Wine Institute Welcomes Julie Berge as Vice President of Communications & Member Relations

Sacramento, CA — Julie Berge has joined Wine Institute as its new Vice President of Communications and Member Relations. A seasoned communications strategist with more than two decades of experience working in highly regulated industries, Berge will help further enhance the Wine Institute’s advocacy, member engagement and storytelling efforts.

“Julie’s background is a perfect blend of industry expertise, strategic communications and issue advocacy,” said Robert P. Koch, President and CEO of the Wine Institute. “Her ability to bridge complex policy issues and foster meaningful relationships across diverse stakeholders will bring tremendous value to our members and the broader wine community.”

Most recently, Berge served as senior director of strategic communications at the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), where she worked at the intersection of policy, public relations and industry advocacy. With hands-on experience navigating some of the most complex and politically charged issues, she consistently employed creative communication and coalition building to foster more informed policy conversations and drive meaningful outcomes in the quickly evolving energy landscape.

Before joining WSPA, Berge held senior communications positions at VSP Vision, the nation’s largest vision insurance company, and global communications firm FleishmanHillard. There she spent the bulk of her tenure serving food and wine clients, using storytelling to connect Californians with growers and educating stakeholders on the economic contributions they bring to the state.

Berge shared her enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “The wine industry represents an extraordinary combination of innovation, tradition and value-added agriculture, and I am thrilled to be joining the Wine Institute at such a pivotal time. My career has been dedicated to elevating sectors by making complex policy issues more accessible and building narratives and relationships that drive lasting progress. I look forward to leveraging this experience to champion Wine Institute members and the future of California wine.”

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