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Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 8-10:45 a.m., Napa Valley Marriott, Napa

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September 25, 2008, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, Rohnert Park

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WINE: Coppola starts Souverain transformation

ALSO: BACTERIA-POWERED WASTEWATER SYSTEM INSTALLED AT SIMI WINERY

The Coppola Companies, which manages Francis Ford Coppola’s wine, film and hospitality investments, started demolitions for the multimillion-dollar renovation of the former Chateau Souverain winery in Geyserville, which Mr. Coppola renamed Rosso & Bianco.

The first phase, set to be done by mid-2009, is a reworking of the tasting room, restaurant and visitor’s center, which are staying open in temporary quarters and with a limited menu during construction, according to spokeswoman Kathleen Talbert.

The footprint of the existing buildings won’t change, but the hop kiln-esque roofline is giving way to pyramid-shaped roofs. The tasting room is set to keep the existing mezzanine and include movie memorabilia.

The next phase will be the installation of the pool and courtyard as part of Mr. Coppola’s vision to create a destination resort in Alexander Valley. The winery now is working with more Sonoma County growers to produce a number of local wines available only at the facility.

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Simi Winery of Healdsburg is looking to trim its annual sewer bill from $300,000 to about what residents pay, with the installation this month of an anaerobic bacteria-powered wastewater treatment system from Ecovation of New York.

The savings come from dramatically reducing the amount of organic matter such as grape juice from going to Healdsburg’s and Sonoma County’s municipal sewage treatment plants. The bacteria consume the organic matter and release carbon dioxide and methane.

The latter will be captured to fire a boiler to keep the insulated biodigester at 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and later the biogas may be used for generating electricity, according to John Pritchard, Simi’s director of operations.

Unlike the biodigester installed a few years ago at sister Constellation Brands’ winery Clos du Bois of Geyserville, Ecovation’s Biotim Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket can clean winery wash water at full capacity during harvest at 47 gallons a minute then continue to operate at five gallons-a-minute flows year-round.

Large biodigesters need a steady stream of wastewater to keep the bacteria healthy, so Simi installed a 50,000-gallon equalization tank to accumulate wastewater during low-flow times of the year. Ecovation is examining Clos du Bois’ biodigester for retrofitting a holding tank, and the firm also is installing a large system at Constellation’s Woodbridge winery.

The system cost roughly $600,000 and is expected to pay for itself in 3.5 years, according to Mr. Pritchard.

Wine People

Napa Valley Grapegrowers elected Bruce Phillips of Vine Hill Ranch president, David Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards vice president and Sam Turner of Vista Vine Vineyard Management as treasurer. Patty Saldivar of Pine Ridge Vineyards & Winery and Pete Richmond of Silverado Farming Co. were elected to the board of directors.

Oenodev-Vivelys Group appointed Cyril Derreumaux as vice president and general manager in Santa Rosa. Derreumaux is responsible for North American operations, sales and marketing of the Oenodev line of micro-oxygenation products, French oak chips and digital grape-monitoring and wine-evaluation products.

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards appointed Cindy Friedman as consumer marketing manager and Toni Benton as tasting room manager. Ms. Friedman holds a certified wine professional degree from the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley.

Foster’s Wine Estates named Matthew Parish vice president of premium winemaking, overseeing brands retailing for $4 to $14 a bottle. Previously, he was director of group winemaking for Constellation Wines U.S.

Natural cork importer M.A. Silva Corks USA hired Greg Sitton, formerly vice president of sales and marketing for Windsor Mill, as sales manager. The cork distributor also brought on as quality assurance and lab supervisor Adolfo Hernandez, who was previously with Clos Du Bois in a similar position.

Langtry Estate & Vineyards hired Gary Hamachek as sales manager for the eastern U.S. after a stint with Foster’s Wine Estates in Florida. Foster’s veteran Robert Visconti now manages central U.S. sales for Langtry.

Jeri Hansen-Gill, formerly public affairs manager for Napa Valley Vintners, will join NewLevel Group of Napa as a senior consultant in July. Her first task is to be part-time CEO of Gasser Foundation’s Sustainable Napa Valley venture.

Clos Du Val added roles for its regional managers. Even Arnesen in the Midwest is also now national hotel accounts manager. Scott Forest in the Northwest now covers Nevada. Kristin Schierbaum in the Southwest now handles Hawaii.

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Submit items for this column to Jeff Quackenbush at 707-579-2900 ext. 206, jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or fax 707-579-8475.

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