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.

True & Daring Retains Balzac Communications

Napa Agency to Provide Public Relations and Social Media Marketing Services

Napa, CA (May 25, 2011) – True & Daring, a family-owned wine company based in Christchurch, New Zealand, has retained Balzac Communications & Marketing, the leading wine public relations and marketing agency, as their agency of record for the United States. As the acting agency, Balzac will be responsible for promoting the wine and family story of True & Daring to wine industry trade, media, and consumers. True & Daring produces one wine, a classic, complex Riesling that was just awarded Best New Zealand Riesling at London’s 2010 International Wine Challenge.

“We were looking for a firm that could help us tell the story of our True & Daring wine,” said Hennie Bosman, Owner and Winemaker of True & Daring. “Balzac was the perfect fit for us. They are incredibly creative and have enormous amounts of energy and ideas. Their strategies fit into our goals and objectives, and we are very happy to have them as part of our team.”

“We’re delighted to become a part of the True & Daring team,” said Paul Wagner, President of Balzac Communications & Marketing. “As an agency, we love to work with such enthusiastic owners who are passionate about creating a wine that can compete with the best Rieslings in the market. We look forward to making a positive impact on their business.”

Since discovering their New Zealand winery in 2005, owners Celia and Hennie Bosman have cultivated award-winning success with their wine. True & Daring was founded on the belief that the winery would stay true to one grape and be daring enough to take on Riesling, and only Riesling, as the wine they produce. Having successfully secured the Best New Zealand Riesling trophy and a Gold medal at London’s 2010 International Wine Challenge, Celia and Hennie thought it only right to introduce True & Daring into the U.S.

Please visit www.trueanddaring.com. The full website will launch in June 2011.

Article by Michael Wangbickler.

From the St. Helena Star:

The year 1976 was a pivotal one for the Napa Valley. It marked a turning point in California as two wines from the Valley took top honors over several French rivals in a competition which later became known as the “Judgment of Paris.” While the impact of the event was unknown at the time, thanks to a brief mention in Time Magazine by George M. Taber, who was the only journalist in attendance, it soon became evident that California wine had established a beachhead on the world stage.

Read the rest.

Article by Catherine Seda.

From the Napa Valley Register:

Wine is a million stories and we’re telling some of them.

Ashley Anderson didn’t come West in a covered wagon, although she might as well have. The Dodge Neon she was driving to Napa Valley had suffered a broken back window. A large truck kicked up a rock and shattered it. If that wasn’t bad enough, Ashley was driving in the midst of a blizzard. She fretted and constantly stopped but not due to her own discomfort. Meet Ashley once and you’ll know; she can take it. But there, in the backseat of her car, sat very precious cargo: her orchid plants.

Read the Rest

Napa, CA (April 5, 2010) – Don Sebastiani & Sons, a family-owned wine company based in Sonoma, California, has retained Balzac Communications & Marketing, the leading wine public relations and marketing agency, as their agency of record for the United States. As the acting agency, Balzac will be responsible for promoting the wines of the Don & Sons portfolio to wine industry trade, media, and consumers. Among the brands the agency will represent include Aquinas, The Crusher, B Side, Flock, s|k|n, Pepperwood Grove, and Smoking Loon.

“We were looking for a firm that exhibited professionalism, creative ideas, and one that could help our portfolio of wines grow,” said Donny Sebastiani, President of Don Sebastiani & Sons. “Balzac was the perfect fit for us. They are very much a family company with similar values to ours, and they understand our goals and objectives. We are very happy to have them aboard.”

“We’re delighted that Don Sebastiani & Sons has decided to work with us,” said Paul Wagner, President of Balzac Communications & Marketing. “Through their decision process, both companies just seemed to ‘click.’ There is a lot of common ground here. As an agency, we are excited to work with such a smart, enthusiastic team who is passionate about delivering quality, value wine brands. We look forward to making a positive impact on their business.”

Established in 2001, Don Sebastiani & Sons is an international wine negociant creating award-winning, everyday value wines. Four generations of Sebastianis have made their mark on the wine business, starting in 1904 when Samuele Sebastiani opened his own winery in Sonoma, California. Don & Sons was founded in 2001, and today is run by Donny Sebastiani, son of the founder and great-grandson of the Sebastiani patriarch. Brands in the Don & Sons portfolio include Aquinas, The Crusher, B Side, Flock, s|k|n, Pepperwood Grove, and Smoking Loon. For more information on Don Sebastiani & Sons and their wines, please visit http://www.donandsons.com.