90th Annual Membership & Board of Directors Meeting

June 9-11, 2024

Wine & Roses, Lodi

Matt Gallo, vice president and general manager of Gallo Vineyards, Inc., headquartered in Modesto, was elected Wine Institute Board chairman for the 2024-25 fiscal year at the organization’s 90th Annual Membership & Board of Directors Meeting in Lodi, June 9-11, 2024.

Other officers elected were Robin Baggett of Alpha Omega Winery in St. Helena and Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo, first vice chairman; Gretchen Roddick of Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, second vice chairman; Ben Dollard of Treasury Wine Estates Americas, treasurer; and Ed Matovcik of Constellation Brands, secretary. Robert P. Koch is president and CEO of Wine Institute. Randall Lange, co-founder of LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards, is the outgoing chairman and becomes an ex-officio board member. Read the news release for more information and a full listing of the board directors that were elected.

Lange welcomed members with a fun and intimate dinner at LangeTwins in Acampo on Sunday. On Monday, the Lange family hosted an educational habitat walk along the Mokelumne River, followed by wine tastings at Acquiesce Winery and Michael David Winery, showcasing the wide variety of wines grown in Lodi. Some members also participated in an energizing 25-mile Tour de Lodi bike ride across the winegrowing region, with stops at the Lodi Arch and Peltier Winery and LangeTwins for tastings along the way. Monday evening California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and California’s newest Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Director Joe McCullough spoke at dinner.

Tuesday’s meeting featured remarks from Lange and Koch, followed by a robust lineup of presentations on a diverse array of Wine Institute topics. Key presentations included an update on our communications initiative to inform consumers and policymakers on the unique and positive aspects of wine. Other presentations included an update on our proactive dietary guidelines work, legislative and regulatory challenges in Sacramento and in other states, an international marketing report and how we plan to leverage our newly awarded $13 million in specialty crop market expansion funding from the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), and a synopsis of CSWA and its sustainable certifications growth.

The board also approved the following new winery members:

• Clark Ferrea Winery – Escalon, San Joaquin County
• Cote of Paint – Buellton, Santa Barbara County
• Darioush – Napa, Napa County
• Martha Stoumen Wines – Sebastopol, Sonoma County
• Progeny Winery – Napa, Napa County
• WOO GIRL! Cellars – Acampo, San Joaquin County