YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS. FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY.

• Live Within Our Means
• Economic Impact Report of CA Winegrape and Wine Industry
• The Race is On: Preparing Your Business for CCPA Compliance
• Wild Pigs Forum
• The Crush - September Issue Released
• In Memoriam: Fred Franzia, Bronco Wine Company 
• Unified Wine and Grape Symposium - Sponsorships and Advertising Opportunities
• Wine Enthusiast's Announces Annual Wine Star Awards
• California Will Soon Rank Heat Waves Like Hurricanes
• Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa Valley Vintners, and Visit Napa Valley Fund 24/7 Wildfire Detection Sensors
• Fresno State's Center for Irrigation Technology - AgTech Day
• Call for Nominations: CAWG Grower and Leader of the Year

Live Within Our Means

This week, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 1919 (Holden, D-Pasadena) that would have provided grants to transit agencies for free fare transit programs for college and K-12 students. One may ask, why this legislation and veto might be important to growers.

The answer is in the theme of Newsom’s veto message which appears to signal a downturn in the state’s economy and state spending. The veto stated,

“With our state facing lower-than-expected revenues over the first few months of this fiscal year, it is important to remain disciplined when it comes to spending, particularly spending that is ongoing. We must prioritize existing obligations and priorities, including education, health care, public safety and safety-net programs.

“The Legislature sent measures with potential costs of well over $20 billion in one-time spending commitments and more than $10 billion in ongoing commitments not accounted for in the state budget. Bills with cost pressure, such as this measure, should be considered and accounted for in the annual budget process. For these reasons, I cannot sign this bill.”

Newsom is sending a clear message to the legislature that state government needs to live within its means. What this might indicate for other pending legislation that come with cost pressures (to many of which CAWG is opposed) is unclear. What this will likely mean in next year’s 2023-24 state budget is an end to massive surplus spending and a tightening of the belt.  

California Wine - By the Numbers

The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and Wine Institute have commissioned an update of its Economic Impact of California Wine. Findings are expected to be released in early October. Our previous report was done in 2015.

California is the number one wine state, making significant contributions to the nation and all fifty states by providing quality jobs, bolstering economies through tourism and taxes, and enhancing communities through environmental stewardship and charitable giving. The report, being prepared by John Dunham & Associates, will calculate the full economic impact of California winegrapes and wine in terms of employment, wages, taxes, tourism spending and visits and charitable giving using standard and widely accepted methodology which uses direct, indirect and induced economic impact in order to present the full picture.

The data will share the economic impact of California wine on the California economy and the U.S. economy and will be broken down by state, California congressional, state assembly and state senate districts.

CAWG will be sure to share the Economic Impact Report once released! 

The Race is On: Preparing Your Business for CCPA Compliance

Date: Thursday, September 29, 2022

Time: 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT

Location: Webinar

As the January 1, 2023 deadline for compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) draws ever closer, it is imperative for businesses and employers to ensure their policies are up to date. However, navigating these regulations can be overwhelming, and for many, it’s hard to know where to even begin. Fisher Phillips is here to help!

In this panel discussion, attorneys from our Data Security and Workplace Privacy Practice Group and Consumer Privacy Team will discuss the most recent updates to the CCPA/CPRA deadlines and how they have been affected by the recent California Legislative Session. They will also explore compliance strategies and what you need to know to ensure your business is ready for the deadline and beyond. 

Register Here

Wild Pigs Forum

The California Fish and Game Commission and California Department of Fish and Wildlife will hold a public forum on wild pigs in California. 

What: Forum on Wild Pigs in California 

When: Thursday, September 22, 2022 – 9:00 a.m. to noon 

Where: Webinar and teleconference 

How: Instructions for joining the forum, an agenda, and background materials will be posted on the Commission Meetings webpage.  

The forum will include panelists who will speak about wild pig impacts on the environment, the economy (agriculture, public/private property), and human and animal health (domestic and wild). Panelists will engage in a dialogue about potential mitigation measures that could be used effectively in California to address these impacts. 

Commission staff state that the hearing’s agenda, background materials, and webinar/teleconference instructions will be available soon at the links below: 

• Agenda    
• Background Materials 
• How to Join the Meeting 

The September issue of The Crush was released this week. 

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

• Feature Story: Drought Tolerant Rootstock - Evaluating Cultivars, Traits for Water Use and Breeding
• Federal Legislative Update - Continuing Resolution
• State Update: End of Legislative Session Report
• Heat Reminders for Workforce and Crop
• Call for Nominations: CAWG's Grower and Leader of the Year
• CAWG PAC Event in Los Olivos a Success!
• Keep Spotted Lanternfly Out of California
• Wildfire Preparedness Videos
• Associate Member: Crop Disaster Recover Profile

READ THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

It is with profound sadness the Franzia family and Bronco Wine Company announced the passing of proud father, CEO, founding partner, and wine industry icon, Fred T. Franzia.

In 1973, Fred founded Bronco Wine Company with his brother Joseph S. and Cousin John with the vision of creating high quality wines at a value for wine consumers. Core to his vision was a belief that wine should be enjoyed and consumed on every American Table.

Due to Fred’s vision, Bronco Wine Company has achieved vertical integration all while remaining family owned. His entrepreneurial spirit, tireless dedication, and his commitment to both his family and to the Bronco family will forever be remembered. His legacy will endure for generations to come.

Articles: 

• Fred Franzia, the creator of 'Two Buck Chuck,' has died at 79 : NPR
• Fred Franzia, 79, Dies; Upended Wine Industry With Two-Buck Chuck - The New York Times (nytimes.com)
• Fred Franzia, creator of 'Two Buck Chuck,' has died | CNN Business

The Unified Symposium is the ideal location to promote your company to thousands of industry professionals who attend. Our varied sponsorship and advertising program offers several different options for all size budgets. Banners and signs in the newly renovated SAFE Credit Union convention center proclaim your presence, print and online ads showcase your product, and exclusive sponsorship opportunities increase your brand visibility.

This is THE wine & grape industry show to attend where you invest in your future and discover new ideas and technologies—a can’t miss!

For questions regarding the opportunities available, please contact Jenny Devine or visit unifiedsymposium.org. 

VIEW OPPORTUNTIES

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of Wine Enthusiast’s Annual Wine Star Awards, honoring the individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world.

Nominees across 13 categories were released for the 2022 Awards. The winners will be announced in the magazine’s Best of Year issue and celebrated at Wine Enthusiasts annual black-tie gala in January 2023.

CAWG applauds the dedicated wine industry professionals who have innovated and flourished this year. 

VIEW NOMINEES 

Heat waves in California will soon be ranked by severity in a manner similar to hurricanes and other extreme weather events.

Last week, after one of the worst heat waves in recent memory, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill authored by Assemblywoman Luz Rivas that would require the state to devise a "a statewide extreme heat ranking system" no later than Jan. 1, 2025. The bill's text says the system — which would be the first in the nation for heat waves — should be modeled after "red flag" warnings for wildfires, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's naming and ranking system for hurricanes and tropical storms.

The system could use any number of ranking conventions. During the first year of the COVD-19 pandemic, California used a color-coded tier system to rank counties by level of community transmission, and the state already uses the National Weather Service's conventions for wildfire risk. The NOAA's hurricane ranking scale classifies the weakest hurricanes as Category 1 and the strongest as Category 5.

The ranking system bill was one of four pieces of legislation Newsom signed Friday that are related to heat waves. A separate bill creates an advisory committee to study the effect of heat waves on the state's economy, while another directs the California Department of Public Health to research the impacts heat has on pregnant workers. The final heat-related bill Newsom signed gives cities and counties more power to finance climate change adaptation programs.

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers, Napa Valley Vintners, and Visit Napa Valley have joined together to fund three early detection wildfire sensors on Atlas Peak, Clover Flat, and Diamond Mountain with 24/7 monitoring to protect Napa County residents and businesses from wildfires. The three organizations have assumed financial responsibility for the service through the months of September, October, and November 2022: the peak of Napa County’s fire season, covering some of the County’s highest fire-risk areas.

READ MORE

The Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology will host its 6th annual AgTech Day - Innovations in Ag Irrigation Technology Demonstration and Showcase.

WHEN: Friday, October 28, 2022 from 7:00 a.m. until 2 p.m. PT.

AgTech Day is a FREE, educational event that showcases the latest innovations in Ag irrigation technology during live field demonstrations and educational presentations.

Complimentary parking, bus transportation to field presentations, continental breakfast and lunch are included with your free registration. The Showcase with 30+ exhibitors featuring a variety of new, innovative technologies will begin directly after the field presentations.

To learn more about AgTech Day click here.

Nominations are now open for the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Awards of Excellence Program. 

The Awards Program presents two awards annually: Grower of the Year and Leader of the Year. These awards are meant to spotlight exceptional people or companies 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.

Nominations are due by September 30, 2022.

The CAWG Awards of Excellence reception will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, on opening night of the 2023 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium held in Sacramento.

NOMINATION FORMS:

JANUARY 

24-26 – Save the Date! 2023 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium 

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