WineAmerica has appointed Janie Brooks Heuck of Brooks Wines to the Oregon seat on the WineAmerica Board of Directors. Janie will represent the Oregon membership of WineAmerica in the Oregon regional board seat.
Janie is the Managing Director of Brooks Wines in the Willamette Valley. Brooks winery was founded by Janie’s brother Jimi Brooks in 1998. Upon Jimi’s unexpected passing in 2004, Janie quickly found herself responsible for the business operations of the winery. Eager to gain knowledge of the wine industry as quickly as possible, she surrounded herself with Oregon’s highly respected winemakers and business advisors and enrolled in a Viticulture and Enology course at UC Davis to increase her acumen in the industry. As time evolved, Janie continued to gain experience, which resulted in the desire to carry out Jimi’s wish – for Brooks Wines to be more than a winery, a family legacy that he hoped one day would be continued by his son Pascal.
Janie has been volunteering her time to run Brooks since 2004 and the sole owner is Jimi’s son, Pascal. Since his passing, Janie has increased the production from 3,500 cases to 15,000 cases. She has been very active in the Oregon wine industry. She held a six year term, including a year as Chair of the Board for Oregon Pinot Camp. She is currently on the Board of Directors of International Riesling Foundation as the Vice President of Marketing and serves on the media committee for the International Pinot Noir Celebration.
“I am very honored to join the WineAmerica Board. It is an outstanding resource and advocate for all wineries across the country.” said Heuck, “I look forward to serving as a liason between the ever growing and strengthening Oregon Wine industry and the important work of WineAmerica.
The WineAmerica Board recently met in Lexington, Kentucky. Completing a two year transition process that culminated in streamlining the Board of Directors from 29 to 17 members. The WineAmerica Board will meet again in Washington, DC from May 22-24, 2016 as part of the National Wine and Grape Policy Conference. Registration information and more can be found here: The National Wine and Grape Policy Conference
