Congressional Wine Caucus

Wine Institute works hand in hand with the Congressional Wine Caucus (CWC), the preeminent group of federal policymakers working on wine related issues. The CWC was founded in 1999 by Congressmen and winegrape growers Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and George Radanovich (R-Fresno) to create a forum in Congress to share information among policymakers about the vibrant wine community and its many contributions from grape to glass.

Today, the Caucus is one of the largest in Congress and brings together over 160 bipartisan, bicameral Members of Congress and is chaired by Congressman Thompson and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Sunnyside, WA). 10,000 wineries are spread across all 50 states and generate billions of dollars in economic activity in both rural and urban communities. Wine Institute partners with the CWC to host events throughout the year that highlight the value of our industry.