WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries, installed three new Directors on its 17-member Board during its Fall Retreat in Traverse City, Michigan on November 14.
The three new Directors are Kelly Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks in Arizona; Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, California; and Dave Kostelnik of Early Mountain Vineyards in Virginia. They were elected by a vote of WineAmerica’s membership in October.
“We are delighted to welcome these wine professionals to our Board,” said WineAmerica President Jim Trezise. “They add new ideas, perspectives, and energy to a Board which includes a few longtime members as well as those who have served a couple three-year terms, providing a balance of historical context and a look to the future.”
Kelly Bostock and her husband Todd own and run Dos Cabezas, and are very active in the Arizona Wine Growers Association as well as being longtime members of WineAmerica. She will represent the Rocky Mountain region on WineAmerica’s Board, and comes from the Southwest which until now has been an untapped area.
Jason Haas is the second generation proprietor of Tablas Creek Vineyard, having grown up accompanying his father Robert Haas on European wine-buying trips and spending two summers working at Chateau de Beaucastel. As the General Manager of Tablas Creek since 2006, he oversees the business, winemaking, and sales and marketing operations. He’s also a popular speaker and author.
Dave Kostelnik of Early Mountain Vineyards brought to the Charlottesville winery a strong background in marketing and public relations for tech start-up and financial companies in Silicon Valley and Manhattan before turning his talents to promoting the vibrant and growing Virginia wine industry.
“The geographical diversity of these three new Directors reflects WineAmerica’s unique role as the national association of American wineries, and our ability to get things done in the public policy arena,” said Michael Kaiser, Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs. “We have about 400 winery members from 46 states, supplemented by a State and Regional Associations Advisory Council of winery trade associations which give us truly national reach.”
Created in 1978 in Watkins Glen, NY as the Association of American Vintners, WineAmerica has grown from a tiny regional group into a national trade association with a mission to protect and enhance the business climate for the American wine industry. Among its recent successes were passage of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act which saves all wineries significant amounts of money through reduced excise taxes; and the 2022 National Economic Impact Study of the Wine Industry showing a total benefit of $276 billion.
Thank you to all the WineAmerica members who attended!
Todd Bostock, Dos Cabezas Wineworks, AZ
Kelly Bostock, Dos Cabezas Wineworks, AZ
John Braganini, St. Julian, MI
Sarah Braganini, St. Julian, MI
Chris Brundrett, William Chris Wine Company, TX
Marty Clubb, L’Ecole No. 41, WA
Marie-Chantal Dalese, Chateau Chantal, MI
Anita Davis, Breitenbach Wine Cellars, OH
Debra Dommen, Treasury Wine Estates
Chris Goblet, New Mexico Wine Association
Steve Gross, Wine Institute
Dana Huber, Huber’s Orchard, Winery, & Vineyards, IN
Bob Jacobson, Leelanau Wine Cellars, MI
Joseph Juniper, Vermilion Valley Vineyards
Michelle Kaufmann, Stoller Family Wines, OR
Dave Kostelnik, Early Mountain Vineyards, VA
Max MacFarland, Mac’s Creek Winery and Brewery
Scott Osborn, Fox Run Vineyards
Kyle Schlachter, Colorado Wine Industry Development Board
Rex Stults, Napa Valley Vintners
Seth Urbanek, William Chris Wine Company, TX
