Sonoma State University Professors Honored for International Book Award

Business Wire, June 27, 2008

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. -- Thursday, June 26 at Sonoma State University founders' luncheon for the institution's Wine Business Program, Professors Janeen Olsen and Liz Thach were honored by peers and event host and University President Ruben ArmiSana for winning the Gourmand Award for the international category "Best Wine Book for Professionals, 2007."

Their winning text, Wine Marketing and Sales (also co-written by Paul Wagner, Professor of Wine Public Relations at Napa College) is published by the Wine Appreciation Guild of San Francisco and is the bestseller in its class. The book has been adapted as a textbook in over 15 universities worldwide.

The Gourmand World Book Awards is in its twentieth year and is administered by the Gourmand Foundation of Madrid, Spain and Stockholm, Sweden. The annual event awards books in virtually every wine and food sub-genera and this is the first American title to win in the international category "Best Wine Book for Professionals" in several years. The awards were presented this year at the London Book Fair on April 13 at a gala ceremony and reception for over 1,000 wine and food book publishers, authors and journalists. Publisher, Elliott Mackey of WAG accepted the award on behalf of the Sonoma State authors.

At yesterday's luncheon, Mackey said, "We are particularly proud to receive this award for a subject that has been sorely neglected by the publishing industry (ignored despite the terrific need in the globally dynamic wine markets)."

"This award also pays tribute to the vision of Sonoma State University in establishing the first Wine Business Program in the U.S. and further cements the international acclaim the department enjoys."