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There is always something exciting going on at Heitz Wine Cellars! During your next visit to the Napa Valley, we hope you will stop by to see for yourself. Until then, please check back here often for the latest news updates and Events. ~ Wine Institute Elects 2011-2012 Officers of Board:
The Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group for California wineries and affiliated businesses with its members accounting for 95 percent of California wine production and 85 percent of U.S. wine production. Based in San Francisco, with offices in Sacramento, Washington, D.C., six regions across the U.S. and 15 foreign countries, the Wine Institute is guided by 80 vintners who are members and alternates of an active board of directors. The board elects the chairman and officers on an annual basis. Wine Institute Press Release - June 16, 2011.
~ Napa Valley Vintners Announce
"I am proud to lead the Napa Valley Vintners and follow in my dad's footsteps as board president. He held the office back in 1971 when there were fewer than thirty wineries in the association. Times have changed since then and the NVV has 400 wineries and while still just 4% of California's wine grape harvest the region accounts for 34% of the economic impact of all of California's wine industry on the U.S. economy," said Heitz Myers. Other board officers elected include Jeff McBride, General Manager of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars as vice-president; Doug Shafer, president of Shafer Vineyards as secretary and Rick Jones, owner of Jones Family Vineyards re-elected as CFO. The Napa Valley Vintners is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. To read entire press release. >> Download article. ~ Joe Heitz Memorial Endowment 2011: In 2011, the Heitz Family is pleased to share the investment in the next generation of scientists by providing financial support for several talented students including Shane Maslanka, Christopher Knight and Lauren Lawless as well as the six participants in the spring Field Entomology Class. Photo and text provided by Bodega Marine Laboratory.
~ Heitz Wine Cellars impresses international panel:
Amid the crowd of contenders, Heitz Wine Cellars earned several coveted awards including the Riedel Japan Award for Best Red Winemaker in the USA. Heitz’ 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was selected as the Best USA wine in addition to winning a Trophy for Best New World Red Wine (only 11 trophies were bestowed) and a Gold Medal; Heitz’ 2005 Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet earned a Gold Medal and Heitz’ 2001 Trailside Vineyard Cabernet also earned a Gold Medal. Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado made the awards presentation during a ceremony in Roppongi. ~ Heitz Family donates 21 acres to the Napa Valley Land Trust, expanding the boundaries of Linda Falls Preserve
Photo by Marissa “The Heitz family, famed for its winemaking, has donated 21 acres to the Land Trust’s Linda Falls Preserve just south of Angwin. This addition brings the total acreage of the Linda Falls preserve to 161 acres. This piece of land is particularly important as it expands the preserve boundaries to old Howell Mountain Road, a traditional hiking and biking access to the preserve itself. The Heitz family donation also adds the upper reaches of the Conn Creek, just above Linda Falls, to the preserve. The Linda Falls preserve was created in 1998 and expanded in 2008 due to the generosity of Edward Van Egri. It contains mature Douglas fir forest, northern spotted owls, several wildflower plants and an important riparian corridor along Conn Creek.” NapaLife, December 14, 2009 This 21-acre donation is part of the original 42-acre conservation easement that the Heitz family donated to the Napa Valley Land Trust in 2002. For more information:
www.napalandtrust.org ~ Heitz Cellars’ Poppy is featured in Wine Dogs USA
~ Auction Napa Valley Brings $10.35 Million at Signature Charity Event
Guests from across the country and around the globe gathered for the four-day event, now in its 28th year, to bid on barrel futures, one-of-a-kind wines, winery vertical collections and rare bottlings of Napa Valley wines that were often partnered with vintner-hosted events, luxury items and travel at this granddaddy of charity wine auctions known as The American Wine Classic. When the final gavel fell at the Live Auction on Saturday night from the podium at Meadowood Napa Valley, a total of 44 Live Lots, 128 Barrel Lots and 87 E-Lots were sold to winning bidders from as far away as China. "This was an amazing outpouring of generosity," said Kathleen Heitz Myers, whose family of Heitz Wine Cellars chaired this year's event. "We are thrilled to see that even in these uncertain times people find value in returning to the Napa Valley to spend time enjoying our wines and our vintner camaraderie away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, and ultimately supporting our community." NVV press release. Photo courtesy Yountville Sun. For more information: www.napavintners.com ~ Heitz Wine Cellars Restores Riparian Habitat on Conn Creek
We have embarked on a multi-year project at our Trailside Vineyard to restore the creek banks along its border. The first phase involved removal of invasive non-native plant species, including Blue Gum Eucalpytus, Himalayan Blackberry and Giant Reed. As one of the earliest properties in Napa County to enroll in the Fish Friendly Farming Program, Heitz Wine Cellars was recently presented with an award of Congressional Recognition for excellence in Stream Habitat and Restoration. We intend to ensure that the delightful wildlife community that resides along the creek at Trailside Vineyard will continue to thrive for generations to come. |
SAN FRANCISCO – David B. Kent, CEO of The Wine Group LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, became Wine Institute Chairman for the 2011-2012 fiscal year at Wine Institute's 77th Annual Meeting of Members held at the Sonoma Mission Inn. Also elected were Kathleen Heitz Myers of Heitz Wine Cellars in St. Helena, first vice chairman; Chris Fehrnstrom of Constellation Wines U.S. in San Francisco, second vice chairman; Carolyn Wente of Wente Family Estates in Livermore, treasurer; and Greg Coleman of E. & J. Gallo Winery in Modesto, secretary. Robert P. (Bobby) Koch is President and CEO of Wine Institute.
The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association representing 400 wineries in America's premier wine region announced today that Kathleen Heitz Myers of the eponymous Heitz Wine Cellars has been elected to lead the 67-year-old organization as board president for 2011.
Established in 2003 by friends, family members and associates, the Joe Heitz Memorial Endowment honors Joe's life-long interest in education, his fascination with the California Coast and his contributions to the Laboratory.
The 13th Japan Wine Challenge was held July 2010 at the Sheraton Miyako Hotel in Tokyo. With over 1,500 wines from 23 different countries, this event is now firmly established as Asia's most prestigious wine competition. Judges from Decanter Magazine and The Institute of Masters of Wine headed the impressive international panel of experts. 
According to their official website, “Wine Dogs travels the world in pursuit of mutts and purebreds to feature in (their) books and calendars.” When the Wine Dogs photographer made a recent visit to Heitz Cellars, David Heitz’ photogenic Poppy was happy to strike a few poses. It was no surprise to us that her full page picture made the October 2008 edition of Wine Dogs USA. David revealed a few secrets for Poppy’s new fan club. Like most Bedlington Terriers, her pet peeve is being told that she looks like a lamb. Her favorite naughty pastime is dragging the cat by the tail, and her favorite canine accomplice is Heitz’ equally adored Annie. 
6/8/2008: Postcard-perfect weather welcomed revelers to the Napa Valley Vintners' (NVV) annual community fundraiser Auction Napa Valley (ANV) where despite a challenging economic climate, $10.35 million was raised for the area's charities, a 5% increase over 2007. 
“As part of its participation in the Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification Program, Heitz Wine Cellars is improving riparian habitat along Conn Creek, a tributary of the Napa River that runs through one of Heitz’s vineyards near St. Helena.” - St. Helena Star, March 8, 2007
