The FINANCIAL — Greg Coleman, vice president of grower relations at E. & J. Gallo Winery, has been elected as Wine Institute Board Chairman for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
The election was held at Wine Institute’s 81st Annual Meeting of Members held yesterday in Laguna Niguel. Other board officers elected were Margie Healy of Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, first vice chairman; Steve Lohr of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines in San Jose, second vice chairman; Chris Indelicato of Delicato Family Vineyards in Napa, treasurer; and Hank Wetzel of Alexander Valley Vineyards in Healdsburg, secretary. Robert P. (Bobby) Koch is president and CEO of Wine Institute.
Coleman is a third-generation member of the Gallo family as well as the third-generation of family members who have served as Wine Institute’s Board Chairman following in the footsteps of his great uncle, Ernest Gallo (1957-59); his uncle, Bob Gallo (1977-78) and his cousin, Joe Gallo (1988-89). He is a member of the Gallo Winery’s board of directors and a past board chairman of G3 Enterprises. The E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world’s largest family-owned winery with more than 80 brands and the largest exporter of California wines, according to Wine Institute.
Coleman’s priorities as incoming board chairman include defeating state tax and fee increases on wine, and working on international trade and water policy.
“I am honored to serve as chair of the Wine Institute’s board of directors to promote and protect the interests of California’s wine industry at such a critical time,” said Coleman. He added, “As we continue to be challenged by the drought, we also face restrictive trade barriers, continued calls for punitive taxes, proposals to raise fees and more. The work of the Wine Institute never ends and we will do all we can to grow our market share, increase our wine exports and continue to communicate the benefits that our vibrant California wine industry provides.”
Coleman also serves on the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pierce’s Disease Glassy Wing Sharpshooter Board, California’s Winegrape Inspection Advisory Board and is a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Valley Children’s Hospital.
Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group for 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses, 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, 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’s membership also elected new district- and at-large directors and alternates. District directors and their alternates were elected on a one-member-one-vote basis in each district, following nominations by regional winery associations.
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