For Immediate Release
Rhonda Motil
MCVGA
831-375-9400

MONTEREY COUNTY VINTNERS AND GROWERS ASSOCIATION
SELECTS 2003 PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MCVGA Announces Leadership Team for 2003

MONTEREY, CA. - March 3, 2003 - The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association (MCVGA) is pleased to announce the selection of Ken Shyvers, winemaker at Estancia Estates, as the 2003 Board President. The induction ceremony will be conducted at the MCVGA Annual Dinner on March 7th at The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa.

Estancia is a producer of premium wine in Monterey County. Shyvers joined Estancia for the 2000 harvest in Monterey and he has been responsible for several exciting changes at the winery. He is directing a full upgrade to the Monterey winery, adding more capacity for open-top fermented Pinot Noir and designing the winery to suit the diverse blocks of fruit planted at the Pinnacles Ranch in Soledad and at Estancia's vineyards in Paso Robles.

In 1978, Shyvers began his winemaking career at Robert Mondavi Winery as a microbiologist. By 1989, he was appointed director of enology for the Oakville winery and in 1995, was named director of winemaking for the newly launched Robert Mondavi Coastal wines. Shyvers was responsible for all aspects of planning, grape sourcing and wine growing for the Robert Mondavi Coastal wines.

In discussing why he finds his new role as president of The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association so exciting, Shyvers states, "Monterey County is home to a wonderfully diverse group of wineries and growers. The sheer size of the region, as well as the varied climatic influence, enables us to produce wines that appeal to a range of consumers," comments Shyvers. "Wine lovers across the world recognize the distinctive quality of a Monterey County wine and we always look forward to introducing our wines to new guests of the region. With over 65 MCVGA members, Monterey County is making a mark in the wine industry."

Shyvers holds a Bachelor of Science degree in genetics with a minor in microbiology from the University of California- Davis in 1976. In 1980, he was responsible for isolating a strain of Leuconostoc bacteria used in the wine fermentation process. He has traveled extensively throughout the great wine growing regions of the world, including Europe and South America, to expand his winemaking knowledge.

The 2003 Board of Directors has also been announced. The Board is comprised of leading executives from MCVGA members. The MCVGA 2003 Board includes:

Vice President
Jeff Eikenberry - Kendall Jackson

Treasurer
Jeff Kasavan - Robert Mondavi Coastal

Secretary
Scott Storm - Lockwood Vineyard

Past-President
Claude Hoover, San Bernabe Vineyard

Bob Denny, Hames Valley Vineyard
Jose Fernandez, Pacific Wine Partners
Phil Franscioni - Arroyo Seco Vineyards
Kurt Gollnick - Scheid Vineyards, Inc.
Kristin Horton - Chateau Julien Wine Estate
Jerry Lohr - J Lohr Winery
LuAnn Meador - Ventana Vineyards
Claudia Smith - Paraiso Springs Vineyards
Ridge Watson - Joullian Vineyards, Ltd.

About MCVGA

The Monterey County Vintners & Growers' Association (MCVGA) brings together the talents and resources of members, partners and our community in order to promote and support our leadership in the art, the science and the business of wine. Founded in 1974, MCVGA is a non-profit organization representing over sixty vintners and growers in Monterey County. MCVGA can be reached by calling 831-375-9400 or visiting online at www.montereywines.org