa Valley Vintners has named Rex Stults industry relations director for the 270-member wine industry trade organization, effective Jan. 17. Stults will be responsible for championing targeted issues, including protection of the Napa name; helping to create a common voice for NVV members on critical industry and community issues; forging partnerships with local, state and federal legislators and policy makers; and providing strategic direction for and oversight of all community relations and member relations endeavors.

Stults has served as the CEO of the 570-member St. Helena Chamber of Commerce for seven and a half years, and prior to that was the membership director of the Napa Chamber of Commerce. He has also worked in several aspects of broadcasting, as a radio announcer and producer, as well as in sales.

Stults earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Washington State University and his chamber executive accreditation from the Western Association of Chamber Executives. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management./NVP Services