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YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS
FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY
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This week's eNews Includes:
CAWG News:
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Lead Story: Federal Legislation Introduced to Protect Winegrape Growers Against Wildfire Smoke Damage
- Lead Story: Lawmaking by Headlines
- CAWG Hires Summer Intern
- CAWG Board Tour and Meeting in Suisun Valley
- Randall Lange of LangeTwins Named Wine Institute Chairman
- Suisun Valley Vintners & Growers Association Associate Member BBQ
Industry News:
- UC Researchers Make Potential Breakthrough in Grapevine Disease Resistance
- Workplace Angst Helping 'Job Killer' Bills Survive in California Legislature
- Could Gene Editing Create Disease-Resistant Grape Varieties?
- What to Know About 6 of California's Proposed AVAs
- Arroyo Seco AVA Celebrates 40 Years of Viticulture History and Innovation
- Ciatti California Report June 2023
Upcoming Events
- American Society for Enology and Viticulture National Conference
- Pre-Harvest Safety Workshop
- Research on the Use of Precision Ag Technologies for Cropland Phosphorus Management Webinar
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CAWG's Annual Meeting
CAWG's 49th Annual Business Meeting will be held via Zoom on July 13. Join CAWG’s annual meeting to hear a review of key highlights and accomplishments from the past year. Registration is open for the virtual meeting and all CAWG members are invited to attend. Thank you to our Annual Meeting sponsors Pan American Insurance Services, NAU Country, and Farm Credit.
Updated meeting agenda and speakers to be announced soon!
Register here.
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Lead Story: Federal Legislation Introduced to Protect Winegrape Growers Against Wildfire Smoke Damage
Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced two pieces of legislation to better protect winegrape growers in California, Washington, and Oregon, the top three states for wine production in the U.S., against wildfire smoke damage. The Smoke Exposure Research Act, co-led by Senator Merkley (D-OR), and the Crop Insurance for Wine Grapes Act, co-led by Senator Murray (D-WA), aim to enhance research and risk management efforts in order to better comprehend the effects of wildfire smoke on vines and wineries due to prolonged exposure. These bills will drive investments into comprehensive research and equitable insurance products for growers. Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA) is leading both bills in the House, with Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) serving as a co-lead for the Crop Insurance for Wine Grapes Act.
In the press release, CAWG President Natalie Collins said, “These important pieces of legislation highlight the pressing need for research and crop insurance considerations in response to the devastating impacts of wildfires on California winegrape growers. With over 615,000 acres of vineyards spanning the golden state, the wine industry’s economic influence extends nationwide, generating a substantial $170.5 billion annually. I’m grateful for Senator Padilla’s leadership in acknowledging the widespread consequences of wildfires and taking steps to safeguard this economically vital industry.”
Smoke Exposure Research Act
Federal research on smoke exposure has never been formally authorized but the Smoke Exposure Research Act of 2023 aims to would provide more certainty by authorizing $32.5 million over five years to conduct research in coordination with University of California Davis, Oregon State University, and Washington State University on the effects of smoke exposure on viticulture and enology operations and practices.
A one-pager of the bill is available here.
Full text of the bill is available here.
Crop Insurance for Wine Grapes
Building on the underlying research that would be provided by the Smoke Exposure Research Act, the Crop Insurance for Wine Grapes Act would expand and improve crop insurance for wine grapes impacted by smoke. The bill directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research and develop a crop insurance policy to insure wine grapes against losses due to wildfire smoke exposure.
A one-pager of the bill is available here.
Full text of the bill is available here.
Read More.
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Lead Story: Lawmaking by Headlines
Every year, there are examples of California legislation that is “ripped from the headlines” where a lawmaker opportunistically authors sensationalized legislation in response to a terrible public event. If that weren’t bad enough, it seems that inevitably, such legislation overreaches and goes far beyond the headline. This year, there are several examples of that sad approach to lawmaking. Below are three such examples:
Earlier this year, a tragic shooting in Half Moon Bay resulted in seven agricultural workers being killed. Within a few weeks, Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), who chairs the Senate Labor & Employment Committee and whose district is near Half Moon Bay, introduced AB 553 to require employers to take specific actions to keep the workplace safe from such violence.
The legislation is so draconian that it would require beefed-up security at every workplace, including vineyard operations, in anticipation of a potential active shooter situation or similar workplace violence. This is because the bill requires a person on duty who is “trained and available to prevent, and immediately respond to, workplace violence incidents during each shift.” This means that the person must be on-site and near all employees. In the retail sector, it would also prohibit current efforts to prevent shoplifting.
In a second example, the legislature and Newsom Administration initiated dozens of actions in 2020 in direct response to a public health emergency. Those actions included the adoption of emergency workplace safety standards for COVID-19. But when the pandemic ended, the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board approved a non-emergency standard for COVID-19 that will remain in effect through February 3, 2025. The Board is also pursuing a new standard to protect against the workplace spread of infectious diseases (including the flu or common cold).
In a third example, Governor Newsom signed SB 93 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) in 2021 which required hospitality and service industry employers to rehire former employees who were laid off due to the pandemic. It turns out that SB 93 was just the camel’s nose under the tent. This year, Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) is authoring SB 723 that would apply SB 93 requirements to any layoff situation, not just layoffs related to the pandemic.
Generally speaking, it seems that lawmakers are taking Winston Churchill quite seriously when he said, "Never let a good crisis go to waste."
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CAWG Hires Summer Intern
There is a new face in the CAWG Office! This week, Julia Fry joined the team as our Summer Intern.
Julia has just finished her first year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo studying Agricultural Communications. Coming from a six-generation winegrape-growing family out of Lodi, Mohr-Fry Ranches has deep roots in CAWG's history. Julia's grandfather, Jerry Fry, helped start the association and became chairman in the early years. Her father, Bruce Fry, served in several leadership roles on the CAWG board during his tenure. Both are still active members today.
After growing up in an agricultural family, Julia developed a strong passion for the industry and community involvement. Julia is a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, where she supports The Arthritis Foundation and participates in numerous community service events. She also enjoys competing in Reining horse shows across the United States in her free time. Julia is excited to join the CAWG team this summer and connect with growers and the agriculture community across California.
Please join us in welcoming Julia to CAWG!
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CAWG Board Tour and Meeting in Suisun Valley
This week, Ron Lanza, CAWG Director and Suisun Valley Vintners & Growers Association (SVVGA) President, and Chuck Wagner, Caymus, hosted the CAWG Board on a tour of the Suisun Valley. The tour included stops at Cordelia Winery, Caymus-Suisun, and Wooden Valley Winery. The CAWG Directors were able to explore and learn about the longstanding history of Suisun Valley.
Following the tour, SVVGA generously hosted a reception and dinner at Caymus-Suisun. This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for the boards of CAWG and SVVGA to connect and network. Special guests included Christopher Cabaldon, former mayor of West Sacramento.
Today, CAWG’s Board of Directors held their quarterly meeting in the Suisun Valley.
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Randall Lange Named Wine Institute Chairman
Past CAWG Chairman and Grower of the Year, Randall Lange, Co-Founder of LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards was inducted as the Wine Institute Chairman during the organization's Annual Membership and Board of Director's Meeting last week.
CAWG and Wine Institute work closely on advocacy and industry issues at the state and federal levels and look forward to Randy's strong leadership for continued partnership and collaboration.
Read More
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Suisun Valley Vintners & Growers Association BBQ
CAWG had the opportunity to enjoy the Suisun Valley Vintners & Growers Association (SVVGA) Associate Member BBQ last Friday held at Wooden Valley Winery.
CAWG staff met local growers and winemakers and shared our advocacy work in Sacramento and DC. Thank you SVVGA for always inviting CAWG to participate in this annual event and enjoy a wonderful afternoon in the beautiful Suisun Valley.
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UC Researchers Make Potential Breakthrough in Grapevine Disease Resistance
A team of researchers from UC Irvine and UC Davis has made a breakthrough with Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterium responsible for infecting grapevines and other crops including coffee, almonds, citrus, and olives. This disease has posed a challenge for farmers worldwide, with no known resistant varieties.
However, building on a long-term project at UC Davis, the research team, including University of California, Irvine, Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Brandon Gaut; and UC Davis professors of viticulture and enology Dario Cantù and Andy Walker, focused on a wild grape species, Vitis arizonica, which exhibits natural resistance.
An article by UC Davis shares that through genetic mapping and genome-wide association studies, the researchers identified potential genes that could be introduced into grapevines to enhance their resistance. These findings have the potential to revolutionize the agricultural industry, offering a solution to a multibillion-dollar problem caused by Xylella fastidiosa.
Read More
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Workplace Angst Helping 'Job Killer' Bills Survive in California Legislature
In March, when the California Chamber of Commerce released its 2023 “Job Killer” list, CAWG shared the list in eNews. In total, the Chamber added 17 bills to its annual “Job Killer” list.
The eight surviving bills all relate to wages and workplace issues and are sponsored by either unions or personal injury attorneys.
The bills are outlined below:
Read More
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Could Gene Editing Create Disease-Resistant Grape Varieties?
Using CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies, scientists and researchers are working to combat powdery mildew disease.
In an article published this week, SevenFiftlyDaily reports on the disease, the impact is has both financially and environmentally on the grape industry, and the VitisGen research, a grape-breeding project, currently being conducted to create a disease-resistant "SuperGrape."
“If they could take a Chardonnay plant and breed it so that it’s still Chardonnay but has powdery mildew resistance, then that’s a game changer for our industry,” says Anji Perry, the viticulturist and vineyard research director at J. Lohr Vineyard & Wine. “They’re not there yet, but that would be the hope.”
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What to Know About 6 of California's Proposed AVAs
The U.S. Trade and Tobacco Bureau (TTB) is reviewing plans to recognize and further subdivide some of California's grape-growing regions. Right now, there are 9 petitions that have been submitted to the TTB for review. SevenFiftyDaily published an article this week further exploring six of the recommended AVAs that stretch from Sonoma to San Diego County.
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Carmel Coast AVA would sit northwest of the Carmel Valley AVA and fall within the Monterey AVA.
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Contra Costa AVA would establish a new viticulture region and change the boundaries for the Central Coast and San Francisco Coast AVAs. The new AVA would fall partially in both of the above AVAs and also in an undesignated area.
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Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA would border Old Howell Mountain Road to the east, the St. Helena AVA to the south, the Calistoga AVA to the west, and the Howell Mountain AVA to the north.
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Rancho Santa Fe AVA would sit about 25 miles north of San Diego and 5 miles from the Pacific coast, giving the region a moderate climate year-round with a more consistent terrain than the South Coast AVA.
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San Luis Rey AVA would run from the San Diego-Riverside County Border south to Oceanside and San Marcos, roughly following the San Luis Rey River.
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Winters Highlands AVA would span Yolo and Solano counties and the point between the Rockey Rodge and Vaca Mountains.
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Arroyo Seco AVA Celebrates 40 Years of Viticulture History and Innovation
The Arroyo Seco Winegrowers Association will officially celebrate the AVA’s 40th Anniversary on Saturday, August 12. This milestone event will showcase four decades of attentive agriculture and innovative winemaking. The Arroyo Seco Winegrowers Association members, local wine and agriculture industry, dignitaries, and consumers will gather to share stories and toast this legendary AVA at Joyce Wine Company in Soledad from 12 pm – 4 pm.
"As one of the early pioneering AVAs in California, the Arroyo Seco AVA was the 15th AVA to be granted such a distinction. Today there are now over 100 California AVA’s. The Arroyo Seco is blessed with winegrowers, vintners, and landowners who had the vision and knowledge to carve out the AVA using science, geology, hydrology, and microclimate data," stated Michael Griva President of the Arroyo Seco Winegrowers Association and owner of F & G Vineyards, LLC
Ticket info
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Ciatti California Report June 2023
Provided by: Ciatti Global Wine & Grape Brokers
Bulk wine pricing around the world is generally in a stable to softening trend as a number of downward pressures on prices offset the upward pressure from elevated input costs: the stop-start nature of buying activity in most markets; some large inventory levels – primarily of reds – in Argentina, Australia, California and France; lower 2023 grape prices in Chile versus 2022; a larger than expected 2023 crop in New Zealand; Rand weakness in South Africa. It should be underlined that buying activity continues, but much of it is for short-term needs, with buyers seeking smaller volumes for quicker loading.
The slow nature of most consumer sales channels in most countries has disincentivised the opportunistic buyers who might normally – especially with freight costs greatly reduced and logistics efficiency markedly improved versus a year ago – come into a long market and get creative with new brands. Instead, winery focus is on inventory adjustment, assessing which brands are distractions to profitability, and – in some instances – brand or wider business rationalisation. The assessment of this month’s California Report could easily apply internationally: “Wine and grape markets [are] shrinking overall, potentially leading to lower need for wine and grapes over time.” Vine pull-outs are back on the agenda in a number of producer countries.
Read More
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Upcoming Events and Trainings | |
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American Society For Enology and Viticulture National Conference
The American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) National Conference provides an ideal opportunity for networking among members of all U.S. wine and grape regions, as well as international experts and professionals. Join us for a week of focused learning in winemaking and grapegrowing, and reconnecting with friends and colleagues.
Learn the latest about Pierce’s disease and glassy-winged sharpshooter research at the 2023 ASEV National Conference. The PD/GWSS Board Research Seminar session will be moderated by PD/GWSS Board Research Coordinator Kristin Lowe.
ASEV offers all CAWG members their discounted member rate. If you would like to register using the discounted member rate, please call the CAWG office for your promo code.
When and Where:
- June 26-29, Napa Valley Marriott
Visit ASEV's website to learn more about their National Conference.
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Pre-Harvest Safety Workshop
Join Vineyard Team for this train-the-trainer workshop to head into harvest prepared. The workshop will cover machine operations, hand harvesting, tool safety, tractor safety, and personal protective equipment.
When and Where:
- July 14, Vineyard Industry Products, Paso Robles
Register
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Research on the Use of Precision Ag Technologies for Cropland Phosphorus Management Webinar
Dr. Douglas R. Smith from USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory will present research on the use of precision ag technologies to improve cropland phosphorus management.
When and Where:
Register
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