Jim Concannon Named “Man of the Year” by Tasting Panel Magazine

Livermore, CA (November 11, 2010) --  Jim Concannon, third-generation vintner and ambassador for Concannon Vineyard and Livermore Valley winemaking, has been named 2010’s "Man of the Year" by Tasting Panel Magazine, one of the adult beverage industry’s leading publications. Announcement of the “Man of the Year” award and update on Concannon Vineyard initiatives is covered in the November 2010 issue of Tasting Panel.   

 “We salute Concannon Vineyard, a founding family of California wine, and credit Jim and the winery for completion of a ten-year, $30 million revitalization program focused on quality in the vineyards, winery and operations. Concannon Vineyard is one of the first of seventeen wineries to earn certification by the California  Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, launched a new tier of Conservancy wines to produce quality vintages from vineyards protected in perpetuity from urban development and  will shortly earn organic certification,” said Anthony Dias Blue, renown wine and spirits veteran and editor in chief, Tasting Panel magazine. 

 The Tasting Panel Magazine Award caps a list of recognitions which Jim Concannon has received including the 2007 California State Fair Lifetime Achievement Award. Previous winners of this prestigious award include Robert Gallo, Jerry Lohr, Zelma Long and warren Winiarski. According to the California State Fair, Jim Concannon was chosen for his industry leadership in development of clones 7, 8 and 11 that provided the backbone of Napa Valley’s Cabernet resurgence in the 1970s and 1980s and led the world in quality standards for this grape which is America’s best-selling red wine varietal.  The national Petite Sirah organization, P.S. I Love You recognized Jim as the father of America’s first varietally labeled Petite Sirah and gave him its Founder's Award for leading the nation in advocacy for Petite Sirah wine.

“The award from Tasting Panel Magazine leaves me humbled. I gratefully accept this distinction as it honors the Concannon family, my grandfather, father and brother Joe for their dedication and hard work alongside so many others in building the historic winery over the past 127 years. I am blessed to work in an industry I love, leading a winery that bears my family’s name and I’m thrilled that my son, John Concannon is bringing continued leadership to assure our family’s legacy of trust, quality and innovation for decades to come. In my eyes, the future is as bright as ever,” stated Concannon.

Under the leadership of publisher, Meredith May, and Anthony Dias Blue, editor in chief, Tasting Panel magazine is the fastest growing and most widely circulated national magazine for the wine and spirits industry with a readership that tops 100K beverage professionals every month. Tasting Panel magazine is the official publication for the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Additionally, the principals host a weekly radio show, “Taste Buds”, which airs on ABC affiliate KABC Los Angeles reaching over 60,000 Southern Californians with a behind-the-scenes look at the latest trends in wine and food.
For more information on Tasting Panel or to subscribe, contact Meridith May (818) 990-0350.

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