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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:
- Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Wraps Up with Insights for the Future
- CAWG Celebrates 2025 Awards of Excellence Honorees
- Coastal Commission & Fires
- State Budget
- Trump Administration Reverses Federal Spending Freeze
- 73rd Annual Lodi Grape Day – February 4, 2025
Industry News:
- Last Chance: Apply for the Annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards
- Cal/OSHA Increases Penalty Amounts for 2025
- Assembly GOP Leader James Gallagher Participates in Roundtable Discussion with President Trump on Wildfire Relief & Prevention
- Bryant Christie Inc. Wine Grape Issues Review Update Available
- Introducing TTB Boot Camp for Wineries Series
Upcoming Events:
- Webinar: Preparing for Potential Immigration Audits and Raids
- Exploring Different Aspects of Vine Health Seminar
- Regenerative Viticulture Immersion Event - Early registration ends tomorrow.
REMINDER: CAWG Membership Renewals - RENEW TODAY!
Don't forget to renew your CAWG membership. Need a copy of your invoice? Please contact Mindy DeRohan.
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Unified Wine & Grape Symposium Wraps Up with Insights for the Future
The 2025 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium wrapped up today in Sacramento, bringing together roughly 10,000 industry professionals to tackle what experts are calling, “the age of uncertainty.” Despite economic headwinds—including shrinking consumption, wine surpluses, and inflation—industry leaders shared strategies for resilience and adaptation.
At the State of the Industry session, experts emphasized both challenges and opportunities, with Glenn Proctor of the Ciatti Company noting, “The wine industry is not going anywhere, but it does have to change.” Danny Brager highlighted that while difficulties persist, over a third of America’s 500 largest wine brands are still growing.
Throughout the week, 25 sessions explored critical topics such as vineyard innovations, marketing to younger consumers, and climate adaptation. A general session led by New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov focused on communicating wine’s positive aspects in today’s shifting landscape. Meanwhile, the largest trade show in the Americas featured nearly 900 exhibitors across 200,000 square feet, showcasing the latest industry advancements.
“Coming together and sharing insights is how we stay competitive,” said Natalie Collins, CAWG President and co-hosts of Unified with the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.
The industry now looks ahead to Unified 2026, set for January 27-29 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento.
Check out recaps of the 2025 Unified here:
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CAWG Celebrates 2025 Awards of Excellence Honorees
On Tuesday, January 28, industry leaders gathered at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento for CAWG’s Awards of Excellence Reception, an annual celebration recognizing outstanding contributions to the California winegrape industry.
This year’s honorees included:
- Grower of the Year – The Miller Family, The Thornhill Companies
- Leader of the Year – Randy Heinzen, Vineyard Professional Services
Held immediately following the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium’s Welcome Reception, the event brought together growers, industry professionals, and colleagues to honor excellence in viticulture and leadership.
Thank you to all who attended and to our generous sponsors for making this event possible!
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Coastal Commission & Fires
Through two executive orders, Governor Newsom told the Coastal Commission to stand down and create no delay or roadblocks for any rebuilding for those recovering from the recent LA fires. Fortunately, thus far the staff at the Coastal Commission has stated they intend to fully comply with Newsom’s orders.
However, one must remember that the Coastal Commission is an independent body holding quasi-judicial control of the state's 1,100 miles of coastline. Its voter-approved mission is "to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the environment of the California coastline". As such, Newsom has limited authority over Commission actions.
In its history spanning more than 50 years, the Commission has never hesitated to flex its muscle. This is in part because whenever the Commission doesn’t do exactly what Coastal activists demand, those activists are often eager to take the Commission to court.
So, moving forward, it will be interesting to see how the Commission reacts if activists claim the Commission does not have the authority to freely allow rebuilding to occur under Newsom’s orders.
Additionally, those same activists will likely oppose legislation introduced this week that would waive the Commission’s permitting requirements for efforts to manage wildfire fuels in the Coastal Zone.
Nonetheless, if the Coastal Commission cooperates, California could take a giant step in properly managing wildfire fuels. In turn, this could greatly reduce the risk of future fires like the recent fires in LA.
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State Budget
When the Trump Administration announced that federal grants that include any policies that could be contrary to the new administration’s publicly stated policies would be put on hold, this potentially took about $178 billion out of the California state budget. This change in federal funding was immediately challenged in court, and the Trump Administration rescinded the action.
But if that directive were ever to take full effect, it could affect dozens of state programs that do not rely on federal funding. This is because the state has already made spending commitments based on that federal funding. To honor those commitments, the state may need to shift billions of state dollars from unrelated state programs.
Those programs could include anything from programs at CDFA, ag research projects, water conveyance, and more.
This rescinded proposed change in federal funding is an example of a truism in budgeting: There is no such thing as a budget change that happens in isolation. It’s all connected.
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Trump Administration Reverses Federal Spending Freeze
Two days after issuing a freeze on federal loans and grants, the Trump administration rescinded the directive on Wednesday following concerns from states, schools, and organizations that rely on federal funding.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) initially paused spending to review whether it aligned with recent executive orders on topics such as climate policy and diversity programs. However, the decision led to widespread confusion and legal challenges.
On Wednesday, the administration issued a brief notice reversing the freeze. The move highlighted the complexities of implementing broad policy changes within federal agencies.
Despite the reversal, the White House stated that the freeze had served its intended purpose, reinforcing agencies' obligations to follow executive orders on federal spending priorities. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed the confusion to the courts and media.
With the freeze lifted, the focus now turns to how agencies will move forward in implementing the administration’s directives on spending.
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Quote of the Week
“This could hurt us a great deal if we don't have people to do the work that is required for us to be the agricultural linchpin that we are. It would be devastating in every aspect of agriculture.”
California Congressman Mike Thompson in referring to the potential mass deportation of undocumented immigrants.
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73rd Annual Lodi Grape Day – February 4, 2025
The 73rd Annual Lodi Grape Day, hosted by the UC Cooperative Extension and Lodi Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee, will be held on February 4 at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi. This event unites growers, researchers, and industry leaders to advance vineyard productivity, pest management, and market trends.
The free morning educational Session will dive into cutting-edge topics like irrigation optimization, soil health, and climate forecasting. CAWG President Natalie Collins and Stuart Spencer, Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission will deliver the keynote address.
Register Here.
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Last Chance: Apply for the Annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards
California vineyards and wineries are encouraged to apply for the 11th annual California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Awards. Applications are open at greenmedal.org through February 5, 2025.
Vineyards and wineries actively engaged in sustainability programs across California are eligible to compete in four distinct categories, recognizing outstanding achievement in sustainability:
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Leader Award, given to the vineyard or winery that demonstrates Success and Innovation and Inspires Others in the three areas of sustainable winegrowing below.
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Environment Award, given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Environmental Stewardship through maximized environmental benefits from implementing sustainable practices.
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Community Award, given to the vineyard or winery that is a Good Neighbor and Employer using the most innovative practices that enhance relations with employees, neighbors and/or communities.
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Business Award, given to the vineyard or winery that best demonstrates Smart Business through efficiencies, cost savings and innovation from implementing sustainable practices.
The 2024 California Green Medal recipients were:
- Leader Award: LangeTwins Family Winery & Vineyard (CAWG Member)
- Environment Award: Gloria Ferrer
- Community Award: Cooper-Garrod Vineyards at Garrod Farms (CAWG Member)
- Business Award: Vino Farms, LLC (CAWG Member)
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Cal/OSHA Increases Penalty Amounts for 2025
Effective January 1, 2025, Cal/OSHA has increased civil penalties for certain violations to align with California and federal law. Key changes include:
- General & Regulatory Violations – Maximum penalty: $16,285
- Willful & Repeat Violations – Maximum penalty: $162,851 | Minimum penalty: $11,632
- Serious Violations – Maximum penalty remains $25,000
These annual adjustments, mandated by legislation enacted in 2017, are based on inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This year’s increase reflects a 2.6% inflation adjustment.
Read more here.
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The California winegrape crop insurance deadline is fast approaching. You must sign-up for coverage by January 31 for this crop year. | |
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Assembly GOP Leader James Gallagher Participates in Roundtable Discussion with President Trump on Wildfire Relief & Prevention
Last week, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher participated in a roundtable discussion with President Donald Trump and other leaders during a visit to wildfire-stricken areas of Southern California. The discussion focused on the devastating impact of the fires and the urgent need for more fire prevention measures to protect our communities from future disasters.
During the discussion, Gallagher advocated for fuel reduction and highlighted the need to eliminate barriers to managing California’s wildlands. President Trump and local leaders acknowledged the immense losses suffered by communities and reaffirmed their commitment to rebuilding and implementing crucial policy changes to prevent future disasters.
The wildfires in Southern California have burned tens of thousands of acres, destroyed thousands of homes, displaced countless families and resulted in the deaths of 28 people. Gallagher called for immediate relief to assist affected communities and emphasized that better policies are essential to avoiding future tragedies.
For a video of the full conversation between Assemblyman Gallagher and President Trump, click here.
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Bryant Christie Inc. Wine Grape Issues Review Update Available
Bryant Christie Inc. (BCI), in collaboration with the Wine Institute, has released the latest Wine Grape Issues Review, providing key international pesticide and maximum residue level (MRL) information for wine exporters.
The updated report, as of January 29, 2025, is now available to industry stakeholders.
View the full report.
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Introducing TTB Boot Camp for Wineries Series
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) launched its third TTB Boot Camp series—featuring the brand-new TTB Boot Camp for Wineries! The first three videos are now available, with more coming soon.
Explore these topics and all past TTB Boot Camp presentations on our TTB Boot Camp Webinar Series page.
Watch Here
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Upcoming Events and Trainings | |
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Webinar: Preparing for Potential Immigration Audits and Raids
Join CAWG and Fisher Phillips LLP for a webinar focused on navigating ICE raids and audits. This timely presentation will provide critical insights and actionable strategies for managing labor compliance and safeguarding your business during audits. This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from legal experts with extensive experience in employment law and immigration compliance.
Key Topics will include:
- Best Practices for I-9 Compliance: Learn effective strategies to ensure your business is meeting federal requirements and avoiding costly penalties
- Conducting Periodic Internal Audits: Understand the importance of regular I-9 audits and how to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in your workforce documentation.
- Labor & Employment Issues During Audits: Gain insights into employment discrimination and wage/hour issues that could arise during ICE audits or investigations.
When and Where:
Register Here
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Exploring Different Aspects of Vine Health Seminar
The Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis is hosting the Exploring Different Aspects of Vine Health seminar at the UC Davis Conference Center.
Topics include:
- Advancing the development of powdery mildew and Pierce’s Disease-resistant cultivars
- Studying wild grapes to envision the next generation of grapevine cultivars
- Interactive effects of trunk disease and water stress on grapevine physiology
- Spotted Lanternfly: The need to remain vigilant
- Achieving sustainability and quality in a warming world
- How to protect pruning wounds from grapevine trunk diseases
When and Where:
- February 19, 9 AM - 3:30 PM, UC Davis Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis, CA 95616
Learn more and register here.
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Regenerative Viticulture Immersion Event
Join industry experts for a two-day deep dive into regenerative winegrowing =at Paicines Ranch hosted by the Paicines Ranch Learning Center. This workshop will explore how holistic management can drive profitable, ecosystem-aligned farming.
When and Where:
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Feb. 20-21, 2025, Paicines Ranch, 13388 Airline Hwy, Tres Pinos, CA 95075
Early bird registration ends this Friday, January 31 (save $110). Scholarships are also available.
Learn more and register here.
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