CIA honors leaders of California wine industry

At the Culinary Institute of America's Celebration of California Food & Wine on March 14 at the CIA-Greystone, the CIA recognized the 2009 Vintners Hall of Fame inductees for their contributions to the wine industry.

(l to r) CIA president Tim Ryan and wine journalist Gerald Asher

Inductees, honored at the event's third annual Hall of Fame Induction dinner, include:

• wine editor emeritus and journalist Gerald Asher, Gourmet magazine;
• Jack and Jamie Davies, founders of Schramsberg Vineyards;
• Jess Jackson, founder of Kendall-Jackson Estates;
• Carole Meredith, University of California--Davis professor and co-founder of Lagier-Meredith Winery;
• Justin Meyer, co-founder of Silver Oak Cellars; and
• Warren Winiarski, founder of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

Warren Winiarski

Brothers Frederick and Jacob Beringer, who founded Beringer Vineyards in 1876, were inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame as Pioneers, a category that recognizes those who made a significant contribution to the California wine industry and passed away before March 1989.

Proceeds from the Vintners Hall of Fame Induction Dinner contribute to the CIA at Greystone's Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies. The Vintners Hall of Fame was opened to the public for the first time on March 30 at the CIA-Greystone.