Wine Industry Report

The membership of the North Coast Grape Growers Association (NCGGA) has voted overwhelmingly to discontinue operations after 43 years of service to the grower community and join the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG).

Nearly 200 voting members of NCGGA voted to support this move by a margin of 96.8%. Current NCGGA members have the opportunity to transfer into CAWG, with all rights and privileges, if they so choose. Paul Bialla, president of NCGGA said, “In a sense we have been victims of our own success. We developed the model for grower associations, helped our region thrive and, in so doing, created the need for more localized organizations. We now are looking forward to a strengthened relationship with CAWG.”

Under an informal agreement between the two organizations, NCGGA will endorse and encourage their members to join CAWG while CAWG will assist in ensuring that all state requirements are meant for an orderly dissolution of NCGGA.

“Over the years NCGGA has done an outstanding job of representing the needs of growers on the north coast,” said Rodney Schatz, Chairman of CAWG and a winegrape grower in Lockeford, Calif. “But as our industry becomes more and more global in nature, larger organizations such as CAWG are better positioned to represent growers on the state, national or even the international scene. I’m glad that we are able to step in to ensure that those growers formerly represented by NCGGA with still have a voice on a state and national level through the strong leadership of CAWG.”

The North Coast Growers Association was formed in 1963 to give wine grape growers a united voice against the small handful of grape buyers who dominated the market. Then, many growers were prune or pear or apple farmers who also grew some grapes but were powerless against those few wineries. Now, the wine industry in the North Coast employs 34,000 people and supports the local economy with an annual payroll of $1.04 billion (2003 figures). Over the years their mission had grown to help balance the farming requirements of this vital industry with the needs of the community around them.

CAWG represents the growers of more than 60 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. The statewide association provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies, research and education programs, and trade positions to enhance the business of growing California winegrapes. For more information about CAWG, visit www.cawg.org.