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YOUR SOURCE FOR CAWG AND INDUSTRY NEWS
FOR CAWG MEMBERS ONLY
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This Week's eNews Includes:
CAWG News:
- CAWG Calls for Fair Trade Policies to Address the Real Challenges Facing California Growers
- Ag Day at the State Capitol
- Ag OT Tax Credit Tutorial
- Monitoring Employees in the Bathroom?
- Webinar: Precision Ag in Action – Automating Irrigation & Fertigation for
- Sustainability and Profitability
- Sonoma Grower Education Meeting
- March Issue of American Vineyard Magazine
Industry News:
- Tariffs Could Hit California Growers Hard
- New Bill Aims to Support Winegrape Growers Impacted by Wildfire Smoke
- Government Funding Bill Signed, Avoids Shutdown
- J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Earns Certified California Sustainable Seal
- Share & Pair Sundays: A New National Campaign Promotes Social Interaction
- Rack & Riddle Introduces CALSECCO: A New California Sparkling Wine Category
Upcoming Events:
- Field to Future | Cultivated Conversations on Smoke Exposure in Winegrapes
- Sustainable Winegrowing & Certification Overview Webinar
- Ag Leadership Memorial Luncheon Honoring John Franzia
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CAWG Calls for Fair Trade Policies to Address the Real Challenges Facing California Growers
Last week, CAWG shared a statement regarding President Trump’s announcement of potential 200% tariffs on EU wine imports.
CAWG's focus remains on ensuring policymakers understand the broader challenges facing California winegrowers, including market access (both domestic and international), the impact of bulk wine imports and the duty drawback system, and the need for long-term solutions that create a fair and competitive market for California winegrowers.
Read Statement
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Ag Day at the State Capitol
California Ag Day is celebrated at the State Capitol each March to highlight National Ag Week. The annual tradition encourages policymakers to learn and understand how food, fiber, and renewable resource products are produced, and to understand the essential role of agriculture. With this goal in mind, CAWG joined Wine Institute and CSWA in setting up a booth to meet with policymakers and share information about the California wine industry.
Legislators, regulators, and staffers gather on the west steps of the Capitol to see farm machinery, equipment, and livestock, and to pick up educational materials, swag, flowers, tri-tip sandwiches, and more.
This year Ag Day also included a press conference hosted by the California Ag Coalition to brief the media on issues of importance to agriculture. CAWG participated and discussed the many challenges facing our industry and highlighted that policies adopted by the legislature often make those challenges even worse. Sometimes instead of solving problems, lawmakers create more.
As lawmakers came out to celebrate Ag Day, one staff member stopped at our booth to share a thought that many ag folks were also thinking: “Wouldn’t it be nice if the legislature cared this much about agriculture when voting on legislation?”
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Ag OT Tax Credit Tutorial
CAWG is co-sponsoring SB 628 (Grove, D-Bakersfield) to create a tax credit to cover the costs of paying overtime wages to farmworkers. It is early in the legislative process, but many growers have questions about how the tax credit would work should SB 628 become law.
CAWG staff and staff at the Farm Bureau prepared a video tutorial that walks through how an employer would receive the tax credit.
Click Here to Watch the Video
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Monitoring Employees in the Bathroom?
The California Labor Federation recently asked labor union members to support pending legislation intended to “Keep your Boss Out of the Bathroom.” The Labor Fed is supporting AB 1331(Elhawary, D-Los Angeles) which labor unions claim is needed to protect against employers monitoring employee activities in the bathroom.
However, such monitoring by an employer has been illegal for nearly 3 decades. It seems the purpose of the bill may be to ban the use of software and other new technologies that monitor or track employee performance. Nonetheless, as written, the scope of the bill could unintentionally ban monitoring that is required elsewhere in the law.
For example, a grower is required to monitor an employee who is cooling down from potential heat illness. If the employee is cooling down in a pickup truck, AB 1331 would prohibit any camera in that truck. That would include a camera on a phone. Additionally, if a grower hires H-2A employees, the grower is required to provide free housing. However, under this bill, the grower would be prohibited from using any security cameras on that property to make sure that the property is safe for employees.
This legislation is likely more about technology and when that technology is used (aka privacy) and is less about the location of where that technology is used (aka the privy). Nonetheless, labor union members are being led to believe that this bill is intended to prevent an employer from monitoring if an employee asks to spare a square.
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Webinar: Precision Ag in Action – Automating Irrigation & Fertigation for Sustainability and Profitability
Join CAWG and HotSpot AG on April 17 at 10:00 AM for a virtual, exclusive live demonstration in Slayback Vineyards showcasing the latest advancements in automation for precision agriculture! In this webinar, HotSpot AG will explore how cutting-edge irrigation and fertigation technologies empower winegrape growers to optimize water use, enhance nutrient efficiency, and improve vineyard sustainability—all while boosting profitability.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see automation in action and get expert insights on the future of precision agriculture!
Register here.
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Sonoma Grower Education Meeting
CAWG is partnering with Sonoma County Farm Bureau and Sonoma County Winegrape Growers to host a grower seminar on April 15 at 9:00 am and will focus on state and federal legislative issues. The seminar is open to all members of the three partnering organizations. The seminar will be held at the Sonoma County Farm Bureau office.
Register here.
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March Issue of American Vineyard Magazine
The March issue of the American Vineyard Magazine is now available featuring CAWG's monthly column, CAWG @ Work.
Each month, CAWG contributes to the magazine, discussing relevant industry trends. This month's column focuses on the upcoming PD/GWSS Referendum and highlights the program's success in California.
To learn more, read CAWG's March's column online. Hint - it's on page 10.
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Tariffs Could Hit California Growers Hard
After a year of vineyard removals and fruit left on the vine, many growers aren't opposed to President Donald Trump's proposed 200% tariff on European wines. However, a long-standing tax loophole known as "duty drawback" could undercut its intended benefits. In a wine-Searcher article, the implications to growers are highlighted.
Duty drawback may allow companies to claim refunds on tariffs if they match a like export, which may further incentivize the import of bulk wine over purchasing California grapes. According to Lodi Winegrape Commission Executive Director Stuart Spencer, bulk imports have contributed to a 10% loss in domestic market share over the past two decades.
John Duarte, former Congressman, CAWG Director, and nursery owner, warns that the tariff could backfire if eligible for refund through duty drawback. "The tariffs are well-meant to support growers and domestic producers, but they could ultimately increase foreign bulk wine imports," he said.
California growers already face a competitive disadvantage due to regulatory costs, higher labor wages, and a lack of government subsidies—factors that European growers benefit from. CAWG President Natalie Collins points out that foreign wine regions receive substantial marketing support, making it harder for California growers to compete at home and abroad.
Allied Grape Growers President and CAWG Director Jeff Bitter sums it up: "We invest in environmental and labor standards, but consumers still buy cheaper foreign wines from countries that don't have these standards. We’re not asking for extreme tariffs—we’re asking for a level playing field."
Read more here.
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Quote of the Week
“I think it’s all going to work itself out, and I think it will equal our playing field a little bit,” said CAWG Director Craig Ledbetter on the tariff discussion. “As a farmer I have to look at it through an optimistic lens."
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New Bill Aims to Support Winegrape Growers Impacted by Wildfire Smoke
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), have introduced the Smoke Exposure Research Act, a bipartisan bill that would allocate $32.5 million over five years to study and mitigate the effects of wildfire smoke on winegrapes.
California, Oregon, and Washington—three of the nation’s top wine-producing states—have suffered billions in losses due to smoke exposure, which can render winegrapes unusable. The bill directs USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to collaborate with UC Davis, Oregon State University, and Washington State University to:
- Identify smoke compounds
- Develop standardized testing methods
- Create a database of natural background smoke compounds
- Establish risk assessment tools and mitigation strategies
CAWG President Natalie Collins, who co-chairs the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force, emphasized the urgency of the bill: “Continued investment in research is essential to help growers and wineries make science-based decisions that protect their livelihoods.”
The legislation is backed by CAWG, Allied Grape Growers, Napa Valley Vintners, the Wine Institute, and other industry groups.
Read more here.
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Government Funding Bill Signed, Avoids Shutdown
President Donald Trump has signed a funding bill into law, securing government operations through September and preventing a partial shutdown. The $1.7 trillion package maintains most spending levels set under the Biden administration, with $13 billion in cuts to non-defense programs and a $6 billion boost for defense.
The bill passed the Senate 54-46, with 10 Democrats breaking ranks to support it despite concerns over reductions in health care and housing funding. House Republicans advanced the measure without Democratic input, sparking internal party divisions.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that a shutdown would have allowed the Trump administration to furlough federal workers and restructure agencies, accelerating changes under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Congress will now begin their work on the FY 2026 budget, and it is the hope of the entire agricultural industry that there is a renewed focus and commitment to the Farm Bill.
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J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon Earns Certified California Sustainable Seal
CAWG Member J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines announced that its newly released 2022 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon now features the Certified California Sustainable seal on its back label. This milestone reinforces J. Lohr’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, with over 36 of its wines—totaling 20 million bottles in 2025—now carrying this designation.
The Certified California Sustainable seal, administered by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA), ensures that wines are made with at least 85% certified sustainable grapes, produced in a certified sustainable winery, and sourced entirely from California-grown grapes. The 2022 vintage of Paso Robles’ top-selling Cabernet Sauvignon is now available at retailers, restaurants, and online, with an eco-friendly stainless-steel keg option designed to reduce packaging waste.
Read more.
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Share & Pair Sundays: A New National Campaign Promotes Social Interaction
The wine industry continues to face challenges, but Come Together – A Community for Wine Inc. is pushing back with positive messaging about moderate wine consumption and promoting wine’s role in bringing people together.
Following the success of Come Over October, Come Together has launched a new grassroots initiative: Share & Pair Sundays. Running from March 23 to May 25, the campaign encourages people to gather over wine and food, emphasizing wine’s cultural, social, and economic benefits.
The campaign is supported by wineries, retailers, restaurants, and other industry partners, with free promotional materials available at www.shareandpairsundays.com. Planned activities include in-store promotions, special wine dinners, and food-and-wine tastings, all reinforcing wine’s role as a natural complement to food and community.
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Rack & Riddle Introduces CALSECCO: A New California Sparkling Wine Category
Rack & Riddle, the #1 custom sparkling wine producer in the U.S., has launched CALSECCO, a new sparkling wine category designed to attract younger, premium wine consumers to California’s growing sparkling wine market. Inspired by Italian Prosecco, CALSECCO is made from 100% California-grown grapes and crafted in the Venetian tradition to create a fresh, fruit-forward style.
Market demand for premium sparkling wine ($13-$17.99 per bottle) continues to grow, with one in every seven bottles of wine sold in the U.S. being sparkling. In 2024, 11.7 million cases of Italian-style sparkling wines were sold, making CALSECCO a timely and innovative addition to the category.
| | Upcoming Events and Trainings | | |
Field to Future | Cultivated Conversations on Smoke Exposure in Winegrapes
The Center for Land-Based Learning is hosting a virtual session on March 24 at 1:00pm focused on smoke exposure in wine grapes and its impact on vineyards and wine quality. CAWG President Natalie Collins will participate in the presentation, alongside researcher Elizabeth Tomasino of Oregon State University.
When and Where:
- March 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM | Zoom
Learn more and register here.
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Sustainable Winegrowing & Certification Overview Webinar
Participate in this free webinar to learn about the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program (SWP), how to complete a Self-Assessment using the online portal, and the steps required to become Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW). Other helpful tools and resources will also be covered.
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Ag Leadership Memorial Luncheon Honoring John Franzia
The California Ag Leadership Program, the Franzia family, and Zinc House Farm are hosting the inaugural Ag Leadership Region 4 Memorial Luncheon in honor of the esteemed late alum John Franzia (Class 10). This special celebration of life and legacy promises to be an afternoon of meaningful connection, shared purpose, and lasting impact.
- April 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM | Zinc House Farm, Escalon
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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