SIP MENDOCINO Winebar and Retailer to Open

Mendocino County, CA – (May 25, 2007) – Mendocino County’s Wine Country just got more exciting with the planned opening of the county’s first comprehensive retail showcase of Mendocino wines. SIP Mendocino will act as a discovery center for wine lovers who are interested in learning about, tasting, and buying fine Mendocino wines. SIP Mendocino will be a wine bar/tasting room and an important retail presence in Hopland, one of the prominent tourism gateways for the wine traveler to Mendocino County.

Bernadette Byrne will be the sole proprietor of SIP Mendocino. Bernadette has 25 years in the wine business in California, the last twenty years spent in Mendocino County. After a few years in production in the Napa Valley, Bernadette spent ten years working for Fetzer Vineyards in various positions ranging from Director of Hospitality to Training Director and Special Events Coordinator. During those years she functioned as President of the Mendocino Vintners Association. After leaving Fetzer Vineyards, she was Executive Director of the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance (previously named Mendocino Vintners Association, the County’s grower and vintner organization) and Director of Marketing for McDowell Valley Vineyards.

“The relationships that I have established over the years with wine industry leaders after serving on a multitude of organizations will help me to develop the best selection of Mendocino wines from small producers who value the opportunity for their product to be ‘hand sold’ in a premium environment,” says Bernadette.

“The inland corridor of Mendocino County currently does not have a viable private wine store. Wine lovers and professionals are forced to travel to Sonoma County or to chain supermarket stores to purchase a cross section of Mendocino wines,” added Shaun Behrens, Executive Chef and Co-Owner of the Hopland Inn, the more than 100-year-old historic inn in the center of town, “We have a strong belief in supporting local sustainable and seasonal agriculture and SIP Mendocino will be a great addition to our area.”

Mendocino County has an abundance of lodging options to suit the tastes of all visitors, from bed & breakfasts and romantic inns to resort accommodations and vacation rentals. Additional information is available at www.gomendo.com or by calling 866-STAY-MENDO (782-9636). The purpose of the Mendocino County Lodging Association (MCLA) is to provide a forum to define and promote the general interests of its members and the Lodging industry in Mendocino County. To learn more, visit www.mcla.info.