California Ag Network

Tag: Sonoma County Winegrowers

  • Sonoma County Wine Industry Set to Unify

    Recognizing that current challenges also present an opportunity to build a stronger future, Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW) and Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) announced the alignment of their winery membership programs to strengthen collaboration and create a more unified voice for Sonoma County wine.

    The announcement follows months of meetings by a wine industry task force established by the boards of SCW and SCV to explore how best to serve the local wine community, improve efficiencies and eliminate duplication of programs. The findings of a survey of nearly 100 local vintners helped provide direction to the task force as a clear majority of vintners “supported” or “strongly supported” exploring integration of the two organizations’ memberships to provide a more unified voice for Sonoma County. Both boards have approved the strategic path forward.   

    “The response we received from our members to integrate into a single organization was overwhelmingly positive.  This new effort should greatly help in promoting Sonoma County wines, increase visitation to Sonoma County wineries, and grow direct-to-consumer sales,” said Prema Kerollis, co-founder and president of Three Sticks Wines and chair of the Sonoma County Vintners board of directors.   She added, “While there were some big decisions that had to be made, it was abundantly clear that the Sonoma County wine community is better together.”

    Specifically, SCV will merge with SCW’s Winery Collaborative to create a new Sonoma County Wine membership for wineries beginning in 2027.

    SCW’s Winery Collaborative focuses on expanding market opportunities for Sonoma County wines through national marketing initiatives, strategic partnerships, and innovative, non-traditional marketing channels. SCV actively promotes Sonoma County wineries through educational programming, regional and international marketing initiatives, and services that help strengthen winery visibility and business success.

    Together, the new Sonoma County Wine membership will provide wineries with a more comprehensive suite of marketing opportunities, educational resources, strategic partnerships, and industry collaboration under a single membership.

    “Our goal is simple: to ensure Sonoma County remains one of the most respected and competitive wine regions in the world,” said Emilie Eliason, interim executive director of Sonoma County Vintners.  She added, “This is an exciting proactive, strategic approach to combat the challenges ahead together to drive demand for our wines and elevate the region.”

    Both organizations emphasized that the new direction reflects a shared commitment to long-term sustainability, both economically and structurally, for the Sonoma County wine industry.

    “Facing the realities of today’s market, our growers and vintners came together with a single purpose to explore merging resources to strengthen our efforts and speak with one unmistakable voice for Sonoma County wine,” said Karissa Kruse, chief executive officer of Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “This is a natural evolution given today’s global challenges and the result will make our efforts to promote the Sonoma County wine region more effective.”

    The Sonoma County Winegrowers, which represents approximately 1,800 grape growers, is a state marketing commission established by a vote of winegrape growers and funded by grower assessments while the Sonoma County Vintners, representing the region’s wineries,  is a voluntary trade association that is funded by membership dues paid by wineries.

    “This is an exciting new chapter for our industry.  Unification makes sense and has the potential to benefit the entire wine region while securing the future for wine in Sonoma County,” said Bret Munselle, a fifth-generation winegrower with Munselle Vineyards and chairman of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. — Story contributed by Sonoma County Winegrowers and Sonoma County Vintners

  • Sonoma County Winegrowers Unlocks National Growth Opportunities

    At its annual Dollars & $ense meeting today, themed, “The Next Chapter: Elevating What Works and Expanding What’s Possible,” Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW) announced a strategic reorganization and renewed organizational focus to build demand, expand partnerships, and increase sales of Sonoma County wines to support long-term grower success.

    The moves reflect a proactive response to an evolving marketplace and are designed to ensure Sonoma County remains competitive, relevant, and well-positioned for future growth.

    Moving forward, Jennifer Dieckmann, currently Chief Operating Officer of Sonoma County Winegrowers, will assume the role of Executive Director and COO, leading the organization’s day-to-day operations, program execution, and team leadership, while maintaining operational excellence and strengthening grower and stakeholder engagement across all initiatives.

    At the same time, Karissa Kruse, as Chief Executive Officer, will leverage her proven track record of building high-impact partnerships and market-driven programs to focus more deeply on strategic leadership, business development, market expansion, and national partnerships that elevate the Sonoma County wine region and drive demand.

    Together, this leadership structure allows Sonoma County Winegrowers to maximize its strengths—pairing strategic vision and partnership-building at the top with disciplined execution and operational excellence—ensuring strategies move from vision to measurable impact for growers.

    “We want to play offense,” said Kruse.  She added, “Our growers have always been changemakers – they don’t wait for conditions to improve or hope the market will turn; they lead with intention.  With the full support of our grower-led board of directors, we are bringing that same relentlessly proactive mindset to our organization to sharpen our focus, build strategic partnerships, and create new pathways to sell more Sonoma County wine.  When our wines succeed in the marketplace, our growers also succeed which drives a new era of growth for our farms, our wines, and our region.”

    The move follows months of thoughtful evaluation of the evolving wine marketplace including a deep assessment of challenges and opportunities, a review of what SCW programs have delivered the greatest impact, and a clear focus on how to scale those successes through strategic partnerships and business development.

    Since Kruse became the organization’s chief executive in 2013, SCW has evolved from a regional, single-purpose trade organization into a nationally recognized leader in sustainability, workforce development, innovation, collaboration, and wine region branding.    

    Looking ahead, SCW will build on this strong foundation by expanding strategic partnerships, advancing innovative farming practices, and strengthening the relevance of the Sonoma County brand – not only within the wine industry, but across the broader hospitality and consumer landscape.

    “The success of winegrowers in Sonoma County can only happen when there is success for Sonoma County wines.  For years, SCW has been building a strong foundation comprised of a number of programs that build upon one another to raise awareness, attract notable partners, and support the brand,” said Bret Munselle, of Munselle Vineyards and chairman of the SCW board of directors.  He added, “Now, with these new moves, we are going to scale up what has worked including our strategic partnerships to improve marketplace sales, protect farming in the future and keep the Sonoma County brand in demand for years to come.”

    In her new role, Kruse will focus on building and activating high-impact partnerships, advancing new business opportunities, and expanding markets in support of long-term demand for Sonoma County wine.

    To help make the vision a reality, a series of strategic objectives were developed including:

    •Expanding and diversifying markets for Sonoma County wine and grapes;

    •Drive tourism and direct engagement

    •Be the region of choice to realize best in class partnerships programs and resources;

    •Make best uses of resources;

    •Provide thought leadership that drives action;

    •Build diversified and sustainable revenue streams; and,

    •Support winegrowers and Winery Collaborative members.

    “For our winegrowers, wineries and our county, we must win in the marketplace, ensure farming has a future; and maintain Sonoma County’s wine and tourism relevance,” said Kruse.

    During the Dollars & $ense meeting, SCW highlighted its robust portfolio of SCW programs and partnerships designed to strengthen demand, elevate the Sonoma County brand, and support long-term grower success.

    •Building on its leadership in sustainability and innovation, SCW expanded its Farm of the Future initiative as a living laboratory for next-generation farming practices —launching Reservoir Farms, Sonoma, and collaborating with industry leaders including John Deere, Ford Pro, Wilbur-Ellis, and Agrology.

    •The organization continued to invest in workforce development through the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation, including the nation’s first vineyard employee Leadership Academy.

    •On the market-facing side, SCW deepened strategic partnerships across food, sports, hospitality, and media—launching the first-ever Major League Baseball wine club in partnership with the San Francisco Giants and collaborating with professional sports franchises including the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Chicago Bears, and Houston Rockets—to reach new audiences and drive consumer engagement.

    Together with national partnerships with Food & Wine, GuildSomm, Landry’s, and Lettuce Entertain You, these efforts reinforced Sonoma County’s position as one of the world’s most trusted, relevant, and respected wine regions.

    About Sonoma County Winegrowers:

    Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW) is a marketing and educational organization committed to promoting and protecting Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions. With more than 1,800 grape growers across 19 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), Sonoma County is recognized globally for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation.

    In 2014, Sonoma County Winegrowers led the charge for all local vineyards to become certified sustainable, resulting in 99% of the region’s vineyard acreage being certified by a third-party auditor—making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world.

    SCW continues to lead through its Farm of the Future initiative, establishing Sonoma County as a “living lab” for innovation and regenerative agriculture. This first-of-its-kind platform brings together global collaborators such as Ford Pro, John Deere, Wilbur-Ellis, and Agrology to accelerate climate-smart farming solutions.

    Beyond the vineyard, SCW supports the people who power the wine industry through its 501(c)(3) foundation, which invests in vineyard employees and their families. This includes a pioneering Leadership Academy designed to elevate the next generation of agricultural leaders.

    SCW’s dynamic marketing efforts extend nationwide through partnerships with brands and organizations including Landry’s, Lettuce Entertain You, the San Francisco Giants, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bears, Coachella Valley Firebirds, and Food & Wine magazine—sharing the story of Sonoma County’s heritage, innovation, and excellence with new audiences across the country.

  • World’s First On-Farm Robotics Hub for Viticulture Launches in Sonoma

    Sonoma County Winegrowers and Reservoir today announced the launch of Reservoir Farms, Sonoma – the world’s first on-farm robotics and automation hub for viticulture located in the heart of California wine country.

    As a flagship collaboration under the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ Farm of the Future initiative and building on the success of Reservoir’s inaugural “Olympic Village of AgTech” site in Salinas, Reservoir is extending its model to California’s Wine Country to drive the development and deployment of automation and advanced robotics for vineyards and premium permanent crops like wine grapes. Launched by Sonoma County Winegrowers in 2022, the Farm of the Future serves as an open invitation for innovators and growers to collaborate, pilot new technologies, and share impactful practices to advance sustainability and climate adaptation across Sonoma County’s certified winegrowing operations.

    “Sonoma County Winegrowers has long had a vision of being the “Silicon Valley” of Ag Innovation for winegrapes and today that vision becomes a reality. And most exciting is that these start-ups will have our farmers at the table solving the problems they have versus creating solutions and then looking for the problem,” said Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, at the ribbon-cutting event hosted at its headquarters. “Winegrapes are one of the most labor-intensive specialty crops, and emerging technology has the potential to transform how we manage vineyards, upskill our workforce, and continue to deliver for our consumers.”

    By adding Reservoir Farms, Sonoma to Farm of the Future, a powerful living lab is being created where growers, startups, and industry partners work together to solve today’s toughest challenges and build resilience for the future. Amid rising labor costs, a shrinking workforce, and mounting production expenses, wine growers in Sonoma County and across California face complex challenges that threaten vineyard resilience. Reservoir Farms, Sonoma will feature fabrication facilities, an engineering workshop, and 14 acres of managed vineyard test blocks where robotics startups and AgTech leaders like John Deere can work side-by-side to develop, iterate, and validate field-ready technologies. This will bring economic development to Sonoma County, new jobs, new companies, and an opportunity to support workforce development and education.

    Reservoir’s expansion to Sonoma County is part of a broad, multi-regional strategy to build a network of on-farm innovation hubs anchored by top growers, R&D partners and regional institutions. Reservoir Farms, Sonoma functions as a real-world laboratory accelerating viticulture innovation, uniting multiple stakeholders and bridging the gap between engineering and agriculture.

    Reservoir is inviting six startups to join the incubator by the end of 2025. Cropmind, Inc. and Budbreak Innovations already committed to the program beginning in January 2026, while current Reservoir Farms resident Beagle Technology will extend its existing Reservoir membership to Sonoma to expand its vine pruning solution into Wine Country.

    “The next generation of breakthroughs in ag robotics happen if world-class engineers have direct access to real farm environments to develop technology,” said Danny Bernstein, founder and CEO of Reservoir. “The next leap—whether it’s advanced perception, precision agriculture, rugged humanoids, or foundational AI platforms—will require engineers and growers building and problem-solving together. We are honored to be part of Sonoma County Winegrowers’ Farm of the Future to help drive innovation for their members today and into the future.”

    For more information or to apply for the next cohort at Reservoir Farms, Sonoma, visit www.reservoir.co.

    ABOUT SONOMA COUNTY WINEGROWERS:

    Sonoma County Winegrowers is a marketing and educational organization committed to promoting and protecting Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier wine growing regions. With more than 1,800 grape growers across 19 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), Sonoma County is recognized globally for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation.

    ABOUT RESERVOIR:

    Reservoir enables deep-tech startups to make a significant impact on the future of specialty crop agriculture. Reservoir Farms is the world’s first on-farm robotics incubator, launching in the Salinas Valley and expanding to other key regions, including California’s Wine Country. Reservoir VC is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on helping AgTech startups succeed where agriculture happens—in the field. By combining R&D space, hands-on grower input, and early-stage capital, the Reservoir helps turn promising ideas into tools for the growers who feed the world. Learn more at https://reservoir.co.

  • 76 North American Restaurants Receive Sonoma County Winegrowers’ Inaugural ‘Magnum Award’

    Seventy-six restaurants spanning from Graton, California, to Greenwich, Connecticut, are being honored with the 2025 Sonoma County Magnum Award for their exceptional support and promotion of Sonoma County wines.  Earlier this year, Sonoma County Winegrowers launched this new initiative to recognize restaurants that demonstrate outstanding support for Sonoma County wines and showcasing Sonoma County as a world-class wine region. Each restaurant will receive a uniquely etched magnum bottle, symbolizing their role as an ambassador for Sonoma County’s farmers, winemakers, and wines.

    During the year, Sonoma County wineries submitted nominations of restaurants they felt were deserving of recognition. Input was also provided by partners, trade, and sommeliers from throughout the country. Restaurants were selected based on key criteria, including their commitment to showcasing a diverse range of producers, vintages, and AVAs; fostering strong partnerships with wineries; hosting or promoting winemaker dinners and special events; and thoughtfully highlighting Sonoma County wines through curated lists and pairings that celebrate the region’s rich agricultural legacy.

    “When it comes to promoting and celebrating wines from Sonoma County, these restaurants are the best of the best,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “We created this award to recognize and thank restaurants for their efforts to showcase our wine.  Our hope is that people will see the Magnum recognition and continue to support both the restaurant and Sonoma County wines.”

    The 2025 Magnum Award winners are:

    SONOMA COUNTY

    •Baci Café & Wine Bar – Healdsburg, CA

    •Bird & The Bottle – Santa Rosa, CA

    •Ca’Bianca – Santa Rosa, CA

    •Cafe La Haye – Sonoma, CA

    •Cucina Paradiso – Petaluma, CA

    •Cyrus – Geyserville, CA

    •El Dorado Kitchen – Sonoma, CA

    •Glen Ellen Star – Glen Ellen, CA

    •Goodnight’s Prime Steak & Spirits – Healdsburg, CA

    •Guiso Latin Fusion – Healdsburg, CA

    •Harbor House Inn – Elk, CA

    •Hazel – Occidental, CA

    •John Ash – Santa Rosa, CA

    •Montage – Healdsburg, CA

    •Monti’s – Santa Rosa, CA

    •Osake Sushi – Santa Rosa, CA

    •River’s End – Jenner, CA

    •Single Thread – Healdsburg, CA

    •Sonoma Pizza Co. – Forestville, CA

    •Stark’s Steak & Seafood – Santa Rosa, CA

    •Stella – Kenwood, CA

    •Sushi Tozai – Sebastopol, CA

    •The Girl & The Fig – Sonoma, CA

    •The Matheson – Healdsburg, CA

    •The Restaurant at Farmhouse Inn – Forestville, CA

    •Timber Cove Resort – Jenner, CA

    •Underwood Bar & Bistro – Graton, CA

    •Valette – Healdsburg, CA

    •Walter Hansel Wine & Bistro – Santa Rosa, CA

    •Willi’s Seafood – Healdsburg, CA

    •Willi’s Wine Bar – Santa Rosa, CA

    •Willow Wood Market Cafe – Graton, CA

    •

    CALIFORNIA

    •71Above – Los Angeles, CA

    •Angler SF – San Francisco, CA

    •Charlie’s – St. Helena, CA

    •EPIC Steak – San Francisco, CA

    •Lazy Bear – San Francisco, CA

    •Lucky’s – Montecito, CA

    •Press – St. Helena, CA

    •Rutherford Grill – Napa, CA

    •Spago – Beverly Hills, CA

    •Spruce – San Francisco, CA

    •Stanly Ranch – Napa, CA

    •The Ahwahnee – Yosemite, CA

    •The Charter Oak – St. Helena, CA

    •The Edge Palm Springs – Palm Springs, CA

    •The Spinnaker – Sausalito, CA

    •Wally’s Wine – Santa Monica, CA

    •Waterbar – San Francisco, CA

    UNITED STATES & BEYOND

    •Annie Gunn’s – Chesterfield, MO

    •Bern’s Steak House – Tampa, FL

    •Blackberry Farm – Walland, TN

    •Buck & Rider – Phoenix, AZ

    •Canlis – Seattle, WA

    •Eleven Madison Park – New York, NY

    •Gramercy Tavern – New York, NY

    •Joe’s – Chicago, IL

    •Joe’s – Las Vegas, NV

    •Joe’s – Washington, D.C.

    •Manta– Waimea, HI

    •Mastro’s – Houston, TX

    •Meli-Melo – Greenwich, CT

    •Pappas Bros. Steakhouse – Houston, TX – Galleria & Downtown

    •Peak – New York, NY

    •RPM Italian – Chicago, IL

    •RPM Italian – Las Vegas, NV

    •RPM Italian – Washington, D.C.

    •RPM Seafood – Chicago, IL

    •RPM Steak – Chicago, IL

    •Summer House – Chicago, IL

    •The Inn at Little Washington – Washington, VA

    •The Little Nell – Aspen, CO

    •The Palm – Orlando, FL

    •The Palm – Mexico City, Mexico

    •The Post Oak Hotel – Houston, TX

    •Willie G’s – Houston, TX

    About Sonoma County Winegrowers:

    Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW) is a marketing and educational organization committed to promoting and protecting Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions. With more than 1,800 grape growers across 19 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), Sonoma County is recognized globally for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation.

    In 2014, Sonoma County Winegrowers led the charge for all local vineyards to become certified sustainable, resulting in 99% of the region’s vineyard acreage being certified by a third-party auditor—making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world.

    SCW continues to lead through its Farm of the Future initiative, establishing Sonoma County as a “living lab” for innovation and regenerative agriculture. This first-of-its-kind platform brings together global collaborators such as Ford Pro, John Deere, Wilbur-Ellis, and Agrology to accelerate climate-smart farming solutions.

    Beyond the vineyard, SCW supports the people who power the wine industry through its 501(c)(3) foundation, which invests in vineyard employees and their families. This includes a pioneering Leadership Academy designed to elevate the next generation of agricultural leaders.

    SCW’s dynamic marketing efforts extend nationwide through partnerships with brands and organizations including Landry’s, Lettuce Entertain You, the San Francisco Giants, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bears, Coachella Valley Firebirds, and Food & Wine magazine—sharing the story of Sonoma County’s heritage, innovation, and excellence with new audiences across the country.

  • The Challenges of Establishing a Wine Improvement District

    Sonoma County Winegrowers — Since it was announced last month that leaders in the Sonoma County wine community were exploring the possible benefits and risks of establishing a Wine Improvement District, we have heard comments and questions from many, even those who don’t farm grapes or make wine from the County. That is fine as we appreciate the interest in the idea and the passion for Sonoma County’s wine community.

    Make no mistake, the greatest risk we face today is to do nothing and hope things improve. Our job is to explore any and all solutions to the challenges facing us – partnerships, grants, sponsorships, including a Wine Improvement District.  In fact, we continue to invite any proposals, ideas and funding models to consider to help us overcome these challenges.

    With this in mind, here are some facts about Wine Improvement Districts (WIDs) and the process in Sonoma County since February 2025:

    Fact: There are currently four WIDs in California with at least three others in the process of being established or considered as options for stable marketing funding.

    Fact: During February  – March of 2025, the Sonoma County Winegrowers did the following:

    • Spoke to leaders in other wine regions who have implemented a WID.
    • Participated in a regional association meeting hosted by California Association of Winegrape Growers and the California Wine Institute with a handful of trade associations in attendance, where Civitas and leaders from wine regions with WIDs presented general background on WIDs, the process to establish a WID, and the benefits, challenges and results.
    • On March 31, the Sonoma County Winegrowers board of directors voted at its meeting to spend up to $100,000 to pursue the formation of a business improvement district under the Sonoma County Winegrowers management which is the very model that the Lodi Winegrape Commission is following. Know that every Sonoma County Winegrowers meeting has oversight by California Department of Food & Agriculture and the board is nominated and elected by the entire grape growing community who pay assessments.
    • Hiring Civitas, which has worked with the other wine regions and is recognized as the national expert, was necessary to understand how a WID works – how it is formed, the boundaries, the types of businesses that can be included, as well as the types of items and activations that can be assessed. It would not be prudent to talk in a hypothetical way about how it works, we needed to understand the actual process.

    Fact: Did you know that even if we all agreed today to move forward with a WID, it would take approximately 18 months before the full funding came in?  Can we all survive another 18 months with the status quo?  This is why we were moving quickly to determine if a WID is the best solution for Sonoma County.

    Fact: Civitas was contracted on April 4, 2025 with a monthly fee of $7,500. When SCW reviewed the contract, we ensured that it was month-to-month so we could cancel it at any time.  This allowed the process to begin with learning how a WID works, then establishing a steering committee, beginning outreach to the AVAs and then broad outreach to the wine community before a management plan would be finalized or petition process started based on feedback.

    Fact: The first meetings with Sonoma County Vintners leadership to discuss a WID occurred on February 6th. Sonoma County Winegrowers and other wine industry stakeholders continued meeting with leadership of Sonoma County Vintners in March and April to discuss the WID and invite them to participate in the steering committee.

    Fact: May 14th, 2025 was the steering committee kick-off to explore WIDs. The steering committee was comprised of 15 members representing different size wineries, AVAs, and leadership roles in the wine community.

    • 5 small wineries
    • 2 mid-size wineries
    • 3 large wineries
    • SCW/SCV leadership (3 members from each board)
    • Current and Former AVA Board Leadership (AVW, WDCV, SVVGA, PGA, WSCV)
    • Staff

    Fact: Between May 13th – July 2, members of the steering committee met with the following AVA boards and/or leadership to discuss the WID and obtain initial feedback before going broader with wine community engagement:

    • Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley
    • Alexander Valley Winegrowers
    • Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance
    • Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance
    • Russian River Valley Winegrowers
    • West Sonoma Coast Vintners

    Fact: At the June 2 board meeting, as captured in the minutes, there was a discussion on the timing of the Sonoma County Winegrowers “referendum” (a 5-year reauthorization process where growers vote on whether to continue self-assessing their grapes to fund collective marketing efforts).  By law, the referendum vote needs to happen between July 1, 2025- June 30th, 2026. The decision was made to “move as quickly as possible” with the reauthorization referendum after the start of the new FY on July 1, 2025. This reference to the referendum had nothing to do with the WID timing. There was separate discussion on the WID and its process and timing.

    Fact: On July 21st, Sonoma County Winegrowers distributed a press release announcing the exploration of a Wine Improvement District with the intent to begin outreach and start the town halls and listening sessions. The release mentioned support to explore a WID from the Sonoma County Vintners leadership who were participating in the steering committee (this had not gone to the full SCV board yet).

    Fact: To date, Sonoma County Winegrowers, with the approval of its board, has spent $38,450 on Civitas, which is less than 2% of its marketing budget and less than 1% of its total budget.

    Fact: Civitas does NOT take a 2% collection fee. There is a 2% collection fee taken by HdL if a WID is established. HdL is a separate and independent tax and assessment collection organization used by counties and cities across California (including Sonoma County) and for most wine and business improvement districts. There is a 2% processing fee for collecting the assessments. Since this is not a tax, it is not collected by Sonoma County.

    Fact: Sonoma County Winegrowers estimates that 30% of the Sonoma County winegrapes will not be sold this year and that there are around 5,000 acres of vineyards being pulled out. In general, the wine industry is experiencing an oversupply of grapes and a consumption problem.  Every day it seems there is a new report or media story about declining consumption, rising production costs and the impacts from tariffs.  Doing more of the same will not work.

    Fact: On August 19th, Sonoma County Winegrowers paused the work of Civitas and the WID through harvest to give Sonoma County Vintners a chance to deal with their transition and provide time for wineries around the county to brainstorm new ideas and funding models.

    Fact: As a leader of a countywide organization, it would have been irresponsible to not consider every possible funding model and opportunity to address the challenges facing the wine and grape growing community.

    At this critical time, let’s work together and have a dialogue on how best to improve the outlook for Sonoma County’s wine community.  Know that the Sonoma County Winegrowers has a very successful track record of supporting the Sonoma County wine community and its growers.  We led the effort to become the first 100% certified sustainable wine region.  We developed the first 100-year plan for the industry.  We have pioneered Sonoma County’s Farm of the Future to provide access to local vineyards to seek solutions to improve production agriculture.  And we established a Winery Collaborative and sought high-profile sports, trade, on-premise, and media partnerships to introduce Sonoma County wines to more people in new settings and experiences. We have also demonstrated that we pursue grants, partnerships, sponsorships, and now the WID as ways to supplement the investment Sonoma County grape growers make in the Commission. Every action we take and proposal we consider is done through a simple filter – will it help the growers and wineries in Sonoma County.  That will never change.

  • Popular Grape Camp Returns to Sonoma County

    Sonoma County Winegrowers has just announced it is bringing back one of its most popular programs this fall when Grape Camp returns.  This three-day immersion in all thing’s agriculture, wine and food in Sonoma County is an experience of a lifetime.  From vineyard immersions led by growers to sommelier-led wine tastings to unforgettable farm to table gatherings, the camp allows participants to learn first-hand why Sonoma County is a wine and food mecca.

    “Grape Camp is much loved by past campers because it is true wine country immersion! The best part is getting to meet so many of our local family farmers and winemakers,”  said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “We took a few years off, but we regularly received inquiries asking if Grape Camp was going to return, so we are thrilled to bring back this ‘bucket list’ experience for wine lovers.”

    Grape Camp is more than an event — it is a celebration of community, craftsmanship, and connection to the land. From picking grapes alongside multi-generational farmers to blending wines and dining under the stars, guests will savor the region’s bounty in its most authentic form. Grape Camp offers a unique blend of Sonoma County’s luxurious hospitality and its grassroots winegrowing heritage.

    Sonoma County is home to more than 495 wineries, over 100 wine grape varieties and 19 distinct wine growing appellations, as well as 50 miles of coastline—more than any other wine region in California.  The region’s dynamic landscape and commitment to sustainability make it the perfect place to learn, sip, and savor. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or simply wine-curious, Sonoma County Winegrowers invites you to be part of the story — from vine to glass.

    Grape Camp will be held September 28 through October 1, 2025. Space is limited, so reserve your space now by visiting https://sonomawinegrape.org/grape-camp-2025/.

    About Sonoma County Winegrowers: Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grapegrowers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world. In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023. SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).

  • Newly Established Century Club Honors 22 Sonoma County Legacy Farm Families

    The image of vibrant farms and rugged ranches set among Sonoma County’s beautiful landscapes has long been sought after by tourists, painters and photographers. The sheer beauty has always stood out, but, given that the area’s first vineyards date back to 1812, it is the region’s agrarian roots and family legacy that makes Sonoma County unique.

    Today, twenty-two local families, all winegrape growers, were recognized as the original members of the “Century Club” in honor of their continuously farming their family’s original land for more than one hundred years. Sonoma County Winegrowers created the Century Club to mark the unique legacies of farm families in the region and it will recognize new families with the honor as they hit the one-hundred-year mark in the years ahead. Each of these farms – and the families behind them – have endured the ups and downs of the cyclical nature of today’s agriculture to survive and thrive.

    “To have so many families still working the very land where their grandparents, great grandparents and great, great grandparents settled and began farming over a hundred years ago is truly the definition of sustainability and the DNA in our wine region,” said Karissa Kruse, President and CEO, of Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We are very excited to launch this program because we are fortunate to live in an area where so many multi-generational farm families continue to farm the very ground that their ancestors farmed and ranched more than a century ago.”

    All of the families being honored share one common theme – brave ancestors who left their homeland to seek the American dream by working the land. Some examples include the Mauritson family who have been growing grapes in the Dry Creek Valley since 1868. The Munselle family arrived in the Alexander Valley with a vision of producing fine wines nearly 150 years ago. The Bisordi family began farming hops, prunes and more in 1898.  The Dutton family has been working the land since the 1880s and today the fourth, fifth and sixth generations are still farming. The Martinelli family first planted grapes and began making wine in the area in the 1880s.

    Each of the families honored today received commemorative pins, special recognition signs to place on their property and a Congressional certificate from Representative Mike Thompson. Looking ahead, the Century Club members will be invited to attend the annual recognition lunch, as well as participate in exclusive members-only events.

    The member families of the inaugural 2024 class of the Sonoma County Century Club and the year their ancestors began farming in Sonoma County are:

    • Azevedo Family – Azevedo A-Bar Ranch, began farming in 1904
    • Bacigalupi & Gaddini Family – Bacigalupi Vineyards, began farming in 1883
    • Bastoni Family – Bastoni Vineyards, began farming in 1905
    • Bisordi Family – Bisordi Ranch & Vineyards, began farming in 1898
    • Bundschu Family – Bundschu Company, began farming in 1858
    • Denner Family – Denner Ranches, Inc., began farming in 1890
    • Dutton Family – Dutton Ranch, began farming in 1880
    • Giusti Family – Giusti Ranch & Vineyards, began farming in 1875
    • Kunde Family – Wildwood Vineyards Arthur Kunde & Sons, Inc., began farming in 1904
    • Leras Family – Leras Family Vineyards, began farming in 1918
    • Martinelli Family – Martinelli Winery & Martinelli Vineyard Management, began farming in 1860
    • Mauritson Family – Mauritson Farms, began farming in 1868
    • Munselle Family – Munselle Vineyards, began farming in 1876
    • Puccioni Family – Puccioni Ranch & Vineyards, began farming in 1904
    • Rafanelli Family – Rafanelli Winery, began farming in early 1900s
    • Saini Family – Saini Farms, Inc., began farming in 1917
    • Sanchietti Family – Sanchietti Ranch & Sanchietti Farming, began farming in 1919
    • Sebastiani Family – Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, began farming in 1904
    • Seghesio Family – Seghesio Family Vineyards, began farming in 1895
    • Serres Family – Serres Ranch, began farming in 1924
    • Schmidt Family – Tzabaco Rancho Vineyards, began farming in 1856
    • Young Family – Robert Young Estate Vineyards, began farming in 1858

    To learn more about the founding families of the Century Club, click here!

    About Sonoma County Winegrowers:

    Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world. In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023. SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA). Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org.

  • Every Day is Earth Day for the Most Sustainable Winegrowing Region

    Few organizations or businesses have been as proactive in addressing environmental concerns and lessening their impact than the Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW).

    Ten years ago, Sonoma County Winegrowers announced its intent to become the nation’s – and likely the world’s – first 100% certified sustainable wine region by 2019.  It was a bold, ambitious declaration but Sonoma County’s winegrowers were committed and, together, they succeeded in meeting their target in just five years.  Today, Sonoma County has a record 99% of its local vineyards certified sustainable.

    Five years ago, Sonoma County Winegrowers became an exclusive participant in the California Land Stewardship Institute’s (CLSI) Climate Adaptation Certification program marking the first-time participating growers could obtain certification for a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration program.   Over the past few years, CLSI has created customized local farm plans based on soil type, microclimate, elevation, history of the land and farming practices that meet the certification requirements. In partnership with the California Farm Bureau Federation’s scientific arm, 3,860 acres in the pilot program have been certified. An additional 9,000 acres are in the process of achieving certification later this year.

    Last week, local winegrowers began receiving Smart Apply , precision spraying equipment from John Deere Company, as Sonoma County Winegrowers embark on a major collaboration with one of the world’s most iconic brands. The John Deere technology is designed to enhance eco-friendly practices, minimize the carbon footprint, and encourage sustainable land management.  It is an important part of John Deere’s collaboration with SCW’s innovative Farm of the Future, a living lab for the future of agriculture and an innovation accelerator.

    Clearly, winegrowers in Sonoma County are constantly pushing to do more. Over the past ten years, their commitment to continue to build on their sustainability leadership through a variety of activities and programs has earned them a worldwide reputation as a global leader in sustainability and regenerative agriculture. It is no surprise that SCW has been recognized with California’s highest environmental award, the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award.

    “It is important on Earth Day to recognize Sonoma County and our 1,800 local, forward-thinking winegrowers who have a proven track record of disrupting the status quo through collaborations, innovation, and leadership.  Since 2014, we have developed, partnered, and implemented a wide variety of initiatives to bring about a real impact,” stated Karissa Kruse, President and CEO of the Sonoma County Winegrowers.

    Through its Farm of the Future, Sonoma County Winegrowers view their vineyards as a living lab to collaborate with innovative companies to pilot concepts that may eventually result in game-changing solutions for farmers around the world.  In addition to John Deere Company, Farm of the Future collaborators include Ford Pro, Wilbur Ellis, and Agrology.

    Said Kruse, “Today, Sonoma County is rapidly transforming into an ag incubator and living laboratory as a multitude of companies are seeking to work with our growers to develop game-changing solutions and real-world applications to some of the biggest environmental challenges.” She added, “It is so exciting to hear from companies that want to come to Sonoma County and be a part of the Farm of Future.”

    Sonoma County winegrape farmers and winemakers are dependent on a healthy environment to grow and make some of the world’s best wines.  Because of this, SCW has also developed the industry’s first one-hundred-year business plan; established the Center for Ag Sustainability; created a sustainable wine label that now appears on more than 3 million cases of Sonoma County wines and 600 different wine SKUs; cut the use of glyphosate in Sonoma County by 70% while more than 45,000 vineyard acres of Sonoma County’s 60,000 vineyard acres have become glyphosate free; and established a leadership academy to teach a variety of skills and trainings to help vineyard employees become better leaders in their community and workplace.

    “In Sonoma County’s vineyards, it is clear that every day is Earth Day and consumers can order any glass or purchase any bottle of wine from Sonoma County with full confidence knowing that the wine is made with certified sustainable grapes,” said Kruse.

    About Sonoma County Winegrowers: Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world.  In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023.  SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).  Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org.

  • Sonoma Winegrowers Team Up With San Francisco Giants, Featuring Local Wines

    Building on the success of their partnership which began shortly before Spring Training this year, the Sonoma County Winegrowers and the San Francisco Giants are teaming up for a “Sonoma in the City” theme in the Cloud Club, one of Oracle Park’s private lounges. During twelve (12) home games from August 25 through September 13, the Cloud Club will exclusively feature wines, winegrowers and wineries from the iconic region.

    The San Francisco Giants historic hiring of Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein last year established  the team as the first professional sports organization to invest in the wine industry.  This partnership underscores the Giants dedication to providing exceptional gameday experiences by cultivating the look, taste and feel of Sonoma County throughout the Cloud Club for all visitors.

    “This is an incredible opportunity for us to showcase Sonoma County’s diverse, world-class wines to the San Francisco Giants community and fans,” said Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. “There is nothing like enjoying Giants baseball with some of the region’s finest wines while spending time with friends and family. We are proud to partner with the Giants and believe our wines embody the experience of a memorable day at Oracle Park.”

    The Cloud Club is a private lounge on the Suite Level of Oracle Park that affords extraordinary views of the field, San Francisco Bay and Oakland Hills. The Club features rotating decor and programming that celebrates the art, culture, culinary scene, famous personalities of San Francisco’s unique neighborhoods, and now, Sonoma County wine country.

    During exclusive wine tastings and events, the Cloud Club will feature several wineries, including Bucher Vineyards, Lando Wines, Kosta Browne Winery, DaVero Farms & Winery, O’Connell Family Wines, Inman Family Wines, Lynmar Estate Winery, Paul Hobb’s Crossbarn Winery, Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery, MacRostie Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards and Cartograph Wines. Six (6) Sonoma County wines will also be regularly available at the Cloud Club bar from J. Vineyards, Bricoleur Vineyards, The Calling, Inman Family Wines, Dutton-Goldfield Winery and Kenwood Vineyards. The featured wines will highlight the wide range of grape varieties that are grown in Sonoma County’s 19 distinct American Viticulture Areas (AVAs).

    “We’re so excited to bring Sonoma County wine to Giants fans to help create memorable connections,” continued Kruse. “Baseball and wine have much in common, so engaging with an important and beloved franchise like the Giants is a perfect pairing.”

    Sonoma County Winegrowers and the San Francisco Giants will also launch a new video series titled, “Giants in Sonoma”,  across digital channels, in-ballpark and TV, hosted by Evan Goldstein and Giants ambassador Amy G.  The videos highlight the region and the unique intersection of wine, viticulture and baseball with accompanying stories from Rodney Strong Vineyards, Balletto Vineyards and Sangiacomo Family Wines.

    Sonoma County Winegrowers

    Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world.  In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023.  SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).  Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org.

    San Francisco Giants

    One of the oldest teams in Major League Baseball, the 140-year-old franchise moved to San Francisco from New York in 1958. After playing a total of 42 years in Seals Stadium and Candlestick Park, the team moved to the privately constructed, downtown ballpark on the corner of 3rd and King in 2000. The organization is widely recognized for its innovative business practices and baseball excellence having been named in the past decade the Sports Organization of the Year by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal, Organization of the Year by Baseball America and ESPN’s Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year. Oracle Park is also the only ballpark in the country to have earned Silver, Gold and Platinum LEED certification for an existing building.

    Since opening its gates, Oracle Park has become internationally renowned as a premier venue in the world of both sports and entertainment. On the diamond, more than 67 million spectators have witnessed countless magical moments, including three World Series Championships (2010, 2012 & 2014), the raising of four National League Pennants and eight playoff appearances. The ballpark has also hosted some of music’s biggest acts, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé & Jay Z, Ed Sheeran, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band, Green Day and Billy Joel.

  • Sonoma County Winegrowers Introduces Its ‘Farm Of The Future’

    Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, used the organization’s annual meeting to unveil a number of innovative programs and impressive new partnerships all linked to building upon its role as a global leader in sustainable farming.

    “Our growers always ask, ‘what’s next?’  While we have made great progress in our commitment to sustainability, we refuse to rest on our laurels or assume we have reached our goal,” said Kruse.  She added, “We are using our proven leadership in sustainability and climate stewardship to flip the narrative to go on offense for the future of farming in Sonoma County and beyond.”

    In 2023, Sonoma County Grape Growers, celebrating its 40th anniversary, continues to drive the marketing for the region through its partnership with Landry’s, which operates more than 600 restaurants, hotels, casinos and entertainment destinations throughout the United States and around the globe; its on-going collaboration with GuildSomm to deliver education to the wine trade in the U.S.; and it will be the host of the Food & Wine’s Aspen Classic’s Publishers Party  celebrating the renowned magazine’s 40th anniversary.

    The organization will also host the second annual Healdsburg Food & Wine Experience to elevate Sonoma County at the only international wine and food show actually held in a wine region. The event will take place May 18-21 of this year.  Last year’s inaugural event raised more than $100,000 to its non-profit beneficiary, the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation.

    Said Kruse, “Sonoma County has a unique opportunity to be a living lab for the future of farming and an innovative accelerator.  Sonoma County is blessed with more soil types than all of France, a diverse topography and unique microclimates, and we have a proven record of leadership in sustainability and climate stewardship.  We are offering an open invitation for thought leaders and innovators to join us in our mission to preserve agriculture in our county and country.”

    The Farm of the Future is a forward-thinking effort that is based in scenario planning to respond to climate impacts and changes in the marketplace effectively and quickly.   It will serve as an innovation accelerator where businesses can share new technologies and put them into real-life practice.  Partners and collaborators can leverage Sonoma County Winegrowers sustainability leadership and a network of climate stewards and forward-thinking change agents.

    “The Farm of the Future will address the future of our food source; the future of our national security; the future of our open space; the future of our ag land; the future of sustainability; and, the future of climate stewardship,” said Kruse.  She added, “The ripple effect of our effective partnerships, as we are learning firsthand through our collaboration with Ford Pro, is that it is motivating great minds and innovative companies to contact us and ask to work with us to make their ideas a reality.  By providing a living lab, Sonoma County winegrowers can pilot proof concept learning that may eventually result in game-changing solutions that can be shared with farmers across the country and around the world.”

    The event also included the presentation of the Nick Frey Community Contribution Award to Congressman Mike Thompson.  It marked the first time the award had ever been presented to an elected official.   Congressman Thompson, first elected in 1998, was instrumental in creating the Congressional Wine Caucus which has been highly effective in bringing Members of Congress and the wine community together to address key issues.  The congressman brought his entire staff to the event to share in the recognition.

    Left to Right: Steve Sangiacomo, Tyler Klick, Karissa Kruse, Congressman Mike Thompson, Taylor Serres, Marissa Ledbetter Foster and Duff Bevill.

    About Sonoma County Winegrowers:

    Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world.  In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023.  SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA).  Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org.