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Corus Estates & Vineyards Brings New Winemaker on Board SEATTLE, WA — Corus Estates & Vineyards, the Northwest wine company that produces wines from Alder Ridge, Washington state's most promising vineyard, today announced that Robert J. Chowanietz has been named winemaker for three of the company's wine brands—Zefina, Alder Ridge, and Six Prong. Chowanietz brings experience in working with unique varietals to one of the few Northwest wine companies specializing in their production. In his new role, Chowanietz joins the award-winning Corus winemaking team that includes consulting winemaker Charlie Hoppes, an experienced veteran in the industry. No newcomer to Washington 's wine industry, Chowanietz most recently served as consulting winemaker for Washington Vintners LLC where he led his winemaking team in successfully producing the inaugural vintage for the start-up winery. Prior to that role, he honed his skills as cellarmaster for Woodward Canyon Winery, and production supervisor for Canoe Ridge Vineyard. “We already had Alder Ridge Vineyard, with its amazing capacity for producing wines with intense, fruit-forward character and Charlie Hoppes, a gifted consultant,” said Ken McCabe, President of Corus. “All we needed was the right winemaker who would be dedicated to bringing out the very best from the vines. Rob's fresh insight and inspiration made him an ideal winemaker for Corus Estates & Vineyards. We found the perfect match.” Passionate about all aspects of making wine, Chowanietz, a Northwest native, has benefited from an educational background that is a mix of science and agriculture. He studied health science at Walla Walla College , took courses in wine microbiology from Washington State University , and studied winemaking at the University of California at Davis. “I got into the business of winemaking out of the sheer desire to make what I love most,” Chowanietz commented explained about his foray into the wine industry. “Working with the team at Corus, I'm excited about several things. First, I'm thrilled to be working with the amazing fruit from Alder Ridge. The vineyard holds so much promise, I feel privileged to be a part of what's happening there. And second, I have the opportunity to work with several unique varietals and help showcase Washington 's incredibly diverse potential. The sky's the limit here, and I'm ready for the adventure.” In addition to looking forward to working with new varietals, Chowanietz is also excited about making wine from a different appellation. His first vintage, 2003, is still in production. Corus Estates & Vineyards Corus Estates & Vineyards is one of the largest owners of vineyards in the Northwest, with 375 acres in Idaho , 135 acres in Oregon , and a sprawling, 1400-acre vineyard in Washington called Alder Ridge. Corus produces several wine brands exclusively from these vineyards, including Zefina Winery, Alder Ridge, and Six-Prong. Corus also owns Sawtooth Winery, an award-winning winery in the heart of Idaho 's Snake River Valley . While each brand owned by Corus displays its own distinct character, all share the same commitment to producing high-quality, handcrafted wines that display the abundant bounty of the Northwest's finest vineyards. www.corusestates.com Zefina Winery Zefina Winery, owned by Corus Estates & Vineyards wine company, produces wine made with grapes from the Columbia Valley 's Alder Ridge Vineyard—a sprawling 812-acre prime grape-growing site set high in the hills above the Columbia River . With quality that reflects the art of handcrafted winemaking in the Old World , and the adventurous, free-spirited quality that only exists in the New, Zefina has emerged as a sophisticated yet approachable brand of wine from the heart of Washington wine country. First introduced in 2001, Zefina wines have been a departure from the mainstream classic varietals, each individual release highlighting the diversity and incredible potential of Washington State 's wine growing region. Each limited bottling illustrates elegance, richness and depth that begin in the vineyard. Zefina wines include Serience Red (a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Counoise, and Mourvedre), Serience White (a blend of Viognier and Roussane), Serience Rose (100% Grenache), Zinfandel, and Sangiovese. Six Prong While Six Prong Winery makes just one wine—Six Prong Red Wine—it's hardly a simple one. Made predominantly with the award-winning fruit of Alder Ridge Vineyard, the 2001 vintage is a blend of six varietals—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Sangiovese, and Cinsault. The limited bottling of just 1000 cases sold out within the first five months. The 2002 vintage, also a limited bottling of 1100 cases, is a blend of six different varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Malbec, and Grenache. Alder Ridge In the fall of 2004, Corus plans to release the premier vintage of Alder Ridge, a wine made exclusively with grapes from Alder Ridge. The wine is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. A total of 270 6-packs were bottled. ###
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