New winemaker at J Vineyards

Melissa Stackhouse is the new vice president of winemaking at J Vineyards & Winery outside Healdsburg.

“Melissa brings a wealth of Russian River Valley experience that will lift J to a new level of estate-driven pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris winemaking,” said Judy Jordan, J’s founder and president.

Stackhouse is a graduate of the University of California at Davis where she earned a bachelor degree in viticulture and enology in 1998. She was winemaker at La Crema from 2003 to 2010, and most recently, the “pinot noir winemaster” for all Jackson Family Wines.

“I look forward to walking Judy’s estate vineyards with an eye on the fast-approaching 2011 harvest,” Stackhouse said.

Stackhouse replaces George Bursick, who departed to develop Bursick Wine Consulting.

New board members at Sonoma County Vintners
Sonoma County Vintners added three wine executives to its board: Jean Arnold, president of Hanzell Vineyards; Corey Beck, director of winemaking and general manager of Francis Ford Coppola Winery; and Caroline Shaw, chief communications officer for Jackson Family Enterprises.

Arnold has over 30 years experience at wineries such as Chateau Montelena, Jordan, J Vineyards, Chalk Hill and Jackson Family Farms. In 1999 she founded a consulting firm, the Jean Arnold Group, to offer luxury positioning and image strategy to wine industry clients.

Beck was named director of winemaking and general manager of the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in 2006 and now oversees seven wine brands including Diamond Collection, Rosso & Bianco, Sofia, FC Reserve and Votre Santé. He is also president of the Alexander Valley Winegrowers.

Shaw oversees public relations, social media and brand communications strategy at Jackson Family Enterprises. Her public relations tenure includes executive positions at KB Home, the Utah Jazz and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002.