California Association of Winegrape Growers

Countdown to #CAWG50 – Six weeks before the March 2020 government orders to shelter-in-place, CAWG and ASEV held the 2020 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium for the first and only time at the Cal Expo fairgrounds in Sacramento, during construction to upgrade the downtown Sacramento SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. COVID-19 brought many changes to both CAWG and Unified. In 2021 a virtual Unified Wine and Grape Symposium was held as business was transitioned from in-person meetings to online. As more CAWG members started doing business online, it created an opportunity for CAWG to expand its webinar program and increase participation. Each week, CAWG will share history, memories, and showcase the many people who have shaped CAWG's journey as we countdown to the November 21 celebration. Special thank you to Reserve Vineyard Sponsor, Mesa Vineyard Management, for supporting and helping celebrate CAWG’s 50th anniversary! #CAWG50 #WinegrapeGrowers #DrinkCAWine Sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and more information can be found here: https://bit.ly/3VwyFaB

CAWG is excited to announce Randy Heinzen, President of Vineyard Professional Services, as its 2025 Leader of the Year! The Leader of the Year Award recognizes an individual whose record of exceptional leadership has benefited California's wine industry. "Randy Heinzen exemplifies the kind of leadership that propels the entire winegrape industry forward. His commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement has set a standard that inspires others," said Natalie Collins, CAWG President. Read more about Randy's exceptional leadership: https://lnkd.in/gqNXdqgi Randy will be recognized at CAWG’s Awards of Excellence Reception during the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento on January 28, 2025.

CAWG is thrilled to announce the Miller Family - The Thornhill Companies of Santa Barbara County as its 2025 Grower of the Year. The Grower of the Year Award, the highest honor bestowed by CAWG, recognizes individuals, families, or companies for exceptional excellence in viticulture, successful management, innovation, and leadership within the industry. “The Miller family’s dedication to farming across five generations is an inspiring example of how tradition and innovation can coincide,” said Gregg Hibbits, Chair of the CAWG Board. “Their ability to carry forward a legacy that began over 150 years ago while continuously adapting to modern challenges is a testament to the resilience of California’s multi-generational farming families.” Read more about The Miller Family's farming heritage here: The Miller Family will be recognized at CAWG’s Awards of Excellence Reception during the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento on January 28, 2025.

Countdown to #CAWG50 – Since the devastating wildfires from 2017-2020, smoke impacts on winegrape quality have been a top concern for California vineyards. CAWG has been at the forefront, helping growers navigate challenges, providing resources, and working with other trade associations and Congress to secure federal disaster relief funding for winegrape growers. CAWG's leadership, including past President John Aguirre (past co-chair) and current President Natalie Collins (current co-chair) the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force (WCSETF), continues to drive education and support for growers. The WCSETF has held an annual Virtual Smoke Summit since 2021 with updates on current research, testing and mitigation, and crop insurance. Each week, CAWG will share history, memories, and showcase the many people who have shaped CAWG's journey as we countdown to the November 21 celebration. Special thank you to Reserve Vineyard Sponsor, Allied Grape Growers, for supporting and helping celebrate CAWG’s 50th anniversary! #CAWG50 #WinegrapeGrowers #DrinkCAWine Sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and more information can be found here: https://bit.ly/3VwyFaB

October is California Farmer and Farmworker Month! 🍇🍷 This month, and every month, let’s celebrate the hardworking farmers and farmworkers who make California the #1 wine state, producing over 80% of all U.S. wine. From vineyard to glass, California wine contributes to our nation by creating quality jobs, boosting local economies, and enriching communities with a commitment to sustainability. Cheers to the dedicated farmers and farmworkers that make the California wine industry thrive. #CAFarmworkerMonth #WinegrapeGrowers #CaliforniaWine #Sustainability #DrinkCAWine

Countdown to #CAWG50 – From 2006 to 2015, CAWG achieved significant milestones while continuing to address industry challenges. This period also saw an expansion of CAWG's communications programs and media efforts, further promoting California wine and its winegrowers. Learn more about CAWG’s history from 2006-2015 here: https://bit.ly/4cUXOCz Each week, CAWG will share history, memories, and showcase the many people who have shaped CAWG's journey as we countdown to the November 21 celebration. Special thank you to Vintner’s Circle Sponsor, Napa Valley Wine Company, for supporting and helping celebrate CAWG’s 50th anniversary! #CAWG50 #WinegrapeGrowers #DrinkCAWine Sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and more information can be found here: https://bit.ly/3VwyFaB 

This week, the San Francisco Chronicle published an article capturing the harsh reality California winegrape growers are facing, describing the current market downturn as the worst since the Great Recession. CAWG President Natalie Collins highlighted the growing imbalances between wineries and growers, stating that growers are being left "holding the bag." Read More: https://lnkd.in/gKYFNnqC

Countdown to #CAWG50 – In May 2011, the CAWG Board approved the creation of an annual awards program to honor exceptional contributions within the industry. The Awards of Excellence program recognizes a "Grower of the Year" and a "Leader of the Year." Since its inception, 11 individuals or grower families have been honored in each category. These prestigious awards are now presented at the annual Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.   Each week, CAWG will share history, memories, and showcase the many people who have shaped CAWG's journey as we countdown to the November 21 celebration.    Special thank you to Vineyard Select Sponsor, F&M Bank, for supporting CAWG’s 50th celebration anniversary! #CAWG50 #WinegrapeGrowers #DrinkCAWine  Sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and more information can be found here: https://bit.ly/3VwyFaB 

Wildfires have had detrimental effects on the wine industry over the past few years with losses from smoke-exposed grapes felt throughout the state. CAWG has been active in helping educate and safeguard growers from the impacts of wildfire smoke. Last month, USDA introduced the new Fire Insurance Protection-Smoke Index (FIPSI) crop insurance endorsement to better protect grape growers from wildfire smoke. ...... Read more in CAWG’s September column in the American Vineyard Magazine. (Hint – it’s on page 12): https://lnkd.in/gxmUw_Ag

Countdown to #CAWG50 – In 2010, CAWG prioritized enhancing its communications efforts. The organization embarked on a statewide tour, hosting a series of grape grower town hall meetings in Lodi, Paso Robles, Monterey, Temecula, Madera, and Lake County to engage directly with its members. Additionally, CAWG revamped its monthly print newsletter, The Crush, and introduced the CAWG eNews, a weekly email update for members. Each week, CAWG will share history, memories, and showcase the many people who have shaped CAWG's journey as we countdown to the November 21 celebration. Special thank you to Vineyard Select Sponsor, Suisun Valley Vintners and Growers Association, for supporting CAWG’s 50th celebration anniversary! #CAWG50 #WinegrapeGrowers #DrinkCAWine Sponsorship opportunities, tickets, and more information can be found here: https://bit.ly/3VwyFaB