Become a Member

Join Wine Institute

Join Wine Institute

A Collective Voice

Wine Institute initiates and fights for public policy that helps our members produce world class California wines while building successful businesses. Join our more than 1,000 members as we work to ensure the best environment for California wine to continue to thrive. View PDF

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Our Work Benefits Your Bottom Line

Wine Institute unites the collective strength of our members to ensure the best possible environment for responsibly producing, promoting and enjoying wine. We go where our members can’t – namely, all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and the international arena. We’re the only organization advocating at all levels on behalf of wine.

Winery Savings

Our work secured a permanent federal excise tax reduction of $0.50 per gallon on all the wine you produce from 14-16%ABV. This is in addition to the tax credit of up to $451,700 per year, on the first 750,000 gallons produced. We had these tax reductions inserted in the 2017 Craft Beverage bill. Your annual excise tax savings far exceed what your annual Wine Institute dues.

Support from Grapes to Glass

Making wine takes skill, passion, perseverance, continuous learning and the support of a vibrant community. Wine Institute knows this and assists members at every stage of the journey, helping to grow your business.

We Promote Our Industry

We provide annual public awareness campaigns including “Down to Earth Month” and “California Wine Month.” These media focused initiatives create positive visibility and market penetration for your brand, wines and activities.

We Plan for the Future

Over the past several years, the public debate on alcohol and health has shifted significantly in the U.S. and around the world. We engage domestically and internationally with relevant organizations and governments, working to ensure that policies are based on sound science and research. Through the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing, we support our wineries which are leading the way globally in adopting sustainable practices across all aspects of the businesses.

We Navigate Trade Barriers and Expand Export Markets

We advocate for the removal of trade barriers and help our members make sense of the many challenges exporting their wines worldwide. Through our international marketing efforts, we have 16 representatives operating in more than 30 countries, ready to help increase your exports. Wine Institute is the exclusive manager of the Market Access Program (USDA) for California wineries, which provides federal funding to support marketing programs outside the U.S.

We Fight for You

Wine Institute is first and foremost an advocacy organization. We fight successfully to create a favorable policy environment everywhere that matters. At the state level, we have opened 47 states and D.C. – 97% of the U.S. market – for direct-to-consumer (DTC) wine sales. In Washington, D.C. we enacted a significant permanent reduction of federal excise taxes for every single winery. In Sacramento, we secured passage of legislation that allows wineries to open an additional offsite tasting room. We work with Congress and state and federal regulatory agencies across the country to make sure that the industry’s point of view is being heard. We have decades of experience with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) which we use to help our members navigate a myriad of issues with our primary regulator. We are a voice for and conduit for state and federal funding to help you meet critical challenges due to wildfires and drought and for research to help with smoke exposure and pest management.

We Help With Complex Compliance Issues

Winemaking is an art and a business in an ever-increasing compliance maze. We provide support on DTC shipping, wholesaler distribution challenges, labor issues, permits and more, as well as providing an array of topical workshops on sustainable winegrowing practices and workplace safety.

Become A Wine Institute Member

There are more than 1,000 Wine Institute members, a majority of which are small, family-owned wineries. Our board of 40 directors is comprised of wineries of all sizes, from every region of California and all members are invited to attend board meetings.

Member Benefits

Associate Member Benefits

Eligibility

The business must be a bonded winery licensed in the State of California, or own or lease a bonded winery or a bonded wine cellar in California. In addition, the business must be producing or selling wine in the state.

Member Benefits

  • A voice at the table and a role in helping to shape important issues of the date that are critical to your bottom line.
  • A direct line to our advocacy efforts at the state, federal and international levels.
  • Guidance and support on ever-changing legislative, regulatory and legal issues.
  • Personalized assistance on labeling and TTB’s approval process.
  • Deep savings on FedEx shipping that far exceed membership dues for most recipients.
  • Regular updates on issues and “news you can use.”
  • Exclusive opportunity to share your activities and events on our consumer website.
  • Member-only webinars on topics including sustainable practices, work safety, responsible serving and marketing.
  • Participate in committee and board meetings where informative information is shared and an opportunity provided to network with other members.

Eligibility

Companies whose products and services are generally available to the wine industry.

Associate Member Benefits

  • Invitation to all Board of Directors’ meetings.
  • A public listing on Wine Institute’s website, industry news and resources.
  • Discounts on Capstone wine education programs.
  • Access to discounts with FedEx and participation in our meetings and events.
Questions?

Ian Blue

Member Relations Director iblue@wineinstitute.org 415-356-7537

How to Join – three easy steps

Minimum dues start at $300 for wineries producing approximately 2,000 cases or less and are calculated based on percentage of sales or gallons sold. Your dues are also almost entirely tax deductible.

Step 1

All bonded California wineries licensed as winegrowers that are producing or selling wine in the Golden State are eligible to become members.

Step 2

Download our membership application and dues calculation forms. You can base your dues on either percentage of sales or gallons sold. Information can be found here.

Step 3

To join, email your membership application and dues computation form to Ian Blue, Member Relations director. Please don’t hesitate to contact him with any questions about the forms or benefits.

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