California Ag Network

Tag: Winegrape Growers

  • Sustainability Implemented at Scale Across CA Wine Sector

    The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) recently released the 2025 California Wine Community Sustainability Report, which finds that sustainability is being implemented at broad scale across the state, with approximately 70% of California wine grape acreage certified to a sustainability program and more than 90% of California wine produced in a certified sustainable winery.

    Published every five years, the report draws on aggregated vineyard and winery performance data and provides an update on CSWA’s education, outreach, certification and partnership efforts. The latest findings document measurable progress since the 2020 report, including improvement in 65% of the vineyard sustainability criteria evaluated and 53% of the winery criteria.

    “Sustainability has long been part of the heart of California wine, and this report shows how that commitment is translating into meaningful action across the state,” said Allison Jordan, CSWA executive director. “We are proud of the progress growers and vintners have made to conserve natural resources, strengthen their communities and build more resilient businesses, while continuing to look for ways to do even better.”

    Sustainability Participation Continues to Grow
    Participation in sustainability assessment has continued to expand across both vineyards and wineries.

    Since 2021, growers farming 2,745 vineyards covering more than 350,000 acres have used the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing to assess their operations. That represents a 19% increase in participating vineyards and a 34% increase in acreage.

    During the same period, 282 wineries producing approximately 210 million cases annually have used the Code to assess their operations, representing a 23% increase in winery participation.

    The report’s appendix includes aggregated data for the 144 vineyard and 105 winery best practices in the Code, which helps California winegrape growers and vintners evaluate their sustainability performance and identify practical opportunities for continued improvement.

    Measurable Progress Across Vineyards and Wineries
    As participation has grown, the data also show meaningful improvement in how sustainable practices are being implemented across vineyard and winery operations.

    Vineyard sustainability performance improved in 65% of the evaluated criteria compared with the 2020 report. Highlights include:

    • Soil health: 99% of growers allowed resident vegetation to grow in the vineyard, used cover crops and/or applied compost to encourage nutrient cycling and protect soil structure.
    • Energy efficiency: 97% reduced energy use through water-pump improvements, one of the largest energy-saving opportunities in vineyard operations.
    • Pest management: 85% used cultural practices to manage pests naturally and reduce the need for pesticides.
    • Water efficiency: 83% used micro-irrigation systems that enable targeted irrigation and more efficient water management.

    Winery sustainability performance improved in 53% of the evaluated criteria compared with the 2020 report. Highlights include:

    • Sustainable business strategy: 98% integrated sustainability into their business strategy.
    • Water efficiency: 97% measured and monitored water use to manage it responsibly.
    • Energy efficiency: 96% conducted an energy audit of their winery operations within the past five years to identify savings, control costs and improve operational performance.

    The report also demonstrates the ways growers and vintners are supporting employees, neighbors and local communities:

    • Neighbors: 100% of growers provided neighbors with contact information and responded to community concerns.
    • Contributions: 97% of vintners volunteered or made other contributions to enhance their local communities.
    • Wildlife: 94% of growers allowed resident or native vegetation to grow near local waterways, helping protect water bodies and surrounding habitats.
    • Employees: 90% of vintners encouraged employees to recommend ways to improve operational efficiency and sustainability.

    Expanding Tools, Education and Industry Engagement

    Supporting that progress is an expanding network of tools, education and outreach designed to help growers and vintners put sustainable practices into action and continue improving over time.

    From 2021 through 2025, CSWA expanded its efforts to help vineyards and wineries document, measure and strengthen their sustainability performance. Key accomplishments included the launch of the California Vineyard and Winery Climate Action Toolkit and publication of the fifth edition of the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing. To date, more than 19,300 participants have attended CSWA educational events.

    CSWA also broadened access to California wine sustainability information through an updated Sustainable Winegrowing Ambassador Course, a redesigned CSWA website, a website highlighting California wine’s sustainability milestones and a consumer-facing certification website.

    The report also reflects several important milestones, including CSWA’s 20th anniversary in 2023, the 15th anniversary of Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing and the 10th anniversary of the California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards.

    “These programmatic accomplishments and industry-wide implementation and certification of sustainable practices demonstrate meaningful progress toward CSWA’s vision of vibrant businesses, stronger communities and a healthier environment,” Jordan said. “They also underscore the California wine community’s leadership and resiliency in addressing today’s most pressing sustainability challenges.”

    — Story contributed by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

  • Wine Grape Industry Commits Additional Funding to Stop GWSS

    To stop the glassy-winged sharpshooter from spreading a fatal grapevine disease into Northern California, the Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board at the California Department of Food and Agriculture committed $820,000 to the ongoing emergency response.

    Preventing the glassy-winged sharpshooter from becoming established in new areas protects winegrapes and other agricultural and landscape plants. California’s wine industry generates about $73 billion in annual economic activity and supports more than 422,000 jobs statewide. A 2025 economic study estimated that if glassy-winged sharpshooters spread unchecked, outbreaks of Pierce’s disease could cost winegrape growers an additional $56 million a year in lost production and vine replacement.

    Since May, county agriculture officials have been tracking down nearly 10,000 grapevines from a Fresno nursery that may have carried the invasive pest into 40 counties. The Board’s special emergency funding is intended to support those efforts. Officials have contacted more than 3,100 customers who purchased the grapevines, inspected and/or destroyed more than 2,900 plants and set more than 2,700 additional insect traps.

    Glassy-winged sharpshooters have been found on customer plants in 23 counties. Inspections and trapping must continue for at least three years to track if the pest spreads beyond customers’ properties.

    “California’s winegrape industry is facing some of the hardest economic times in a generation, but we recognize what is at stake if this destructive pest becomes established in Northern California,” said Board chair Trey Irwin. “Putting $820,000 from the Board’s limited reserves toward this effort is a major commitment for our industry and shows how seriously we’re taking this threat.”

    The funding comes from assessments paid by California winegrape growers to support pest and disease research and prevention. Since 2001, the Board has invested $99 million in research, outreach, prevention and control for Pierce’s disease, grapevine viruses and the insects that spread them.

    “It is important that we continue with inspections and trapping to closely monitor the situation,” said Michelle Pham, response lead with the CDFA Pierce’s Disease Control Program. “This effort depends on close coordination among growers and county, state and federal agencies. For 25 years, that partnership has helped keep the glassy-winged sharpshooter from spreading throughout California.”

    People who suspect they have found a glassy-winged sharpshooter should contact their local agricultural commissioner’s office (bit.ly/CountyAg). For pictures of the pest and for more information, visit bit.ly/GWSS-Costco.

  • California Senate Pulls American Wine Legislation from Agenda

    AB 1585 was withdrawn from a Senate committee hearing this morning and will not be heard this year. This means the bill is defeated for this legislative session.

    According to a release sent by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and Family Winemakers of California (FWC), the decision to pull the bill was not a reflection of a lack of support. AB 1585 passed the Assembly without a single “no” vote, earned the backing of wine grape, wine, agricultural and consumer organizations from across California and the nation and generated more than 10,000 letters from Californians urging senators to act. Those efforts ultimately did not move the Senate. AB 1585, co-sponsored by the CAWG and FWC, would have required wine labeled “American” and sold in California to be made entirely from domestic grapes.

    “This is a deeply disappointing outcome for California growers, wineries and consumers,” said CAWG President Natalie Collins. “California has a long history of leading on transparency and higher standards, yet a bill that passed the Assembly 67-0 and simply asked whether wine labeled ‘American’ should be made from American grapes never received an honest debate in the Senate. At a time when growers are removing vineyards and family wineries are struggling, it is troubling that preserving the ability to blend foreign wine into products labeled ‘American’ proved more important than strengthening consumer trust. In the end, the interests of a handful of global beverage companies carried more weight than the voices of California growers, family wineries and consumers.”

    “While this is a temporary setback, the true loss today belongs to the consumers who were denied a meaningful step forward in choice and clarity,” said FWC Board President GinaLisa Tamayo. “Family-owned wineries are built on transparency, and we firmly believe we are on the right side of this issue. The core challenges this bill sought to address are not going away. We will continue to stand with the bill’s supporters and advocate for truth in labeling.”

    CAWG and FWC said they are grateful for the leadership of Assemblymembers Connolly and Ransom in fighting for truth in labeling and for the California growers and wineries who are truly behind the American name.

    “This fight is not over,” said Collins. “But today should be a wake-up call. If we cannot agree that ‘American wine’ should mean American grapes at this critical moment in our industry, then we have a much bigger problem than labeling rules. How is California’s iconic wine industry supposed to rebuild when members of our own industry and their lobbying groups are fighting against American grapes in American wine? That is the question every grower, winery and member of this industry in California should be asking today.”

    — Story Contributed by the California Association of Winegrape Growers and Family Winemakers of California

  • CAWG Calls on Industry to Nominate Leaders for Awards of Excellence Program

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) is calling on growers and industry members to recognize and celebrate in the Awards of Excellence Program.

    CAWG is now accepting nominations for the 2027 Awards of Excellence Program – an opportunity to highlight the individuals and operations driving the industry forward through innovation, leadership, and resilience. Each year, CAWG presents two awards honoring excellence in winegrowing and industry leadership.

    “These awards shine a spotlight on the people who are not only meeting today’s challenges but rethinking what’s possible for the future of our industry,” said CAWG President Natalie Collins. “Across California, individuals and operations are going above and beyond, and this is an opportunity for the industry to recognize and lift up their peers.”

    The Grower of the Year Award, the highest honor bestowed by CAWG, recognizes individuals, families, or companies who exemplify excellence in viticulture and vineyard management through innovative practices, industry leadership, and consistent production of high-quality winegrapes.

    The Leader of the Year Award honors exceptional individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and made significant contributions to California’s wine industry, including advancing public policy and championing issues critical to winegrape growers.

    CAWG encourages winegrape growers, wineries, and industry partners to nominate colleagues, mentors, and peers whose work is helping move the industry forward.

    Award recipients will be honored at a reception during the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento on January 26, 2027.

    Nominations for the 2027 Awards of Excellence Program are open through June 5, 2026.

    To submit an application or learn more, visit cawg.org.

  • New Bill To Help Small Wineries Sell Wine & Offer Tastings At California Farmers Markets

    State Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 917 on January 27th that will create opportunities for small winemakers to connect with consumers face-to-face by expanding who can sell wine and offer tastings at certified farmers markets.

    “California’s wine industry is facing one of the most difficult periods in decades,” said Laird. “Small wineries are closing, vineyards are being removed, and growers are leaving fruit on the vine. This bill is about giving family-scale winemakers a fair chance to connect directly with consumers, while maintaining strong public safety standards.”

    Sponsored by the Family Winemakers of California and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, SB 917 modernizes existing law governing Type 79 farmers market wine permits to better reflect today’s wine economy and help small producers reach new consumers.

    “Independent, family-owned wineries are essential to California’s wine identity and are where innovation, sustainability, and authenticity thrive,” said GinaLisa Tamayo, Chair of the Family Winemakers of California Board of Directors. “Expanding access to farmers market sales is critical for small businesses who rely on direct-to-consumer opportunities and this bill provides a fair and accessible pathway for small producers to compete and thrive.”

    “Vine-to-glass speaks to the farm-to-fork and ‘buy local’ sentiment that brings folks to their farmers market,” said Michael Miiller, Director of Government Relations for the California Association of Winegrape Growers. “We are happy to work with Senator Laird on this important issue and thank him for his leadership.”   

    Under current law, winemakers may only sell wine at farmers markets if it is produced exclusively from “estate-grown” grapes, meaning all grapes must be grown on-site. This requirement excludes many small and boutique wineries that responsibly source grapes from California growers. In addition, existing law limits instructional tastings to only one Type 79 permit holder per farmers market, regardless of market size or capacity.

    Laird’s legislation would allow non-estate wineries to sell wine at farmers markets, which will ensure equitable market access for the over 700 winegrowers in Senate District 17 and empower farmers markets to decide how many permit holders to allow. It will also encourage consumers to buy locally made wine, supporting small businesses and regional economic growth.

    “Farmers markets are one of the most effective ways for small producers to tell their story, educate consumers, and build loyal customer relationships,” Laird said. “By removing outdated barriers and trusting local market operators, we can support small wine businesses, strengthen local economies, and preserve California’s agricultural heritage.”

  • Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Highlights Shift Toward Planning and Stabilization

    The 2026 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium concluded January 29th with signs of a broader shift in the American wine and grape industry, as conversations moved from acknowledging market disruption to planning for stabilization and future opportunity.

    “This year’s symposium reflected a grounded and forward-looking mindset,” said Natalie Collins, president of California Association of Winegrape Growers and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “There was a clear willingness to confront difficult realities, but also a shared focus on problem-solving, collaboration and positioning the industry for what comes next.”

    In addition to the lineup of seminars and panel discussions hosted in Sacramento, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium dedicates over 200,000 square feet at the convention center to supplier exhibits.  Featuring products ranging from corks, barrels, and vines to mammoth grape harvesters and everything in between, the trade show offers industry members a one-stop opportunity to explore new technology, services, and solutions, all under one roof.

    “We had strong, high-quality traffic and meaningful conversations,” said Dan Howard, executive director of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and co-host of the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. “Exhibitors were meeting the right people – the buyers, owners, and operational leaders who are making decisions. That is exactly what the trade show is designed to deliver.”

    The conversation will continue next year at the 2027 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, held January 26-28 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California.

    Put on by the industry, for the industry, the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium serves as a clearinghouse of information for wine and grape industry professionals for more than 30 years. As the largest wine show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, the show combines seminars and panel discussions with a massive trade show featuring more than 650 exhibitors and 800+ booths. For more information, visit www.unifiedsymposium.org.

  • California’s “First Winegrower” Bob Steinhauer Passes

    Robert “Bob” Steinhauer, an iconic figure in California viticulture whose five-decade career reshaped modern winegrowing and elevated the profession of vineyard management, died on November 28, 2025. He was 84.

    Born in 1941 to Edward and Freda Steinhauer in Exeter, California, Bob grew up in Easton, where his family farmed raisins. His earliest and most cherished memories were of riding on the fender of his Uncle Roy’s tractor from age 12 and working beside his cousin Leonard Hoskins in the raisin vineyards – experiences that rooted in him a lifelong love of farming, vines, and the people who tend them. Early on he was known for the traits that would define him for life: a sharp wit, a love of storytelling, and an energetic presence that seemed to stir the air around him. Friends would later call him a “force of nature,” and said that when he walked into a room, or a vineyard, the energy level instantly rose.

    Bob earned his B.S. in Viticulture (1965) and M.S. in Plant Science (1969) from California State University, Fresno. He was among the first students to complete the newly created viticulture degree, developed by Professor Vince Petrucci, making him one of Fresno State’s first college-trained viticulturists. This foundation laid the groundwork for a career that would influence the course of premium winegrowing throughout the state, and later, Bob was instrumental in raising funds for the establishment of Fresno State’s Vincent E. Petrucci Library.

    Bob began his career in the late 1960s, managing 5,000 acres of vineyards for Schenley Industries in California’s Central Valley, where one of his responsibilities was negotiating some of the state’s first farmworker union contracts. In 1971 he moved to Napa Valley to work for Andy Beckstoffer at Napa Valley Vineyard Company. Hired as a “college-trained viticulturist” to modernize vineyard practices and elevate fruit quality, Bob farmed historic properties for Inglenook and Beaulieu Vineyard and forged a formative relationship with winemaking legend André Tchelistcheff, who became both mentor and inspiration.

    In 1979, Bob joined Beringer Vineyards (later Beringer Blass Wine Estates and Treasury Wine Estates), where he would spend 26 years, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Vineyard Operations. During his tenure, Beringer’s farming footprint expanded dramatically, from a couple thousand acres to more than 10,000 across multiple California appellations. He managed the company’s estate vineyards and collaborated with more than 300 winegrape growers statewide.

    Bob played a pivotal role in the development of Beringer’s critically acclaimed Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay programs and its Single Vineyard Napa Valley wines. He was equally central to the company’s expansion into the Central Coast, helping diversify its grape supply and laying the foundation for new AVA-driven brands and bottlings. Jim Efird of Pacific Vineyard Company said, “I cannot provide an accurate accounting of the thousands upon thousands of acres of vineyards professionally established in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties under Bob’s direct guiding hand.”

    In recognition of his extraordinary impact, Beringer named one of its Howell Mountain estate vineyards Steinhauer Ranch, an honor seldom bestowed in the wine industry. In the early 2000s the company also named its Santa Barbara County winery “Taz” after him, a reference to his nickname “Tasmanian Devil,” given for his habit of rushing into vineyards or offices, delivering rapid-fire questions or instructions, and rushing off just as quickly. In Beringer’s White Hills Vineyard in Santa Barbara County, a park was named Steinhauer Park in his honor. Industry colleagues widely credit Bob with building one of Napa Valley’s most advanced, research-driven, and technically sophisticated vineyard programs in his time at Beringer.
    After retiring from Beringer in 2005, Bob founded Wineland Consulting LLC, where he advised a select group of high-quality wineries and vineyards for the next 20 years. He continued to influence the industry by advocating for modern, data-informed vineyard practices and mentoring the next generation of winegrowers.

    Bob’s leadership reached far beyond the vineyards he managed. He was a Fellow in the newly formed Agriculture Leadership Associates beginning in 1971. He served as President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (1985–1986), the first viticulturist ever chosen for the role, breaking precedent and inspiring a generation of vineyard managers. He served as Chairman of the California Grower Foundation (1982–1983), President and Board Chair of Napa Valley Vintners (2004), Chairman of the statewide Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board (successfully helping pass the PD/GWSS Grape Growers Assessment) and more recently was a member of the International Technical Working Group for the European Grape Vine Moth. He also served as a Director of the American Vineyard Foundation (1988–2001) and chaired the Program Development Committee for the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium (2006–2008).

    His work earned him numerous accolades, including the Napa County Farm Bureau Agriculturist of the Year Award (2010) (for which he received U.S. Congressional recognition); ASEV Merit Award (2008); Fresno State’s “Top Dog” Outstanding Alumnus Award (2006); Lodi Winegrape Commission Wine Integrity Award (2005); Copia Winegrower of the Year (2004); Fresno State Viticulture & Enology Research Center Bloom Award (1994); and Foremost-McKesson California Vintners Award (1983).

    But Bob’s most enduring legacy may be the way he elevated the direction and profession of viticulture itself. From the mid-1980s through the 2000s, a period of massive wine industry growth and change, he was one of the most influential voices in viticulture – intellectually rigorous, deeply curious, and unafraid to challenge established thinking. He attracted support for viticultural research, set the agenda for what needed to be studied, and pushed researchers to be better. He was known for asking the toughest questions, yet once convinced, he would be the first to implement research findings in the field and often improve upon them.

    Colleagues described him as a “font of knowledge,” a man who knew every inch of Napa Valley and could tell you anything about a vineyard’s past, present, or potential. Nick Dokoozlian, Vice President of Viticulture, Chemistry, and Enology at E&J Gallo, commented, “Before Bob we were all farmers. Bob became the first winegrower.” Richard Mendelson of DP&F Law observed, “He was the leading viticulturist of our era.”

    Bob cared deeply about the welfare of vineyard workers, advocating for fair pay, health insurance, and pension benefits for those who worked in the vineyards. His respect for vineyard laborers was unwavering, and he considered them essential partners in crafting fine wines.

    Bob was a natural storyteller -one who could make short stories long, savor a good glass of red wine, barbecue with gusto, or linger over a family meal in the shade of the camphor tree. Among his favorites was a tale from South Africa, where he learned that a peculiar vineyard fence was designed to keep out baboons. “Is that the worst problem you have?” he asked, only to be told, “No, the worst is when the winemakers come in!” It became a running joke for years.

    Even near the end of his life, Bob spoke and dreamed of farming, vineyards, and work. He loved his family, his friends, the land, and the profession that defined him. He often said, simply and proudly, “I had a great life.”

    Bob is survived by his wife – the rock of his life for 57 years – Verna Grimm Steinhauer; his children, Erik John Steinhauer (Audrey); Anne Christine Steinhauer; his beloved granddaughter, Parker Gayle Steinhauer; and his cousin, Leonard Hoskins.

    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Vineyard Foundation, Justin Meyer Graduate Student Research Fellowship (avf.org), in honor of Bob’s lifelong dedication to advancing viticulture.

    A celebration of life will be planned for Spring 2026.

  • New SCW Survey Highlights The Valuable Contributions Of Local Winegrape Growers To Sonoma

    Santa Rosa, Calif., (August 3, 2017) – The survey results were released during the Sonoma County Winegrowers’ (SCW) Annual Grower Seminar and Tradeshow held in Santa Rosa. The 295-plus respondents represented more than 82% of the total vineyard acreage in Sonoma County or some 47,975 acres planted to winegrapes. In addition, the respondents farm another 36,170 acres in diversified crops including vegetables, apples, row crops and dairy. The survey participants also own more than 53,000 additional acres that is either pasture land or open space.

    “These results are so impressive as they show the valuable contributions provided by our local winegrape farmers and their families,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We all know that our wines are recognized as some of the world’s best and we are global leaders in sustainability, but it is the actions and efforts of our local winegrape growers each and every day which truly makes Sonoma County unique.” Among the survey’s findings:

    • Sonoma County grape growers employ 5,186 full-time workers;
    • An additional 2,644 seasonal workers are employed by grape growers;
    • Vineyard employees in Sonoma County earn on average $16.34 per hour which is 60% above California’s current minimum wage of $10.50 per hour;
    • More than 29% of local winegrape growers offer housing to their employees providing more than 950 total bed units in Sonoma County;
    • More than 93% of the winegrape growers surveyed personally donate money to charitable causes on an annual basis and more than 74% of the winegrape farming businesses donate money to charitable causes;
    • Some 63% of those surveyed personally volunteer for community organizations that serve Sonoma County; and,
    • Local grape growers and their businesses contribute more than $26,959,000 annually to local charities through financial and in-kind contributions.

    “Santa Rosa Junior College could not fulfill our mission of providing a quality education for Sonoma County residents were it not for the support of our local grape growers!” said Frank Chong, President of Santa Rosa Junior College. He added, “ The grape growers understand the power and importance of education. While Sonoma County grape growers harvest world class grapes, SRJC harvests world class students thanks to their support for affordable quality higher education.”

    According to the survey, the top causes supported by Sonoma County’s winegrape growers either through financial contributions or volunteer services include both general education issues and Ag education (40.4%), healthcare (18.6%) and the environment (17.6%). Of those surveyed, 29% of the winegrape growers serve as a board of director for an organization that supports Sonoma County residents. In fact, Sonoma County’s winegrape growers volunteer approximately 12,830 hours annually to local organizations and causes.

    “These survey results demonstrate what we have always known and that is Sonoma County has an amazing collection of farmers who have always been leaders in agriculture and the community,” said Kruse. She added, “ Though local residents may not know a winegrape grower or work in the wine industry, they should know that the entire region benefits from a successful wine community and the efforts of Sonoma County winegrowers.”