Your source for CAWG and industry news
March 3, 2016      
UPCOMING EVENTS

March 15
CAWG Board of Directors Meeting and CWGGF Wine Reception, Sacramento 
 
March 16
CAWG Day in the Capitol, Sacramento

May 11-12
CAWG Board of Directors Meeting, Sacramento 
 
May 22-24 
2016 National Grape and Wine Policy Conference, Washington, DC
 
July 20
CAWG PAC Golf Tournament and  5th Annual Awards of Excellence Program & Dinner, Monterey 
 
July 21
CAWG Summer Conference, Speaker Program and Annual Business Meeting, Monterey
 
July 22
CAWG Board of Directors Meeting, Monterey
 
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THE FRONT PAGE 
UC Davis Researchers: First Confirmation of a Vector for Red Blotch-Associated Virus
UCD entomology post-doctoral student Brian Bahder and UCD entomology professor Frank Zalom confirmed the three-cornered alfalfa treehopper  as able to transmit red blotch-associated virus (RBaV) to grapevines in greenhouse tests. Their discovery is the first confirmation of a vector for RBaV.  Bahder and Zalom have been working with farm advisors and other UC researchers to monitor and map vineyards where patterns of red blotch spread are evident. Read more on the blog link.
 
> BLOG


Wine Institute: California Wine Exports Set Record in 2015
According to the Wine Institute, U.S. wine exports - 90 percent from California - reached $1.61 billion in winery revenues in 2015, an all-time record and a 7.6 percent increase from 2014. Volume was up 4.1 percent from the previous year to 51.2 million cases. Of the top 10 export markets for California wines, the European Union's 28-member countries were the largest at $622 million, followed by Canada ($461 million), Hong Kong ($97 million), Japan ($96 million), China ($56 million), Nigeria ($29 million), Mexico ($26 million), South Korea ($23 million), Switzerland ($21 million) and Singapore ($15 million).
 


Lodi Winegrape Growers Recognized on State Assembly Floor
The Lodi Winegrape Commission, Lodi vintners and winegrape growers were congratulated by Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) on the state Assembly floor this week for being selected as Wine Enthusiast magazine's 2015 Wine Region of the Year. The delegation was presented with a state resolution recognizing the honor. In the photo are current CAWG board members Brad Goehring, Joe Cotta and Robert Pirie, as well as past board member Bruce Fry. Congratulations!
 
> VIDEO
 


TTB Grants Approval for Coda di Volpe Grape Variety
TTB has granted administrative approval for the use of the coda di volpe grape variety name on American wine labels. Wine bottlers may use this name, as well as others granted administrative approval, to label American wines pending the results of its next rulemaking to revise the list found in 27 CFR 4.91 of grape variety names approved for use in designating American wines. Visit TTB's American Grape Variety Names page for additional information about the regulation of grape variety names.


AB 1704: Water Rights
One of the bills that CAWG is involved with is AB 1704, legislation introduced last month by Assembly member Bill Dodd (D-Napa) that would make it easier for farmers to use small ponds to collect and save water during wet months. AB 1704 will address some of the bureaucratic hurdles that have limited the intent of AB 964 to promote development of small, off-stream irrigation ponds.
 


Secretary Ross Editorial on Climate Smart Agriculture
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross penned an editorial - "Preparing for an uncertain future with climate smart agriculture" - in the January-March 2016 issue of California Agriculture, published by the University of California. She highlights various CDFA programs and efforts to support agricultural sustainability, build resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 


WATER NEWS
Statewide Snowpack Water Content Less Than Average
The statewide snowpack is only 83 percent of the March 1 average due to moderate precipitation since last October and relatively warm temperatures. On March 1, the Department of Water Resources conducted its third media-oriented snowpack survey of the season 90 miles east of Sacramento in the Sierra Nevada. Statewide readings indicate this may not be a drought-busting year unless California receives heavy rain in March, as it did in 1991 and 1995.
 


June to January: 1.1 Million Acre-Feet Conserved by Californians 
For the first time since June 2015, the state fell slightly short of Gov. Brown's 25 percent water conservation mandate in January. Urban water suppliers reported a cumulative savings of 24.8 percent for the eight months since mandatory conservation began. With more than 1.1 million acre-feet of water conserved from June 2015 through January 2016, California is 96 percent of the way toward reaching its goal of 1.2 million acre-feet of water to be saved by the end of February, an unprecedented conservation achievement.
 
 


Reading Material: DWR Magazine 
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) publishes a quarterly magazine with feature stories and updates about its programs and efforts. The latest issue includes articles about the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act and the measuring of Sierra Nevada snowpack.
 



CAWG EVENTS & PROGRAMS 
Don't Miss Out: Wine Reception and Day in the Capitol Are Almost Here!
If you have already registered, please encourage and invite fellow CAWG members - as well as non-members - to attend. For those who have not yet registered, we hope that you will join us! We want to have high attendance at these important events.

CWGGF Wine Reception
March 15
Senator Hotel


 
CAWG Day in the Capitol
March 16
Hyatt Regency & State Capitol
 


Request for Nominations: Grower of the Year and Leader of the Year
CAWG logo no words
It's time to nominate the CAWG Grower of the Year and CAWG Leader of the Year. CAWG's Awards of Excellence Program spotlights exceptional people who have benefitted the broader community of winegrape growers through exemplary leadership and outstanding commitment to the well-being of the winegrowing industry, California communities and the environment. Visit the CAWG website to learn more about the program, the judging and nominations procedure. The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, April 15.
 

 
CAWG REACHING OUT 
Staff: Advocacy and Activities 
CAWG logo no words
March 3:  Natalie Collins was at La Vaca Vineyard in Oakdale for the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association's Grower Educational Tailgate. The association hosts educational seminars relating to water conservation, soil quality and reporting, powdery mildew management and pest management laws and regulations.

 

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EDUCATION 
Training Sessions: Heat Illness Prevention and Preventing Sexual Harassment
Pan American Insurance Agency and Walter L. Clark & Associates will be conducting several training sessions at various locations between March 1 and April 4. Training sessions will be conducted in Spanish.
 
 


IN THE NEWS
Beating Red Blotch / Oregon Wine Press, March 1
 
Joel Peterson set the course for California Zin. Now he returns to his roots / San Francisco Chronicle, March 1
 
Controlling crown gall disease / Good Fruit Grower, March 1
 
Dunne on Wine: Amador County barbera / Sacramento Bee, March 1
 
Farm product exports slow as industry works to recover China sales, CNBC, March 1
 
Tim Wallace is bringing Sonoma State into the wine industry spotlight / Sonoma Index-Tribune, Feb. 29
 
2016 bud break - earliest ever? Napa Valley growing season begins  / Napa Valley Register, Feb. 27
 
The new and improved Sierra Foothills / Wine Enthusiast, Feb. 23
 
Barbera roots run deep in Amador County / Wine Business, Feb. 26

UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS
California Ag Day 2016
When: March 16
Where: West side of the State Capitol, Sacramento
 


2016 National Grape & Wine Policy Conference
When: May 22-24
Where: Grand Hyatt, Washington, D.C.
 
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We need your input for program content and topics needing a formal "issue brief" to be shared with members of Congress. Please click on the link below for a brief survey to share your thoughts.
 
> SURVEY