KELSEYVILLE >> The Lake County Winery Association (LCWA) on Wednesday announced the retirement of Terry Dereniuk, executive director of the organization.
In her role Dereniuk worked closely with Lake County wineries and trade partners to promote Lake County wine and the wine region. During her term as executive director she helped guide wineries through some difficult and unusual challenges, from the drought to the devastating 2015 fire season. Yet during this time, both the industry and the perceived quality of Lake County wines continued to grow. New wineries and tasting rooms opened, including Boatique Winery, Fults Family Vineyards, Kaz Winery and the addition of Smiling Dogs Ranch and Fore Family Vineyards to Kelseyville’s Main St. In 2015, acreage and value increased, with the former up by more than 7 percent over the previous year. And in a 2014 survey by Full Glass Research, 98 percent of respondents — all wine industry insiders — agreed that Lake County Sauvignon Blanc equaled or topped other coastal appellations in quality.
Two-thirds noted a trend toward consistency among county labels. And 78 percent praised the improvement of the county’s grape crop.
“Terry has been an incredible asset to the growth of our industry,” said Debra Sommerfield, President of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, a state agency that represents Lake County’s winegrape growers and works cooperatively with the Lake County Winery Association in promoting the region. “She has generously shared her talent and her enthusiasm for our region, and we wish her the best in her retirement.”
Dereniuk retired from the Department of the Treasury in 2010 after a 28 year career. Prior to joining the Winery Association, Terry consulted with the Lake County Winegrape Commission as the program manager for their 2011 USDA specialty crop grant and authored the petitions to establish the two most recent American Viticultural Areas in Lake County, Big Valley District and Kelsey Bench.
Dustin Fults, Chair of the LCWA Board commented, “We are extremely grateful for the dedication and expertise Terry brought to our organization as Executive Director over the last three years. Her adeptness, community outreach and commitment to the local wine industry are second to none and we wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”
LCWA was established in 2007 by a group of wineries and headed by Susan Mesick. Today, the Association is directed by a board of directors made up of representatives from nine member wineries with day-to-day leadership by its executive director.
Her retirement is effective Dec. 31. Dereniuk assisted the Association Board of Directors to identify her successor and ensure a smooth transition.
Dereniuk remains a member of the Board of Directors for the Lake County Farm Bureau and has been active in a number of Lake County volunteer organizations including Lake County Mediations, Lake County Master Gardeners, and the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture. She and her husband own Cat’s Paw Vineyard in Kelseyville.
LCWA works to promote the wines of Lake County’s high elevation region. Membership is open to wineries, winegrape growers, and individuals or businesses interested in promoting the Lake County wine industry. For more information about upcoming events, sponsorship, or membership opportunities, call 707 357-5237 or visit www.lakecountywineries.org.
