(Sacramento, CA) - Assemblymember Monning (D-Carmel) has selected Heller Estate Organic Vineyard of Carmel Valley, California, to be honored at the California Small Business Day luncheon on June 6, 2011, at the Sacramento Convention Center.

"I selected Heller Estate as the 27th Assembly District's Small Business of the Year because of its long term commitment to making environmentally friendly wines and to creating a safe work environment," stated Assemblymember Monning. "I have had the opportunity to visit Heller Estate and was impressed by what the Hellers have done to implement these best management practices."

Heller Estate's tasting room and vineyards are both located in Carmel Valley. The first vines were planted in 1968 making it the oldest vineyard in Monterey County. Gilbert and Toby Heller purchased the vineyard in 1989 and began the conversion to organic. In 1996, Heller Estate vineyard was certified according to USDA standards as 100% organically grown, one of very few vineyards in California to receive this certification and the only one in Monterey County. Heller Estate has also taken steps to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the use of fossil fuels in its farming practices by using a 100% plant based biodiesel fuel.

In addition to being environmentally conscious, the vineyard has won numerous accolades for its wines, including a double gold medal from the 2010 San Francisco International Wine Competition for its 2007 Dancers Meritage. Its 2007 Chardonnay was featured by the Wall Street Journal as being one of the Top 5 U.S. Chardonnays.

Upon hearing that Assemblymember Monning was going to honor Heller Estate as the 27th Assembly District's Small Business of the Year, Gilbert and Toby Heller, owners of Heller Estate said, "We are delighted to learn of having been chosen as the 2011 outstanding small business from the Assembly District 27. Our commitment to our employees, community economic growth, and protecting the environment with our organic grape growing practices in our vineyard has been a priority for the past 18 years."

Assemblymember Monning was first elected to represent the 27th Assembly District in 2008 and re-elected in 2010. The 27th Assembly District includes portions of Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assemblymember Monning was a professor at the Monterey College of Law and a Professor of International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Contact: Noelle White @ (831) 649-2832