RODNEY STRONG WINE ESTATES HIRES ANDREW BLOCK AS VICE PRESIDENT SALES NORTHEAST

HEALDSBURG, California (September 2012) – Rodney Strong Wine Estates recently hired Andrew Block as Vice President Sales Northeast. Andy brings a unique blend of experience that includes and extends beyond the beverage alcohol business. He has excelled in sales and operations management, trade marketing and team recruitment and development in traditional consumer packaged goods, telecommunications and retail. In addition, Block has extensive experience with wine industry channel management, distributor relations and sales strategy implementation. He comes directly out of the telecommunications industry, where he was a Senior Director of Strategic Transformation of U.S. Sales with T-Mobile USA. His most recent beverage alcohol position was with Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines as the General Sales Manager – East.

“Andy’s 15 years in the wine business, coupled with his strong strategic sales operations experience of late in the telecommunications industry, brings a unique blend of knowledge and perspective to this position,” notes Senior Sales & Marketing Vice President, Carmen Castaldi. “And, his exceedingly strong leadership abilities make him a perfect fit for the complex northeast region.”

Rodney Strong Wine Estates is a family-owned wine company that includes Rodney Strong Vineyards and Davis Bynum Winery. Rodney Strong grows and produces wines exclusively from four of Sonoma County’s finest appellations – Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill and Sonoma Coast.  The winery was founded in 1959 by Sonoma County wine pioneer Rodney D. Strong as the 13th bonded winery in the county. Davis Bynum crafts Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The company aspires to conserve and protect the environment in all its operations. The Klein family, a fourth generation California farming family, entered the wine business with the purchase of Rodney Strong Vineyards in 1989.