FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rudd Group Contact:
Ellen Hunt
ellen.hunt@ruddgrp.com
707-967-9207

RUDD WINERY NAMES PATRICK SULLIVAN WINEMAKER

Oakville, CA — January 3, 2008 — Leslie Rudd, proprietor of Oakville-based Rudd Winery, today announced that the winery has named Patrick Sullivan as its new Winemaker. Sullivan, who is moving from the position of Associate Winemaker at Paul Hobbs Winery, fills the position left vacant earlier this year when Charles Thomas moved to Quintessa Winery.

“Pat is the right person at the right time,” Rudd said. “He brings a personal commitment to crafting artisanal wines that bridge tradition and innovation, while adhering to our philosophy of continuous improvement.”

Born and raised in Sonoma, Sullivan entered the world of winemaking following a brief foray into California’s bio-tech industry. He earned his Master of Science in Enology from California State University, Fresno, and began his career in the cellars of the highly respected Peter Michael Winery. His next move was to the position of Enologist at Rudd Winery, working for two years under winemakers David Ramey and Charles Thomas. Sullivan’s time at Rudd was followed by three years at Lewis Cellars in Napa, first as Assistant Winemaker, then assuming the title of Winemaker in January, 2005. In April, 2006, he accepted the position of Associate Winemaker at the renowned Paul Hobbs Winery, the position he held before returning to Rudd this month.

“I am extremely excited and honored to have the opportunity to return home to the Rudd family as Winemaker,” Sullivan said. “The Rudd Estate in Oakville is a truly exceptional site capable of producing wines of tremendous power and beauty. I look forward to being a part of the on-going effort to make the best wines possible from this amazing vineyard.”

About Rudd Winery
Rudd Winery was established in 1996, when Leslie Rudd purchased the 54-acre estate in Oakville. Along with a Bordeaux-style proprietary red wine produced with fruit from the estate, Rudd Winery produces small quantities of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma. Additional information concerning Rudd Winery can be found at the company’s web site: www.ruddwines.com.
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Rudd Winery