Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Sacramento
January 25, 2017
WGA Leadership Luncheon, Sacramento
February 8-9, 2017
CAWG Leadership Forum, Sacramento
March 15, 2017
CAWG Winegrape Day in the Capitol, Sacramento
March 15, 2017
CAWG Foundation Wine Reception, Sacramento
March 16, 2017
CAWG Board of Directors meeting, Sacramento
May 7-9, 2017
National Grape & Wine Policy Conference, Washington, D.C.
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The CAWG office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25. CAWG eNews will return on Thursday, Dec. 1. CAWG staff wishes all of our members a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends, delicious food and plenty of wine!
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More Than 50 New Grape Variety Names May be Added to TTB List
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing to amend its wine labeling regulations by adding more than 50 new grape variety names approved for use in designating American wines. Grape name petitions from California wineries include: Bianchetta trevigiana, bourboulenc, rachetto, caladoc, coda di volpe, falanghina, godello, gros manseng, lambrusca de allesandria, marselan, picardan, pinot bianco, ribolla gialla, rieslaner, rose of Peru, terret noir, tinta cao, tinta roriz, touriga nacional, vaccarèse and verdejo. According to TTB, grape varietal names are regulated to protect consumers from deceptive labeling. The proposed amendments will allow wine bottlers greater flexibility and provide consumers with more information while protecting them from deception. Comments are due by Jan. 17, 2017.
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CAWG's D.C. Team Analyzes 2016 Election
CAWG's federal lobbyist, Cornerstone Government Affairs, has produced a comprehensive 75-page analysis of the 2016 elections that includes a presidential election overview, plus sections on congressional leadership, agriculture, budget, education, homeland security, tax policy and other issues. The agriculture section begins on page 41 and highlights House and Senate agriculture committee leadership, the 2018 farm bill, EPA and WOTUS, regulations, tax extenders, r
egulatory reform and the Trans Pacific Partnership.
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Reminder: AB 1513 Back-Pay Deadline Less Than a Month Away
AB 1513 specified how nonproductive time should be paid to piece-rate workers. The law additionally provided a safe harbor provision for employers facing retroactive liability for back pay to piece-rate workers before the law's enactment. Under AB 1513, employers had until July 28 to notify the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) of their intention to opt into the safe harbor provision. Back payments are required for the time period of July 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2015 and
all payments must be completed no later than Dec. 15, 2016. If former employees cannot be located - even after "due diligence" trying to find them - the employer will have to send they payments to the Labor Commissioner (unpaid wage fund). More information is posted online.
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Reminder: Crop Insurance Deadline is Jan. 17
With harvest season wrapped up, it's time to start planning for next year. An important part of your 2017 planning process is the risk management of your most valuable asset - your crop. The federal crop insurance program is the only subsidized insurance plan that provides coverage against perils for your growing crops.
You must sign up
no later than Jan. 31, 2017
to have coverage for this crop year. Contact the CAWG office for a recording of the recent crop insurance webinar.
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State Fiscal Analyst Projects a $2.8 Billion Surplus Next Year
California's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), which
provides fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature, released a somewhat postive 2017-18 budget outlook this week. The LAO estimates that the state would end the 2017-18 fiscal year with $11.5 billion in total reserves. That includes $2.8 billion in discretionary reserves, which the Legislature can spend for any purpose, and $8.7 billion in required reserves, which would be available for a future budget emergency. The reserve levels reflect the continued progress California has made in improving its budget situation. Even amid unpredictable economic conditions, "
the state could weather a mild recession without cutting spending or raising taxes through 2020-21," stated the report.
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Jerry Lohr Receives American Wine Legend Honor from Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Congratulations to CAWG member Jerry Lohr, founder and proprietor of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, for being honored with Wine Enthusiast's American Wine Legend award.
He is recognized for his energy, courage, groundbreaking vision, business acumen and invaluable contributions to the industry. Lohr - only the third person to receive this award since 2000 - will be honored on Jan. 30 in Miami. "What Robert Mondavi was to Napa Valley, Jerry Lohr is to the Central Coast, leading and elevating an entire viticultural region from Monterey to Paso Robles with perseverance, dedication and a passion for quality," said Adam Strum, editor and publisher of Wine Enthusiast.
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CFBF's Paul Wenger and UCD's Dan Sumner share thoughts about trade.
Capital Public Radio, Nov. 15
Rural voters turned out in a big way this presidential cycle - and voted overwhelmingly for Trump. He galvanized long-simmering anger by railing against trade deals, the EPA and the "war on American farmers."
Politico, Nov. 13
Pressure from grapevine red blotch-associated virus and Pierce's disease is one of the reasons most Napa County winegrape growers plan to redevelop vineyards by 2017.
Wines and Vines, Nov. 10
Includes updates on research focusing on Pierce's disease, brown marmorated stink bug and vine mealybug.
Fall issue
Includes an update about Kaan Kurtural's research in applied viticulture, harvest and crush update on campus and a recap of the Oakville seminar series.
November issue
With the new presidency, areas to watch are agricultural markets, trade agreements, labor policies and regulations.
Rabobank, November
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Water Articles and Resources
Friday will provide a chance to wade into the details of the state's proposal to increase flows on the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers.
Modesto Bee, Nov. 16
An Amador County winery is practicing dry farming, a centuries-old technique that is enjoying a renaissance in parched California.
CBS Sacramento, Nov. 9
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New Powdery Mildew App Goes Global
A new app - now available outside of Australia - allows winegrape growers and winemakers to assess powdery mildew on the surface of grape bunches. With the Powdery Mildew Assessment Tool (PMapp)
users can visually assess the severity by matching it with computer-generated images. The app was developed by the University of Adelaide in collaboration with the Australian grape and wine sector and supported by Wine Australia.
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CAWG Launches Redesigned Website
CAWG has unveiled an enhanced and more engaging website at
www.cawg.org. The website continues to serve as a useful resource for CAWG members, now with a
fresh new design, new features and members-only sections. While still a work in progress, we encourage you to take time to explore the website and provide feedback. Contact CAWG Manager of Member Relations Natalie Collins at natalie@cawg.org.
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Renew Your CAWG Membership Today
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring a strong unified voice for the winegrape industry. CAWG is proud to be the only statewide organization focused exclusively on issues affecting you and your operation. All renewal invoices were sent in early November with detailed information on your ability to renew online. The CAWG membership year is Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017. Dues are $4.75 per acre and minimum grower dues are $150 a year for 31 acres or less. If you did not receive your renewal, contact CAWG Manager of Member Relations Natalie Collins at
natalie@cawg.org.
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Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Shop AmazonSmile and Support the CAWG Foundation
Holiday shopping days are around the corner! AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support the CAWG Foundation, at no extra cost to you.
When you shop, Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price to the foundation
. Eligible products are marked "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation" on their product detail pages.
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Cal Poly to Revitalize Trestle Vineyard
According to the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture Department, work has begun to replant and revitalize its Trestle Vineyard, thanks to a generous donation made by Paul Fountain, a retired Cal Poly viticulture and fruit science professor. A blog post in Urban Ag News states, "With more than 12 acres of teaching vineyards, the immediate goal to remove old trestles, replant and start growing again is well underway. This endeavor, along with the need for an on-campus winery, is to be constructed as a place for faculty research and...as a place to teach students about the ancient craft (and business) of wine making. Six of the acquired acres will strictly be used for teaching while the other half will be dedicated to the production of the Cal Poly label (to include three clones of pinot noir and a block of chardonnay grapes)."
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Time is Running Out for Unified Sponsorships and Ad Opportunities
Sponsorships and ads at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium are highly-effective ways to promote your business/brand, stand above the competition and increase your visibility to THOUSANDS of attendees. Valuable opportunities are still available - but don't delay and miss out! Visit the Unified website or discuss opportunities with Jenny Devine at (916) 379-8995.
REGISTRATION:
To register by phone, call 888-559-9530 or 781-688-8229. **
If you are a CAWG member and need your Unified code, contact CAWG at 916-379-8995** Members receive a $200 discount before Jan. 17.
PROGRAM:
Click on the link to see updated session information.
LODGING:
Hotel information and FAQs are posted on Unified's website. Attendees may also visit the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau website for additional hotels.
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Current Issues in Vineyard Health
Topics include grapevine pinot gris virus, PD-resistant winegrape program, viruses in vineyards, pest and disease research from Napa and red blotch disease.
WHEN:
Nov. 29 / 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: UCD Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis
COST: $190 (includes lunch and course materials).
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2016 Recent Advances in Viticulture and Enology (RAVE)
The UC Davis Department of Viticulture & Enology presents its semi-annual program to highlight many of its current grape and wine research projects. Register soon!
WHEN:
Dec. 9 / 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: UCD Activities & Rec Center, Davis
COST: $225 (includes breakfast, lunch and materials).
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2016 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium
This event draws researchers from around the world, with the goal of finding solutions to Pierce's disease and its vectors. The symposium will also include reports and presentations on other winegrape pests and diseases. It is a valuable event for researchers and winegrape growers to interact and find out about the latest research and activities.
WHEN: Dec. 13-14
WHERE: San Diego
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