CAWG will recognize Jerry Lohr, president and owner of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, for his many contributions and a lifetime of achievement in the California wine industry. Recognition of Lohr will take place at CAWG's annual meeting on the evening of Tuesday, January 25 at the Sheraton Grand Ballroom in Sacramento.
Of the recognition, CAWG president John Aguirre said, "Upon my arrival in this industry, I quickly recognized Jerry's indomitable spirit and his determination to leave behind a legacy of achievement as a leader in sustainability, a patron of research and as a promoter of California wines. Jerry is a good guy, determined to do good things."
CAWG recently mailed Annual Meeting invitations to all members, if you would like to attend, please RSVP to nicole@cawg.org. Be there to support recognition of a person who has made a tremendous impact on the winegrape community. Click here to view the invitation.
[Read More...]
SAN FRANCISCO– Governor Schwarzenegger honored the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) with the 2010 Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), the state’s highest environmental honor, for the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program during a ceremony at the Governors’ Global Climate Summit 3 yesterday at the University of California, Davis Mondavi Center Global Pavilion. A 2004 GEELA recipient, CSWA received this year’s award in the category of Enhanced Environmental and Economic Leadership. This category honors prior GEELA award recipients who have sustained exceptional leadership and demonstrate significant and robust improvements in voluntary efforts previously recognized, which conserve California’s resources, protect and enhance the environment and strengthen the economy.
[Read More...]
Sacramento, Calif., November 12, 2010 -The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) board of directors elected new leaders at its November meeting in Livermore, Calif. The board directs the only statewide group that focuses exclusively on issues that impact winegrape growers. Member terms run for three years, and individuals are eligible to serve for a total of nine years.
Directors reelected to their second term as officers are:
- Kim Ledbetter Bronson, Vino Farms, Inc. Lodi, Chair
- Heidi Scheid, Greenfield, Scheid Vineyards, Monterey, Vice Chair
- David Weiss, Bella Vista Farming Company, Kelseyville, Vice Chair
- Tom Murphy, The Murphy Companies, Farmington, Secretary
- J.R. Shannon, CRS Ranch, Visalia, Treasurer
Nat DiBuduo, of Allied Grape Growers in Fresno, and Carson Smith of Carson Smith Farming Co. Inc. in Madera were re-elected as at-large directors.
New directors elected to the board are: Mike Boer of Stipp Ranch in Ukiah; Bruce Phillips of Phillips Family Farming in Oakville; and Diego Olagaray of Olagaray Brothers in Lodi.
Directors elected to serve another term are: Bill Pauli of Pauli Ranch in Potter Valley; John Duarte of Duarte Vineyards in Hughson; Dennis Wittchow of Lent-Burden Farming in Oakdale; and Dennis Atkinson of Tejon Ranch Company in Lebec.
“I’m am looking forward to my second year as CAWG president,” said Ledbetter Bronson, a third generation winegrape grower in Lodi, “With a year of experience under my belt and a great team of volunteer leaders there is no limit to what we can accomplish on behalf of winegrape growers in California.”
###
[Read More...]
Sacramento, Calif., - The California Association of Winegrape Growers has launched a campaign, using social media tools, to educate the public about California winegrape growers and the growing season. Through the coordinated use of social media tools such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, the campaign will highlight each of the distinct phases of the growing cycle.
“We want to help the public, and wine consumers in particular, understand the unique challenges of growing winegrapes,” said John Aguirre, president of CAWG. “Using online social media outlets we can reach a huge audience and provide access to compelling content featuring timely stories, video interviews with growers, and photos and descriptions of current conditions in vineyards across the state.”
At the center of CAWG’s online education campaign is the consumer-oriented website, www.California-Vineyards.com. The website currently features a video interview with Aaron Lange, of Lange Twins Winery and Vineyards, who describes the excitement of harvest, which is the most important time of year for winegrape growers. In additional videos, Lange describes the important differences between handpicking and mechanical harvesting, and how growers determine the best time to harvest.
Just click on the icons below to follow CAWG’s social media efforts:
###
[Read More...]
Celebrate California’s Signature Beverage with Dozens of Consumer Events Across the State
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — To help celebrate September 2010 as California Wine Month, proclaimed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for the sixth consecutive year, many of the Golden State’s wineries, winegrape growers and regional associations are hosting special consumer events surrounding the state’s signature beverage.
“California has long been known for our production of superior, award-winning wines,” said Governor Schwarzenegger in his proclamation. “The Judgment of Paris in 1976 brought California wine to the world stage and established our wine producers as respected masters of their craft. This month is dedicated to celebrating our rich history of wine-making and the bright future of this important industry.” For a copy of the proclamation, go to: www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/governors-proclamation.
[Read More...]
Sacramento, Calif., July 29, 2010 -- Former California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Board Chair Bennett Drake of Temecula has been appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Read More 25.78 Kb >>
[Read More...]
Sacramento, Calif., June 10, 2010 -- The California Wine Grape Growers Foundation has awarded 10 high school seniors with scholarships to aid in their dream of higher education. The CWGGF board also voted to increase the scholarship amounts this year due to increasing costs of education. Two-year recipients will receive $2000, up from the previous amount of $1,000 and four-year recipients will receive $8000, up from $4,000. Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Read More 89.24 Kb >>
[Read More...]
Sacramento, Calif., - The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) announced today that it has appointed John Aguirre as its new president. Assuming the role on June 1, Aguirre will lead the association in serving as an advocate for California’s winegrape growers, whose crops contribute more than $2 billion annually to the state’s economy. Aguirre will oversee the association’s membership, legislative, regulatory and marketing activities.
“California winegrape growers have led the way in so many aspects of the agricultural community,” said Aguirre. “They are innovative, forward-thinking stewards of the land and it will be an honor and privilege to represent and serve CAWG members.”
Read More 181.50 Kb >>
Download a high-resolution photo 1.48 Mb >>
[Read More...]
Sacramento, Calif., March 17, 2010 – Members and supporters of the wine grape community from across California came together for the eighth annual California Wine Grape Growers Foundation (CWGGF) Capitol Wine Dinner. More than $32,000 was raised during the March 2 event held at the Sutter Club in Sacramento. This total is up $7,000 from last year’s $25,000 raised.
Read more >>
[Read More...]
Sacramento, Calif., Feb. 11, 2010 - Californiawinegrape growers knew 2009 was a good year for quantity and quality of grapes, but they didn’t expect this. According to the preliminary 2009 Grape Crush Report, grapes crushed for wine totaled 3,697 million tons, up from 3,015 million tons in the 2008 harvest. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,073 tons, up 24 percent from 2008. The 2009 white wine variety crush totaled 1,623 tons, up 21 percent from 2008. The 2009 average price of all varieties was $570.64, up 4 percent from 2008.
Click to view the FULL PRESS RELEASE.
This year’s Grape Crush Report is indicative of the varying growing conditions across the state. Click here for a few quotes from grape growers throughout California regarding the 2009 growing season and harvest.
[Read More...]