Mendocino Winegrowers Inc. (MWI) has announced the appointment of Bonnie Butcher as its new executive director. Butcher brings a wealth of experience in event management, sales, and strategic planning to her new role. With a diverse background in hospitality and event planning, Butcher is poised to drive MWI’s mission of promoting and advancing the Mendocino County wine industry to new heights. According to MWI Board President Hoss Milone, “We can’t imagine anyone better suited to take MWI in the direction we are envisioning, including more wine events and increased visibility for vineyards an ..read more

Respected professor emeritus and revered phenolic wine chemist Dr. Andrew Waterhouse of University of California, Davis, will present this year’s Honorary Research Lecture at the 75th ASEV National Conference in Portland, Oregon, on June 19. ASEV honors a research lecturer who is actively involved in scientific research and has a current national or international reputation in their field of research. Waterhouse inherited Vernon Singleton’s (ASEV Honorary Research Lecture recipient in 1986) mission to study phenolic compounds after joining the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis ..read more

Dr. Tony Wolf’s fingerprints are firmly planted in today’s blossoming Virginia wine and grape industry. In recognition of his work and impact within the industry, Dr. Wolf will receive the American Society for Enology and Viticulture’s (ASEV) highest honor, the ASEV Merit Award, at the 75th ASEV National Conference in Portland, Oregon this June. “I truly enjoyed all aspects of my work  ̶ the research, the extension, the teaching, as well as the administration. Seeing people profit from my efforts was hugely rewarding,” said Wolf. “Central to my own success was the collective team effort o ..read more

Few organizations or businesses have been as proactive in addressing environmental concerns and lessening their impact than the Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW). Ten years ago, Sonoma County Winegrowers announced its intent to become the nation’s – and likely the world’s – first 100% certified sustainable wine region by 2019.  It was a bold, ambitious declaration but Sonoma County’s winegrowers were committed and, together, they succeeded in meeting their target in just five years.  Today, Sonoma County has a record 99% of its local vineyards certified sustainable. Five years ago, Son ..read more

Watch this brief video at the 88th annual conference of the California Fresh Fruit Association featuring the organization’s new President, Daniel Hartwig. Learn about Hartwig and the priorities of the organization moving forward to protect the interests of California table grape, tree fruit and berry growers. The post New California Fresh Fruit Association President Highlights Priorities appeared first on American Vineyard Magazine ..read more

Growers are not overplanting wine grape acreage in California, but they have fallen fall behind in removing old, underperforming vineyards and less desirable varieties. This is what Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared at the 2024 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium upon release of their annual grapevine nursery survey report. Watch this brief interview as Jeff shares with American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm what the current planting trends look like and just how many vineyards need to be removed to bring the industry back into balance for a more sustainable future. The post W ..read more

Washington State University (WSU) wine science faculty, staff, and students joined vintners and other wine industry members at The Winemakers Reserve in Woodinville in March to celebrate the eighth Auction of Washington Wines Private Barrel Auction. Since its 2015 inception, the philanthropic event has raised more than $1.2 million for WSU viticulture and enology (V&E) research initiatives, with this year’s auction bringing in more than $150,000 in additional funding for the university. “The Private Barrel Auction holds significant importance for WSU’s V&E depa ..read more

The Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA) recently held their 58th annual meeting, reporting on the successes and challenges of previous season and their outlook for 2024. American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm met with RBA Chairman Charles Salmon to discuss this as well as the motive behind relocating their headquarters from downtown Fresno to their receiving station. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine. The post Raisin Bargaining Association Relocates & Reports Priorities Moving Forward appeared first on American Vineyard Magazine ..read more

The Washington wine industry today announced an exciting partnership between the state’s sustainability certification for winegrapes – Sustainable WA – and Salmon-Safe, a leading U.S. regional eco-label focused on watershed protection. Following an 18-month development process, Sustainable WA is joining with Salmon-Safe in a certification partnership to enhance water quality protection, wildlife habitat conservation, and climate resiliency. As part of the updated Sustainable WA Standard, vineyards in the program now have the option of obtaining dual certification for both Sustainable WA and Sa ..read more

World-renowned economist and and financial expert Marci Rossell addressed American Pistachio Growers again this year at their annual conference, this time sharing some key insights on how the boom in AI (artificial intelligence) and inflation/interest-rate trends will impact specialty crop growers in the immediate and near future. Watch her brief interview with Malcolm Media Editor Matthew Malcolm for the inside scoop. Special Thanks to American Pistachio Growers for sponsoring this video. The post How AI and Global Economic Trends will Impact California Agriculture appeared fi ..read more