Sacramento, Calif.,  July 29, 2010 --  Former California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Board Chair Bennett Drake of Temecula has been appointed to the California State Board of Food and Agriculture by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  

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Sacramento, Calif., June 10, 2010 -- The California Wine Grape Growers Foundation has awarded 10 high school seniors with scholarships to aid in their dream of higher education.  The CWGGF board also voted to increase the scholarship amounts this year due to increasing costs of education.  Two-year recipients will receive $2000, up from the previous amount of $1,000 and four-year recipients will receive $8000, up from $4,000.  Congratulations to this year’s winners!

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Sacramento, Calif., - The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) announced today that it has appointed John Aguirre as its new president.  Assuming the role on June 1, Aguirre will lead the association in serving as an advocate for California’s winegrape growers, whose crops contribute more than $2 billion annually to the state’s economy. Aguirre will oversee the association’s membership, legislative, regulatory and marketing activities. 

“California winegrape growers have led the way in so many aspects of the agricultural community,” said Aguirre. “They are innovative, forward-thinking stewards of the land and it will be an honor and privilege to represent and serve CAWG members.”

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Sacramento, Calif., March 17, 2010 – Members and supporters of the wine grape community from across California came together for the eighth annual California Wine Grape Growers Foundation (CWGGF) Capitol Wine Dinner.  More than $32,000 was raised during the March 2 event held at the Sutter Club in Sacramento.  This total is up $7,000 from last year’s $25,000 raised.

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Sacramento, Calif., May 10, 2010…. The Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Referendum passed with 84 percent yes votes to continue the industry’s self-assessment that funds research working toward a permanent solution to the deadly Pierce’s Disease virus for another five years. The industry expressed strong support for the referendum, with 30 statewide and regional associations endorsing its passage.

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Sacramento, CA, April 29, 2010…. The support and “get out the vote” efforts of 29 regional wine associations and stakeholder groups played a pivotal role in validating a grower referendum that would continue research aimed at controlling the spread of the glassy-winged sharpshooter and finding a solution to the deadly Pierce’s disease virus.

Sacramento, Calif., Feb. 11, 2010 - Californiawinegrape growers knew 2009 was a good year for quantity and quality of grapes, but they didn’t expect this. According to the preliminary 2009 Grape Crush Report, grapes crushed for wine totaled 3,697 million tons, up from 3,015 million tons in the 2008 harvest.  Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,073 tons, up 24 percent from 2008. The 2009 white wine variety crush totaled 1,623 tons, up 21 percent from 2008.  The 2009 average price of all varieties was $570.64, up 4 percent from 2008.

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This year’s Grape Crush Report is indicative of the varying growing conditions across the state.  Click here for a few quotes from grape growers throughout California regarding the 2009 growing season and harvest.