Purple Wine Company’s Growth Continues: Two Personnel Additions

GRATON, CA, August 19, 2010 - Purple Wine Company (PWC), the dynamic, fast growing company behind wine brands Avalon, Mark West, Rock Rabbit and Bex, today announced personnel additions with the appointment of two veteran wine sales professionals including a new Western Region Chain Accounts Manager, Gregory W. Dotts, and a Northwest Region Sales Manager, Tony Luera.

Gregory W. Dotts, who was appointed Western Region Chain Accounts Manager, started his career at The Wine Group where he worked in both the supplier and distributor sides of the business.  Prior to his move to PWC, Dotts spent 14 years at Regal Wine Company, the California distribution arm of Kendall Jackson/Majestic Fine Wines.

“Greg’s 18 years of supplier and distributor experience will be a welcome addition to the growing brands of Purple Wine Company,” noted Ron Janowczyk, Vice President of Purple Wine Company. “His expertise and equity in California, coupled with his fine wine background and business acumen will make him an immediate success in the West Coast chain market.”

Separately, PWC also announced the appointment of Tony Luera as Northwest Region Sales Manager. Luera spent the early years of his career in the Pacific Northwest before joining E&J Gallo Winery as chain manager, specializing in category management. Luera later moved to the supplier side with White Rocket Wine Company, a division of Kendall Jackson, where he developed skills in brand development and distributor management.  Most recently, Luera was the National Sales Manager for Goose Ridge Winery out of the Columbia Valley in Washington.

“Tony’s specialized knowledge of the Northwest market will be a great asset to the fast growing brands of Mark West, Avalon, Rock Rabbit and Bex” adds Janowczyk. “ Tony’s knowledge of our wholesaler’s personnel and of the key account buyers in the marketplace will hasten the realization of our forecasted volume in the Region.”

About Purple Wine Company
Purple Wine Company was founded in 2001 by Derek Benham to create and market a number of individual brands built around a single focus.  Current brands include Avalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Mark West Pinot Noir, Bex Riesling, and Rock Rabbit Sauvignon Blanc. The executive team includes Dennis Carroll, President; Ron Janowczyk, Senior Vice President and Alex Cose, Winemaker.

For information on Purple Wine Company and its brands or to schedule an interview, please contact: Kendall Johnson at Charles Communications Associates, kendall@charlescomm.com or 415-701-9463.

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