Jacob honored by Paso wine alliance

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, the largest wine trade organization in San Luis Obispo County, has honored outgoing executive director Stacie Jacob by naming her Wine Industry Person of the Year.

“I have to give Stacie a tremendous amount of credit for working diligently with the tourism industry,” said Paul Hoover, a member of the alliance’s board of directors and the owner of Still Waters Vineyards. He said Jacob was “extremely active in the growth and awareness of Paso Robles as a worldwide winegrowing region.”

The award seeks nominations from members of the Paso alliance, as well as the Central Coast Vineyard Team, the Independent Grape Growers of the Paso Robles Area and the San Luis Obispo Vintners Association.

After serving as executive director for seven years, Jacob announced her departure in June to head a marketing firm, SolTerra Strategies.

It focuses on wine and other products with “a strong sense of place,” she said. “We’re in the client-building phase.”

Meanwhile, she remains on contract part-time with the alliance as it hunts for a new leader. She is also working as executive director of the San Luis Obispo County Visitors and Conference Bureau and providing interim leadership to the Oregon Wine Board while it searches for a new director.

The Paso Robles organization received more than 120 applications in its nationwide job search, said Hoover, who also heads a nine-member search committee. Last week, the pool was narrowed to 15 for interviews via Skype, the online conferencing site, later this month.

Up to four candidates will be invited for a four-day interview process in early September, Hoover said, with the goal of having a new director in place by Oct. 1.

“They have to have a marketing background. Branding experience is important,” but he added, “I would not say the applicant has to be an expert in wine.”

Jacob to speak at wine seminar in Templeton

Stacie Jacob will speak at a seminar hosted by the Independent Grape Growers from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Titled “State of the Industry and Forecast,” the event will also include an address by Matt Turrentine. The Atascadero resident oversees San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties for Novato-based Turrentine Brokerage.

The meeting will be at Castoro Cellars, 1315 N. Bethel Road in Templeton. Free to members and $20 for nonmembers, it’s sponsored by Rabobank. To reserve a seat, call Precision Ag Consulting at 434-3331 or email terri@precisionagconsulting.com.

Wineries host cookoffs for scholarship funds

Thirty vintners will fire up their grills Saturday for the 13th annual Winemakers’ Cookoff.

Hosted by the Paso Robles Rotary Club, proceeds fund scholarships for high school seniors. Last year, scholarships totaled $30,000.

The event runs 6 to 9 p.m. at River Oaks Hot Springs. Tickets are $75 or $40 for designated drivers. See www.winemakerscookoff.com for details.

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