Silver Oak Cellars winemaker Daniel Baron has specially blended a full barrel of 2006 Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon for the auction at the Vintage High School Athletic Boosters Crab Feed on Saturday.

This one of a kind offering is a full American oak barrel (59 gallons) of 100 percent cab from vineyards in Calistoga, Rutherford and Soda Canyon and was produced at Silver Oak’s  Oakville winery. Silver Oak Cellars will barrel age the wine and bottle it in 2008. The final yield will be approximately 22 cases.

Silver Oak Cellars is proud to support Vintage High School athletics.

Bill Dyer has joined the wine team at California Cellars near Rio Vista. Dyer started his winemaking career as cellarmaster with Sterling Vineyards in 1976 and became Sterling’s winemaker in 1985. Since 1996 he has been consulting winemaker for wineries throughout California and British Columbia.

California Cellars was established in 2003 by Tom Baldacci and Jim Peters. Peters has taken on the management of California Cellars, while Baldacci remains busy running his family winery in the Stags Leap district of Napa. Norm Peters, Jim’s brother,  came on board to help run the winery and establish vineyards. In 2004 California Cellars released its first wines, 56 cases of estate chardonnay.

 

Elizabeth “Punky” Mahle, formerly direct sales manager at Pax Wine Cellars, has joined Cultivate Systems as manager of sales and marketing. Cultivate Systems offers artisan winemakers a turn-key, Web-based, direct sales and customer relations management system.

The Carneros Wine Alliance has elected new officers to its board of directors. Steve Sangiacomo of Sangiacomo Vineyards is chairman for the coming year, succeeding Steve MacRostie. Other officers are Vice President Scott Wallace, Buena Vista Carneros; Secretary Armando Ceja, Ceja Vineyards; and Treasurer Tory Sims, Cuvaison Estate Wines. John Clews, vice president of vineyard and winery operations at Clos Du Val, has also been elected a new member of the CWA board of directors. He replaces Michael Havens of Havens Wine Cellars, whose term has ended.

Julie Weinstock, president and chief operating officer of Cosentino Signature Enterprises, has left the company to pursue other opportunities. She will continue as a consultant to the company for an undisclosed period of time. She joined Cosentino in 1997 as Mitch Cosentino’s assistant, became public relations director a year later. In 2000 she was named vice president of operations and appointed president and COO in 2005.

Twenty-four wineries from around the world will participate in the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association’s second International Alsace Varietals Festival, Feb. 3 and 4, celebrating riesling, gewürztraminer, muscat, pinot gris and pinot blanc. Tickets and information, www.avwines.com

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers host the Napa County Pruning Contest Feb. 8 in Yountville to showcase the art, skill and speed of those who work in Napa Valley’s vineyards.

The contest begins at 8:30 a.m. at Beringer Blass Wine Estate’s Gamble Ranch on State Lane. Prizes include cash and tools. To participate, request an entry packet from the Napa Valley Grapegrowers at 944-8311 or info@napagrowers.org. Entries are limited to two pruners per company and must be received by Feb. 2. Rain date is Feb. 9.

Paraduxx Winery is offering a hands-on blending seminar with the three varietals that make up the 2004 Paraduxx,  Sunday and on Jan. 28 and Feb. 18 and 25 at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $25.

Paraduxx also offers a tasting that explores how wines are affected by a glass shape Feb. 4 and 11 at 11:30 a.m. for  $25 per person.

Call for availability, 945-0890 or visit www.paraduxx.com.

Bell Wine Cellars releases its 2006 sauvingon blanc from South Africa Feb. 3, when Nick Pentz of Groote Post winery, joins Anthony Bell of Bell Wine Cellars at Hurley’s Restaurant in Yountville. Pentz’s wines will be served with a South African menu prepared by Chef Bob Hurley. Call Kelly Murray at 944-1673 or e-mail Kelly@bellwine.com for details.

What wine would you choose for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner?

Send your choice to jheeger@napanews.com by Feb. 1.

Submit items for Wine Notes to Sasha Paulsen, spaulsen@napanews.com