4/12/2019 - St. Helena, CA - Advancing their mission to promote, protect and enhance the Napa Valley, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) trade association will return this weekend from a successful week in Washington, D.C., advocating on key issues of importance to its members and hosting trade tastings in a market of growing importance.
Over four days, current and past members of the NVV Board of Directors participated in more than 60 meetings with congressional leaders and administration officials, focusing on extending excise tax relief to small producers, protecting the Napa Valley name at home and abroad and advocating for the removal of prohibitive trade barriers.
“Napa Valley is a national treasure and through our ongoing advocacy and marketing efforts, we are making progress on issues of importance to our members and the overall strength of the wine industry - despite only representing 4% of the wine production in California, Napa Valley produces 33% of the economic value in the state,” remarked David Pearson, Chair of the NVV Board of Directors. “I was pleased to stand with my fellow vintner leaders in each of our meetings - the NVV represents more than 550 winery members and our delegation captured the diverse experiences and viewpoints of our membership.”
Highlights of the trip included a discussion on tariffs with Ambassador CJ Mahoney, the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; a meeting with John Manfreda, Administrator of the Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau on the proposed changes to wine labeling regulations; and USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture Affairs Ted McKinney about the benefits of the market access program.
“There are many complex issues being debated in the nation’s Capitol that directly impact our members’ businesses and our greater efforts to promote, protect and enhance the Napa Valley and it’s important that we be here to weigh in on them,” said past NVV Board Chair Dawnine Dyer of Dyer Vineyard.
Marketing efforts included a tasting and lunch at the new Conrad Hotel for 40 local wine trade, showcasing 30 Napa Valley wines, a “Taste the Wines of the West” reception in collaboration with our colleagues from Oregon and Washington for Members of Congress and their key staff and a lengthy interview on the “Foodie and the Beast” radio program.
“Washington, D.C. has an impressive number of steakhouses where cab is king,” said Bruce Cakebread of Cakebread Cellars, past chair of the NVV board. “It’s important that we be here.”
The advocacy team was comprised of leaders from ten Napa Valley wineries, David Pearson, CEO of Opus One and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) and several supporting NVV staff. The annual trip which is now in its 13th year is designed to advance the policy interests and the brand of Napa Valley, two key strategic goals of the NVV.
About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they call home. Learn more at napavintners.com.
Contact: Korinne Munson, Director of Communications - 707.968.4207, kmunson@napavintners.com
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