Larry Stone, managing director of Francis Ford Coppola’s 20,000-case Rubicon Estate, Rutherford, was named general manager of Evening Land, which makes Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, California’s Sonoma Coast and Santa Rita Hills and in Burgundy. He’ll continue making his own label, 1,000-case Sirita.

Grant for Idaho wine
The U.S. Economic Development Administration has given a $100,000 federal grant to the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission. The funds will fuel a marketing campaign and a study of best practices in other winegrowing regions. The commission will also map the Snake River Valley AVA, the only one in the state, and study the feasibility of creating another AVA in north/central Idaho.

Haywire springs to life in B.C.
Marketing consultant Christine Coletta and her husband Steve Lornie are launching Haywire Winery in Summerland, British Columbia. The first release will be 2009 Pinot Gris sourced from their Switchback Vineyard.

Okanagan forms purchasing group
Twenty independent British Columbia wineries and consultants have banded to form Okanagan Purchasing Group, to manage purchasing of vineyard and winery equipment and supplies and business products and services. The shareholders collectively produce more than 150,000 cases of wine per year. Their goal is to streamline the administrative burden of purchasing and obtain bulk rate pricing from suppliers.

Washington to create sustainable guide
A $128,250 grant from the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant program will help the Washington Wine Industry Foundation build a guide to sustainable winery practices. Dubbed “Winery Wise,” it’s modeled after the “Vinewise” guide to sustainable viticulture operated by the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. Details: washingtonwinefoundation.org.

New owner for Evesham Wood
Evesham Wood Winery Winery & Vineyard, Salem, Ore., was purchased by Erin Nuccio. The 6,000-case winery founded by Russ and Mary Raney comes with a 12.5-acre vineyard.