January 23-25, 2018
Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento
February 22-23, 2018
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Temecula
April 4, 2018
CAWG Winegrape Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
April 4, 2018
CAWG Foundation Wine Reception, Sacramento
April 5, 2018
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
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Petaluma Gap is California's Newest AVA
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB)
has established the Petaluma Gap viticultural area in portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. It lies entirely within the larger existing North Coast viticultural area and partially within the established Sonoma Coast viticultural area. The new AVA covers just over 202,000 acres and includes 80 commercially-producing vineyards and nine wineries. Of the 4,000 acres of vineyards, 75 percent are planted to pinot noir. The petition for the AVA was submitted by the
Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance.
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California's Entire House Delegation Pushes for More Wildfire Relief
The 53 members of the California House delegation are urging the chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Appropriations to fulfill California's request for additional wildfire aid. In a Dec. 1 letter the legislators wrote, "As you work to develop supplemental disaster relief legislation, we strongly support the State of California's current request for $4.4 billion in wildfire relief funds and respectfully request it be included in the bill. We also ask that targeted tax relief for wildfire survivors be included." Several representatives, including Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), were quoted in a
press release
. On Nov. 30, the director of the California Office of Emergency Services sent a letter with the breakdown of supplemental funding request by federal agency, including FEMA ($2.6 billion), Department of Housing and Urban Development ($1.3 billion) and U.S. Department of Commerce ($350 million).
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CAWG Members, President Make Top Wine Industry Leaders List
Congratulations to the CAWG members (representing businesses or organizations) who were recognized in Wine Business Monthly's "Top Wine Industry Leaders" list. It showcases influential people who are shaping the industry today.
Categories include general, as well as data, mergers and acquisitions, labor and retailers -- four areas that made a considerable impact on the wine industry in 2017.
CAWG-affiliated honorees include Barbara Banke, Jackson Family Wines; Garth Hankinson and Bill Newlands, Constellation Brands; Roger Nabedian, E. & J. Gallo Winery; Karissa Kruse, Sonoma County Winegrowers; Jennifer Putnam, Napa Valley Grapegrowers; Andy Beckstoffer, Beckstoffer Vineyards; Mike Benziger, Benziger Family Winery; Nat DiBuduo, Allied Grape Growers; John Duarte, Duarte Nursery; Steve McIntyre, Monterey Pacific; Gordon Burns, ETS Laboratories; Stewart Resnick, The Wonderful Company; and John Aguirre, CAWG.
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Government Relations Capitol Report
ATKINS TO LEAD STATE SENATE
History will be made in 2018 when Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) becomes the first woman in history to lead the California State Senate.
Today Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) announced that Atkins is the consensus pick of the Senate Democratic Caucus to succeed him as leader. She will be formally elected in January. It's unclear when Atkins will formally take over next year.
Atkins has a well-deserved reputation of being a leader who wants to work with all sides to find common goals and push for workable solutions for all stakeholders. She was elected to the Senate last November after serving six years in the Assembly, where she was speaker from May 2014 until March 2016. Atkins will be the first openly gay pro tem.
NEW MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY
Carrillo Elected in Low-Turnout Special Election
With voter turnout under 10 percent, Wendy Carrillo won a special election this week in Los Angeles County to fill the vacancy in the 51st Assembly District. Carrillo will be the only member of the state Legislature to have potentially 13 years in office, being termed in 2030.
A former local radio host and communications manager for a Service Employees International Union affiliate, Carrillo describes herself on her campaign website as follows: "As a formerly undocumented immigrant, who came to the U.S. as a child, I know what it means to achieve the American Dream - to get a good education, to have access to quality healthcare and the opportunity to have a high-wage job."
Only 16,700 votes were cast in this election. With 53 percent of the vote, Carrillo was elected to office by 8,811 voters. By comparison, Fresno City Council members received an average 13,400 votes each in November.
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2018 California Green Medal: Applications Now Being Accepted
California vineyards and wineries are encouraged to apply for the 2018 California Green Medal: Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards. Applications are available at
www.greenmedal.org and are due Feb. 9, 2018. Categories are Leader Award, Environment Award, Community Award and Business Award. The awards are presented by CAWG, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, Wine Institute, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Napa Valley Vintners, Sonoma County Winegrowers and The Vineyard Team. Several regional winery and winegrowing association partners are also involved in promoting the awards.
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California Ag Leaders Travel to Chile for Climate Smart Agriculture Policy Mission
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross, CAWG chair Aaron Lange and others from the agricultural, academic and policy sectors traveled to Chile from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 for an exchange on climate change adaptation.
The delegation learned that Chile, with an abundance of specialty crops, "is very similar to California and it is working hard to adapt to a changing climate through investment in specific technologies, education and outreach activities." Check out CDFA's blog posts and photos:
Nov. 30
: Video interview with Dee Dee D'Adamo of State Water Board
Dec. 1
: Irrigation efficiency, water conservation/management in Chile
Dec. 5
: Water and research / Chile trip concludes
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Make Sure Your Farm is Counted!
2017 Census of Agriculture is Underway
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service started mailing the 2017 Census of Agriculture last week to farmers and ranchers across the country. Conducted every five years, the census aims to get a complete and accurate picture of American agriculture.
The resulting data are used by farmers, trade associations, researchers, policymakers and others to help make decisions in farm assistance programs, technology development, farm advocacy, agribusiness setup, rural development and more.
The response deadline is Feb. 8, 2018.
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VINEYARDS & WINE
As the 2017 grape harvest begins to come into focus, it appears that the numbers around the state could likely be down below what we'd expect from a "normal" crop.
North Bay Business Journal, Nov. 30
"People are starting to realize you can grow good grapes here."
Chico Enterprise Record, Nov. 30
LAWS
Employers should begin implementing new requirements for hiring, training. Written by Ted Rieger.
Wine Business Monthly, Dec. 4
PEOPLE
The Blaggs received the Excellence in Agriculture Award, given to an individual or couple who does not earn a majority of income from an owned production agriculture operation but contributes through involvement in agriculture, leadership activities and Farm Bureau.
CFBF, Dec. 4
WILDFIRES
A Napa winemaker's custom artificial intelligence system accounted for nearby wildfires on its own
Bloomberg, Dec. 6
Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation has begun distributing more than $430,000 for housing recovery to ag workers and their families.
Press release, Dec. 4
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**Recordings Online**
Whole Farm Revenue Protection - Is it Right for Your Vineyard?
This webinar was held on Dec. 7. Presented by Kristine Fox, account executive with Pan American Insurance Agency.
CA Labor Laws Taking Effect January 2018
This webinar was held on Nov. 29. Presented by Benjamin M. Ebbink, counsel with Fisher & Phillips LLP and Michael Miiller, CAWG director of government relations.
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State Water Project Allocation Set at 15 Percent
The Department of Water Resources (DWR)
announced an initial water allocation of 15 percent for most State Water Project contractors for the 2018 calendar year. The allocation - typical of early-season forecasting - will likely change depending on rain and snowfall amounts this winter.
Dec. 1 allocations in recent years were 20 percent for 2017, 10 percent for 2016 and 2015, and 5 percent for 2014, 30 percent for 2013 and 60 percent for 2012.
Water Articles or Resources
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Teen Develops Calor App to Protect Farmworkers from Heat-Related Illness
A Shafter, Calif. teenager, with the help of University of California engineering students, has developed an app to protect farmworkers from heat-related illness.
Using an iOS Apple Watch, the app would send heat notifications to farmworkers, access local weather data, host educational videos and articles, and serve as a two-way hotline to 911 and CalOSHA in emergency situations.
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Best Practices with Doug Gubler for Preventing Trunk Diseases in Grapevines
California AgNet recently published a 2016 interview with University of California plant pathologist Doug Gubler, who discussed late pruning, fungicide applications and treating wounds.
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UNIFIED WINE & GRAPE SYMPOSIUM
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Gina Gallo to Deliver Keynote Luncheon Address
Gina Gallo
, the senior director of winemaking at E. & J. Gallo Winery and a third-generation winegrower, will deliver the keynote address at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on Jan. 23. "As a member of one of America's historic winemaking families, Gina embodies a sense of tradition, family legacy, craft and business acumen that transcends generations and inspires future growth amongst colleagues," CAWG President John Aguirre said. The keynote luncheon is one of the highlights of the symposium.
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A Labor Shortage Solution: H-2A Visas - Opportunities and Requirements
Learn what you need to know from an immigration attorney, state and federal officials, and a first-time H-2A employer, who will provide a review of and information on the current requirements of the H-2A visa program. Hosted by California Farm Labor Contractor Association.
WHEN: Dec. 12 in Coalinga and Dec. 14 in Napa
California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance Webinars
CSWA has several workshops scheduled on sustainable winegrowing and certification. Click on the links for more information and to register.
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