Adam and Roger Dial Leave Appellation America

The resignation of Appellation America's Roger Dial and Adam Dial from the Board of Directors and all managerial positions with the company was announced today. The Dials co-founded the online publication in 2003 to shift the North American wine culture in the direction of regional consciousness. In a statement announcing the change, Roger Dial cited "irreconcilable differences with the lender over programs and corporate structure, and the constriction on working capital." 

Board member and investor Tom Welch, who served as treasurer for the past three years, said he will fill in temporarily as chief executive and that no other changes in personnel are planned.

Welch said the company will continue to focus on its Best of Appellation program, based on appellation and terroir. The program is something of a push back against the simplicity of the one hundred point system, as it celebrates the individuality of different regions.