Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery Retains Balzac Communications

Napa Agency to Provide Public Relations and Marketing Services

Napa, CA – Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery, a family-owned wine company based in Lake County, California, has retained Balzac Communications & Marketing, the leading wine public relations and marketing agency, as their agency of record. As the acting agency, Balzac will be responsible for promoting the wine and the story of Shannon Ridge to wine industry trade, media, and consumers.

“Our wines are really taking off, and the company is seeing tremendous growth,” says Clay Shannon. “It’s about time that we told the whole story of who we are, and what we are doing with our family ranches and vineyards. These days Americans want to know where the products they purchase come from, and who makes them. And Balzac is going to help us tell our story.”

“Lake County is ideally positioned for the future of the US wine market, with delicious wines at very competitive prices,” says Paul Wagner of Balzac. “Clay Shannon is the clear leader of Lake County, and we are really excited about working with him and his family to make these brands into household names. And the sheep, too!”

The portfolio of Shannon Ridge wine includes the Single Vineyard Collection and Ranch Collection, of which the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon won DOUBLE GOLD at this week’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc won the GOLD MEDAL at the 2011 Dallas Morning News and TexSom Wine Competition, the Riverside International Wine Competition, and the Critics Challenge Wine Competition.

Shannon Ridge’s vineyards are certified sustainable, and are known for their wooly compost machines – a flock of 1,000 sheep, complete with shepherds and a team of highly trained sheepdogs. The sheep do an excellent job of canopy management and leaf removal, and pick the vineyard clean after harvest. They also manage the cover crop in the spring and work hard to reduce fire danger in the surrounding hills the remainder of the year.

About Shannon Ridge Vineyards & Winery

The Shannons are committed to preserving their land, not only for the great vineyard sites but also for the bear, elk, mountain lions, eagles and other creatures which live there. Of the approximately 1,400 acres on the ranch, only about 35% have been converted to vineyards. The balance of the land has been preserved for the wildlife which wanders through the property from the expansive wilderness area to the north and east. The vineyards were carefully planned out, leaving corridors open to migrating animals and protecting sensitive nesting areas.

About Balzac Communications & Marketing

Balzac Communications & Marketing is a marketing communications agency with a no-nonsense approach to combining the strategies and tactics of marketing, public relations, advertising and graphic design to achieve the marketing goals of its clients. The experience, creativity and determination of the staff distinguish Balzac from their competition. They use these assets to develop and execute cost-effective campaigns, which have won international communications awards. The results speak for themselves. The agency is located in Napa, California, and provides services to national, regional, and local companies based in Northern California and throughout the world.