Wine Institute Members Advocate for Key Priorities During Annual Washington Meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C. — California vintners were in Washington, D.C. this week for Wine Institute’s 38th annual meeting. The Wine Institute delegation met with legislators and regulators to discuss issues critical to a vibrant wine sector including the upcoming Farm Bill, federal funding priorities including smoke exposure research and specialty crop programs, and needed reforms to the crop insurance program. Ensuring adequate funding for the sector’s primary regulator, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), was also a top priority.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) — chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry — greeted Wine Institute Chairman Randall Lange (center) from LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards in Lodi, Calif. and Wine Institute President and CEO Robert P. Koch during a meeting at the Capitol. 

“We have a range of opportunities and challenges, and face-to-face discussions with our vintners and key policymakers are essential to supporting growth for thousands of wineries in all 50 states,” said Robert P. Koch, Wine Institute president and CEO. “First and foremost, we need to ensure that adequate federal resources are provided for key Farm Bill programs as well as for our primary regulator, the TTB.”

The delegation met with more than two dozen representatives and senators from across the country. Meetings were held with senior members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees, and the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, all of which have jurisdiction over key wine industry priorities.

California vintners had the opportunity to showcase the best of their wines during a reception in the Great Hall at the Library of Congress attended by more than 300 members of congress, congressional staff and executive branch officials.

With 4,800 bonded wineries, California is responsible for 81% of our nation’s wine and is the world’s fourth-largest producer. California wineries have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, generating $170 billion in annual economic activity, supporting more than 1.1 million jobs and paying $59.9 billion in wages annually and $21.9 billion in taxes.

California Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-4), co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus, also address the California vintner delegation.

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