Gary Heck

Gary Heck, the owner of Korbel, has served as its president since 1982 and later became Chairman of the Board in 1984. In 1965 he began his full-time career at Korbel Champagne Cellars occupying many positions spanning all areas of winery operations including: Assistant Office Manager, Purchasing Agent, Traffic Manager, Sales Representative, Office Manager, Vice President, Executive Vice President, President and Chairman of the Board. Over the years, Heck’s increased involvement with the company resulted in remarkably strong brand performance. Since his appointment to Executive Vice President in 1974, Korbel’s annual depletions increased from 150,000 cases to consistently over 1.2 million cases of champagne and 375,000 cases of brandy sold today. And since 1995, with Korbel’s acquisitions, vineyard operations have grown from 200 acres to over 2,000. Heck Cellars, in DiGiorgio, acts primarily as Korbel’s brandy production plant. It is one of the largest and most progressive, multi-use crush and bottling facilities in California. The plant has the versatility and capacity to accommodate beverage marketers of all sizes — from small boutique producers to large scale operators. Kenwood Vineyards is widely respected for its award winning wines earning the reputation for consistent quality. The winery produces over 600,000 cases of Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Heck presently serves the following industry organizations: • Sonoma State University ~ Chairman, SSU Wine Business Education Program • Wine Institute Board of Directors • Knights of the Vine ~ Supreme Knight. • Les Amis du Vin ~ Member In addition to these activities, Heck owns and participates in Heck Racing, a successful drag- racing team, and a division of Korbel Champagne Cellars.