Including Several Wine Industry Veterans Added in the December Election
January 27, 2025, Petaluma, CA. Elections for the Board of Directors of the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers were held in December 2024 with seven new Directors and two incumbents being elected, many with deep roots in the industry. Elections are held annually, and Directors serve for two-year terms. Joining the Board this year are Sean Carroll, Director of Communications, Social Impact and Sustainability at Jackson Family Wines; Megan Cline, Trade Marketing Manager at Cline Family Cellars; Thomas Darling, Owner-Winemaker for Darling Wines; Leland Fishman, retired business entrepreneur; Tyler Flowers, Senior Relationship Manager at American AgCredit; Anne Moller-Racke, Owner-Winegrower for Blue Farm Wines; and Steve Sangiacomo, Partner, Sangiacomo Vineyards and Sangiacomo Family Wines. Continuing for additional two-year terms are Lisa Brayton, Co-Owner of Paradise Vineyard and Thirty-Seven Wines and Keri Ueberroth, Owner of Ueberroth Vineyards.
At its January Board of Directors meeting, outgoing President, Scott Welch, Director of Farming at Jackson Family Wines announced the election results and the newly appointed executive team, with Heidi Bridenhagen, Director of Winemaking for MacRostie stepping in to the role of President, Anne Moller-Racke as Vice President, Megan Cline as Secretary, and Aaron Alchin, Manager at G & J Seiberleich & Co, LLP, continuing as Treasurer.
“We are thrilled with the incredibly talented team who have joined an already deeply committed group to lead the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance for the coming years and are also grateful to the retiring Directors,” said Heidi Bridenhagen, President of the Board. “In particular, we would like to thank Kim Badenfort, Director of Business Development for Wine Industry Network, retired attorney Dave Meyers, Scott Welch, and Tom Gendall, Director of Winemaking and Viticulture for Cline Cellars for their years of service and congratulate them as our newest Emeritus Board Members. We are also grateful to Samantha Dorsey, President of McEvoy Ranch for her service as Secretary of the PGWA Board for the last several years.” The newly elected board members, executive officers and Emeritus Directors were introduced to Alliance members at its Annual Meeting, held on Sunday, January 26 at Hotel Petaluma. The meeting was sponsored by Enartis and Hotel Petaluma.
The Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance Board of Directors meets monthly and helps to direct the Alliance’s priorities and activities throughout the year. Plans for 2025 include a wine cruise on the Sôane River in Burgundy featuring four of its member wineries, the continuation of its monthly newsletters and seasonal technical seminars, participation in several Sonoma County wine events, as well as production of its signature event, the Wind to Wine Festival, planned for August 9, 2025. Details for Wind to Wine will be announced later this Spring.
About the Alliance
Founded in 2005, the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance (PGWA) exists to educate members of the wine trade and consumers about the Petaluma Gap AVA and to increase awareness of the region’s unique growing conditions and resulting wine quality. PGWA additionally supports member winegrowers and vintners within the region through ongoing programs and communications designed to help them maximize their success within the industry. The group’s membership is made up of grape growers, wineries, associate business members, sponsors and local community members with a passion for the region and its wine.
