Citibank has opened an office in Napa to broaden its outreach to wineries, vineyards and related businesses.

The office, which is above Citibank’s retail branch at 605 Trancas St., specializes in lending to commercial clients in the wine industry throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.

The new office is part of the bank’s agricultural lending division, which is based in Fresno.

Citibank also has agricultural lending offices in Sacramento, Visalia and Bakersfield.

“Citi’s size and prominence are real advantages for our commercial clients,” said Robin Wenzel, manager of Citibank’s wine-lending unit and new Napa office.

Citibank’s parent company, Citi, is one of the largest financial services companies in the world with $2.4 trillion in assets.

Info, contact Robin Wenzel at 253-9973.

Skyy Spirits retains Napa’s Benson Marketing Group

Skyy Spirits, LLC, the U.S.-based wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari, the marketer and distributor of super-premium and luxury spirits brands in North America, has initiated a national, corporate trade communications program with Benson Marketing Group.  

Benson Marketing Group LLC, with office in Napa Valley and New York, is a leading marketing agency providing public relations, direct marketing, and brand consulting services for wine, spirits and water companies.

 

Azzurro Pizzeria & Enoteca now open on Main Street

Pizza Azzurro reopened Tuesday as Azzurro Pizzeria & Enoteca.

Azzurro Pizzeria & Enoteca is in the Wiseman Company’s Main Street West building, at 1260 Main St., on the edge of the emerging Oxbow District.

“We are thrilled to be in our new home,” said owner Michael Gyetvan.  ”We enjoyed our run at Second Street, but we weren’t able to keep up with the demand. We’re not changing who we are, just where we are located.  It’s really only about having more space, which has allowed us to expand our capacity, menu, and hours of operation.”

Gyetvan, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, brings more than 25 years of experience to Azzurro Pizzeria & Enoteca.

Prior to opening Pizza Azzurro, he worked with Bradley Ogden at One Market and The Lark Creek Inn and Michael Chiarello at Tra Vigne, Tomatina and Bistecca.

Gyetvan has brought his entire staff to the new location, and expects to hire additional staff to handle the expanded space and hours.

Azzurro Pizzeria & Enoteca is designed by the noted firm ShopWorks.

Other local projects designed by ShopWorks include restaurants Farm and the Boonfly Cafe at the Carneros Inn.

Expanded restaurant hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday. 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.;  Saturday, 5-10:30 p.m.; and Sunday  5- 9:30 p.m.

Info, 255-5552 or www.azzurropizzeria.com.

Oxbow Public Market offers locals discount card

Oxbow Public Market has announced the “Friends of Oxbow” program, offering Napa Valley residents the opportunity to receive a variety of special offers, discounts, samples, coupons and other benefits from participating market vendors.

Residents of any of the 12 ZIP Codes that make up Napa County will be able to obtain a “Friends of Oxbow” membership card.

The discount card applies to residents of American Canyon,  Angwin, Calistoga, Deer Park, Napa, Oakville, Pope Valley, Rutherford, St. Helena and Yountville.

 Residents can sign up at

www.oxbowpublicmarket.com and a  “Friends of Oxbow” membership card will be mailed within two weeks. Residents can also sign up at any participating store in the Oxbow Public Market, simply by telling the merchant they’ve heard about “Friends of Oxbow” membership card, which will be issued on the spot.

Oxbow’s founder and CEO Steve Carlin, said “The Friends of Oxbow program is our way of offering residents of Napa County added benefits from shopping local, direct from our artisan producers at the market.”

Morgan Lane does $230 million in sales in Marin County

Morgan Lane reports that it closed $230 million in sales in Marin County in 2007 — in its first full year conducting business in the region, with 15 agents.

 Since opening in Marin County 18 months ago, Morgan Lane has become the No. 5 real estate company in that county, according to a company press release.

Info, Mark McLaughlin, 415-457-8200 or mmclaughlin@morganlane.com.