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a merger sold to investors as combiningvmg amilorChrysler stock–pncto i tie rloperemains toTinaaaamonal in o=ore coopers .vrr
<br /> the best of both companies and at the less than half its post-merger high of uses for the combined company's long sponse to a wave of recent analyst down-
<br /> same time saving $3 billion a year. But $ 101 per share, making the combined list of inventions — among them, ceram. grades and investor lawsuits. Most nota-
<br /> earlier this year the Java was shelved, company worth less today than Daim- is brakes, onboard navigation systems ble among the legal actions was a $9
<br /> reportedly in part because it would com- ler-Benz alone before the deal. and safety features such as Distronic billion lawsuit filed in November by the
<br /> pete against the existing Mercedes A-se- The backlash has focused on Daimler- cruise control, a system that automatical- company's third largest shareholder,
<br /> ries for buyers. Chrysler chief executive Juergen ly slows a car when it gets too close to U.S . financier Kirk Kerkorian, that ac-
<br /> So instead of blazing a trail to integra- Schrempp. The charismatic German cars ahead of it. cuses Schrempp of falsely telling
<br /> tion, the Java — the only car to date that masterminded the merger with promis- "We cannot stay alone. We need econ- a merger of equCsler allsrs that the deal was
<br /> combined parts from both Daimler and es of greater shareholder value, but is omies of scale," Mercedes chief Juergen Analysts expect DaimlerChrysler's
<br /> Chrysler — stands as testimony to the currently presiding over one of history's Hubbert admitted at his division's 100th share price to languish and its bottom
<br /> merger's wasted potential, biggest losses in that category. birthday bash earlier this month. line to suffer in the near future as
<br /> Failed synergies are a flashpoint in a A driving force behind the deal was In the merger's first year, Daimler- Schrempp tries to revive the Chrysler
<br /> merger plagued with problems — a Daimler's need to get more mileage out Chrysler delivered more than $ 1 billion division, which posted a $512 million
<br /> brain drain of Chrysler's executive tal- of Mercedes' massive research and de- in savings by combining such things as loss in the third quarter and warned of
<br /> ent, cultural clashes between German velopment spending. purchasing and back office functions. $ 1 .2 billion in red ink for the fourth quar-
<br /> and American management, and a battle The company spends up to a quarter But problems erupted this year when ter,
<br /> for financial control over the loss-ridden of its budget on new technology, and the company shifted into Phase 2 — the Schrempp has proven that he knows
<br /> U.S. division. plans to fork out an additional $45 bil- sharing of parts and components. how to make tough decisions to protect
<br /> Skeptical shareholders bailed out, lion by 2003. The company has unveiled limited cc - the bottom line.
<br /> LOCKEFORD : Litchfields have plenty of support for their grand vision
<br /> CONTINUED FROM G•1 .- a t 1 . is d is sa i 9 ' „a si s 6 i ; lst e s as t ls' " rin
<br /> on their way. Vino Piazza , t o rz r sl ` H rt F e i a
<br /> houses four wineries that i t 77 txd sr 1 i9 i2 tis 1 a Itta fi r
<br /> crushed grapes there this fall, ; a % k a7ikp s I E e Rh i ' auim riAr 4s s9i rl 1 is$ , fa ' t
<br /> and more are on the way.
<br /> H t J
<br /> 3' iso a v n �T �s 3 r °i r s a ' 6 is si"stu`��s � C81w� i � s gss a ; � � sr "" , E„ B g � t a rg i�
<br /> The most prominent of the
<br /> da s tis s $ �! R ¢ as L rsy r sG ^« la s 4 � wa teas � s Eu E ar rr3Y k' s, a1' . a4 q, ii • S
<br /> current tenants is Mitch
<br /> Cosentino, whose Napa winery q fi i , d s a r t a aq Q ' l s z t a m
<br /> has garnered accolades from ab ,a igs 7
<br /> g '., J% s i4r a & W;,• 4 i r t { k. y i i ys Jia r
<br /> Qlw
<br /> wine critics. Cosentino is t � , ?ir r s r a 7 7 ra �x �11 7 a
<br /> building two of his own T t ` rr l,s it r G� ti "
<br /> wineries in the area, but in the a 71a JJ s s � + q ,
<br /> meantime is using the Vino !� � k as '� aVl�c a r a � cal ssµa a� aa�rgc "� rrl t a y i.-aa �tss d , aT s � i{
<br /> 9 s r �' r. aa" 9 'aa T a *" t �ri a•
<br /> inIn
<br /> Piazza apace to make his » € t u
<br /> Lodi-area wines. XP r r 0 IC
<br /> The others are the Peters Jr
<br /> Family Winery, CasCande Pitto s a
<br /> Wines and the Olde Lockeford s k
<br /> . r £ a;
<br /> Winery. Peters and Olde a " � s
<br /> In
<br /> Lockeford each made aboutm irlsJ ar " ' ,? In , �,
<br /> 1,000 cases of wine this year, ` t o i a
<br /> ande Pitto did about
<br /> KnI
<br /> while CasC
<br /> 2,000 cases. 8R In n In
<br /> Cosentino, who produced
<br /> about 25,200 cases at Vino
<br /> Piazza this year, lent his
<br /> a
<br /> expertise, winery bond and
<br /> crushing equipment to the11 In
<br /> p86 h
<br /> smaller wineries. 1
<br /> � a
<br /> Watts Winery and Borra �� sr9
<br /> Vineyards are expected to come % r
<br /> on board for the 2001 crush,
<br /> b a r
<br /> and several more are interested,
<br /> according to the Litchfields, g 1 _ ib 00 P
<br /> a; aa
<br /> Eventually, the facility could
<br /> house a dozen small wineries, 7 el
<br /> Don Litchfield said. I ss ,�8Nins e , o
<br /> JOAN BARNEIT LEE/THE B
<br /> Joining in The Olde Lockeford Winery near Lockeford has a bright future as plans by Don and Karlin Litchfield unfold at the site near Highways 12 and 88.
<br /> Olde Lockeford Winery is the
<br /> Litchfields' own venture. They
<br /> hadn't expected to get into and heavy equipment rental, administrative space on could afford to, but now they wine-tourism destination.
<br /> winemaking themselves this Then the idea of returning another, maybe a banquet room have bank financing to move Vino Piazza makes it much
<br /> soon, Don Litchfield said. But a the old winery to its original or wine tasting room on the the project forward more easier for growers to make
<br /> neighboring vineyard had 4 use hit. "We figured it was a top. quickly. some wine and open a tasting
<br /> tons of extra grapes looking for tossup, a winery plaza or an The Litchfields aren't the only room, Chandler said. "It allow;
<br /> a home and, well, why not? auto body plaza," Karyn Making progress ones excited about Vino Piazza. a producer to get involved
<br /> That sort of accidental timing Litchfield said with a grin. For now, Vino Piazza remains "I think it's a great project," without the huge cost of brick:
<br /> is how the whole Vino Piazza The timing was perfect. The a work in progress, with Cosentino said. `For us it's a and mortar. It presents an
<br /> project was launched. wine industry has lots of extra bulldozers, backhoes and crews near-term answer, but for most opportunity. Someone with
<br /> The abandoned and heavily grapes and not enough storage. working on grading, plumbing it's a longer-term solution. It tanks, barrels and a good
<br /> vandalized old winery was in The Lodi-Woodbridge and electrical improvements. allows a mom-and-pop winemaker can test the waters
<br /> foreclosure almost three years Winegrape Commission is But the Litchfields expect to operation to exist and survive." The location near Highways
<br /> ago, with $1 .8 million in taxes encouraging area growers tohave it ready for the public by Vino Piazza allows an 12 and 88 is good to capture
<br /> owed by a previous owner. consider making wine to boostexchan a of equipment and vacationers headed to the
<br /> next spring or summer, with g
<br /> The Litchfields and a partner tourism, and North Coast wine tasting available. ideas that can really help a Sierra, Chandler said, and the
<br /> bought the 50-acre property for wineries are discovering the They already have staged a start-up winery, Cosentino said. Litchfields have added a
<br /> $215,000 at the foreclosure sale, Lodi region as the next wine "It's fantastic," added Mark mineral and fossil display
<br /> figuring they could do boom area. few public events there, complete with cast dinosaur
<br /> including a "haunted wine Chandler, executive director of
<br /> something with it. The partner The Litchfields pitched in to g winery" the Lodi-Woodbridge heads as an added attraction.
<br /> tour for Halloween and a g
<br /> took the back 25 acres and the clean up the site, working Wine ra a Commission. "It's "The guy has great vision,"
<br /> Litchfields kept the front parcel, evenings and weekends. wme-tasting event in g p Chandler said of Don Litchfiel
<br /> p p g conjunction with the going to help us reach critical "This lace was just here at
<br /> which includes the winery The old winery had storage Lockeford-Clements Chamber mass much sooner." P J
<br /> buildings. for 1 million gallons of wine, of Commerce. The critical mass Chandler is the right time," Litchfield said.
<br /> There were environmental much of it huge concrete Both events drew fax more talking about is the number of Bee staff writer Tim Moran can be
<br /> issues with the site, including tanks. Those tanks are being people than the Litchfields wineries and tasting rooms to reached at 578-2349 or at tmoranCa
<br /> old gasoline tanks. converted into mini-tasting on
<br /> Environmental cleanup is one rooms and winemaking areas. expected. The haunted winery make the region a major modbee.com.
<br /> of Don Litchfield's businesses, The foundation of another brought 2,000 people in three
<br /> so that didn't seem to be a huge tank in front of the days, and the chamber wine
<br /> qN
<br /> major stumbling block. complex will be turned into a tasting another 500 to 600. L
<br /> But what to do with the old fountain. The scale house "We know they will come,"
<br /> site? The Litchfields considered where grapes were weighed has Karyn Litchfield said. "We are w
<br /> usingit for storage space and already been converted into a getting a lot of inquiries on
<br /> g P Y mrtunlimited
<br /> sought tenants through comfortable office for Vino when we will be open." Go-Carts, Plat-Putt, Only
<br /> O K E N S
<br /> advertising, but didn't get much Piazza and Litchfield's other The project hasn't been Laser Tag, Rock Climbing �' !' O
<br /> response, Karyn Litchfield said. businesses. cheap. The Litchfields estimate 'AMM` t ^v and
<br /> Reality" Otl� $
<br /> Don Litchfield figured the The four-story distillery it will have cost them $ 1 .5 'AIR` Game y
<br /> worst case would be using the building eventually will have an million when complete, not
<br /> site as an office for his Italian village-style bell tower, including the sweat equity they 4 d
<br /> businesses, which include Don Litchfield said. He bubbles put in, I
<br /> environs cental cleanup, with ideas for each of the four At first they were chipping °
<br /> constru , ion. sn Flnors: a wine lab on one floor, away at the work when they , •A. v
<br /> 4-
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