William Hill Winery Appoints Richard Sowalsky Winemaker; Napa Valley Specialist to Take Production Reins at Benchland Estate

Business Wire, Feb 22, 2005

NAPA, Calif. -- Richard A. Sowalsky has been appointed winemaker at William Hill Winery in the Napa Valley. Sowalsky joins William Hill from Robert Mondavi Winery and was selected after an extensive search for a winemaker with the appropriate regional expertise and winemaking philosophy.

"We're very proud to be able to introduce Richard as winemaker at William Hill Winery," noted Nick Goldschmidt, Allied Domecq V.P. executive winemaker. "His Napa Valley experience, demonstrated leadership skills and studious perfectionism will be welcome assets to the winery. Richard has achieved success at the highest levels of winemaking and is the ideal person to oversee the evolution of wine style at William Hill."

Before coming to William Hill Winery, Sowalsky spent six years at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville where he was associate winemaker responsible for all aspects of ultra premium wine production for Bordeaux varietals, including the Napa Valley, District and Reserve tiers. In addition, he monitored vineyard activities in collaboration with Mondavi's vineyard operations sector and was involved in experimental blend research. He was previously active at other Mondavi properties as a research enologist and has been in production at other highly regarded wineries such as Havens Wine Cellars/Truchard Vineyards in Napa and Handley Cellars in Mendocino. Sowalsky holds a master's degree in food science and enology from U.C. Davis and is a graduate of Amherst College and the California Culinary Academy. He also pursued graduate studies at the University of Maryland. He is a published author and sits on the editorial review board of the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.

Founded in 1978, William Hill Winery is owned by Allied Domecq Wines USA and produces top Napa Valley-appellated Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. Fruit for the reds is sourced from the winery's 140-acre benchland estate, adjacent to the winery, and select hillside and mountain vineyards throughout the Napa Valley. The winery's acclaimed cool-climate Chardonnay is sourced primarily from William Hill Winery's 80-acre Carneros vineyard and select areas of the Atlas Peak AVA.

About Allied Domecq Wines USA

Allied Domecq Wines USA is the American fine wine division of Allied Domecq PLC. Since the creation of a global wine division in 2001, Allied Domecq Wines has grown to become one of the most diverse wine companies in the world. The California portfolio consists of super-premium wines such as Atlas Peak(R) Vineyards, Buena Vista(R) Winery, Callaway Coastal(R), Clos du Bois(R), Gary Farrell(R), Haywood Estate(R), J. Garcia(R), Jake's Fault(R), Mumm Napa(R) and William Hill Winery(R). Allied Domecq Wines USA also owns and manages the US marketing, sales and distribution for Allied Domecq's global wine brands, including Azure Bay, Champagne Perrier Jouet(R) and Champagne Mumm(R) of France, Cockburn's Port(R) from Portugal, Graffigna(R) from Argentina, Brancott(R) Vineyards, Stoneleigh(R) and Lindauer(R) from New Zealand, as well as Harveys Bristol Cream(R), Domecq(R) sherries, Marques de Arienzo(R), Campo Viejo(R), Ysios, Tarsus(R), Aura(R) and Villarei(R) wines from Spain. For further information on Allied Domecq Wines USA please visit www.allieddomecqwines.com.