FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Ann Kodmur, 707/963-9632, corking@julieannkodmur.com , www.zinfandel.org
Digital photos available at www.zinfandel.org or on request

ZAP ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD AND OFFICERS
Preparations underway for a busy 2006

Rough & Ready CA, September 2005----Zinfandel Advocates & Producers has announced its new Board of Directors for the 2005-2006. The new President is Julie Johnson of Tres Sabores (Rutherford); Vice President is Justin Boeger of Boeger Winery (Placerville in the Sierra foothills); Secretary is Bruce Walker of Starry Night Winery (based in Novato) and the Board’s Treasurer is Bernie Scarinzi, a ZAP “Advocate” who is an accountant-auditor living in Healdsburg.

“The producers and advocates of ZAP are just as spicy, ebullient, and full of character as the Zinfandel grape that we all join together to celebrate,” explains new Board President Julie Johnson. “Every January, ZAP hosts the grandest wine education event in the world. I’m humbled by the opportunity yet incredibly excited to be leading this diverse, discerning and highly engaged group throughout this, our 15th Anniversary tasting year. Our goals for 2005 through 2006 are to produce a marvelous Zinfandel Festival week in San Francisco, take the next important research and development steps in our long- term Heritage Vineyard Project, stage “Zinposium Masters of Zin Forum” (an exciting conference on Zinfandel next July), meet the educational and promotional needs of our winegrowing members and most importantly, fan the fires of enthusiasm for Zinfandel throughout the country,” she adds. Johnson’s winery is Tres Sabores in Napa.

The Board includes Doug Beckett (Peachy Canyon Winery in the Central Coast), Bettyann Spenker (Spenker Winery in the Central Valley), Kent Rosenblum (Rosenblum Cellars), Robert Biale (Robert Biale Vineyards in Napa), Duane Dappen (D-Cubed Cellars in Napa), Donn Reisen (Ridge Vineyards), Peter Seghesio (Seghesio Family Vineyards in northern Sonoma), Carol Shelton (Carol Shelton Wines, northern Sonoma), Joel Peterson (Ravenswood, southern Sonoma),

At large Board members are Erin Cline (Trinitas Cellars, Sonoma), Tim Campbell (a ZAP “Advocate,” living in Napa, who has a wine brokerage business), Bradford Yeager (a ZAP “Advocate” who is an executive management consultant living in Alameda), Katie Quinn (Amador Foothill Winery).

The Board is directing an array of programs for 2006, including the 15th Annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Festival on January 25-28, 2006 in San Francisco: details about the Festival are updated regularly at www.zinfandel.org. ZAP has organized its second Masters of Zin Mediterranean Cruise, May 7-20, 2006. ZAP producers will teach classes during the cruise and supplement those with specialized stops and meals and outings, including a visit to Zinfandel’s ancestral country, Croatia. The first ZAP cruise in 2005 sold out quickly: for more information, visit www.zinfandel.org.

Another ZAP date to note: ZAP’s Zinposium will take place July 7-9, 2006 at The Meritage Hotel in Napa (details at www.zinfandel.org).

Visit www.zinfandel.org to join ZAP, research Zinfandel and more! The Association of Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is a non- profit, educational 501(c)(3) organization. ZAP is dedicated to advancing public knowledge of and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. Winegrowers, winemakers and wine enthusiasts combine to form the membership. The common focus is the preservation and recognition of Zinfandel as America’s heritage wine. ZAP’s membership includes approximately 300 winery-members, more than 5,000 advocate-members and 50 associate members.

The specific events making up the 15th Annual Festival:
January 25: Flights: A Showcase of California Zinfandels at City College of San Francisco
January 26: Good Eats & Zinfandel at Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco
January 27: An Evening With The Winemakers in San Francisco
January 28: The 15th Annual Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Tasting at the Festival and Herbst Pavilions at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.
More details as well as ticket purchasing are at www.zinfandel.org.

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