Mendocino Winegrape and Wine Commission Ends Five-Year Run

Posted by Christina Herrick|July 23, 2012

By majority vote of grape growers, the Mendocino (CA) Winegrape and Wine Commission (MWWC) will not be renewed for a second five –year term.

Earlier this year, at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, Glenn Yost of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) heard testimony on the production, economic, and marketing conditions of the last five years affecting the Mendocino County winegrape and wine industry, and the effect the continuation of the Commission would have upon those conditions and whether the Commission attains the objectives for which it was established; effectuates its declared provisions; and furthers the interest of the State of California.

After hearing testimony, Yost declared that the continuance of the Commission would be decided by a referendum vote. 274 producers and 72 vintners were sent ballots from the CDFA on April 25. Of the ballots sent, 66.42% of producers and 81.94% of vintners participated in the election by returning their votes. According to the CDFA, 45% of producers voted in favor and 55% opposed. In contrary, 68% of vintners voted in favor of continuation while only 32% opposed. Based on the uniqueness of the Mendocino Winegrape and Wine Commission Law, a majority vote by both groups would have needed to vote in favor of the Commission.

“We want to thank the constituency for the opportunity to market the quality grapes and award-winning wines of Mendocino County over this past year,” said Alex MacGregor, Chairman of MWWC. “We have made huge strides and are sad to see that it was not enough to overcome the hardship the Commission has had over the last five years. Mendocino County is such a unique and diverse region and I hope that it can continue to grow and gain a healthy market share in the wine industry. The past five years have been challenging for the Commission and many of us have put our hearts and souls into trying to create a unique position for a vintner and grower Commission. We are saddened to see the Commission go and wish the community the best of luck in the future.”

MWWC, which was the only producer and vintner Commission in California, was voted in by a constituency of Mendocino County grape growers and vintners in 2005. It was shown that the production of winegrapes, wine, and winegrape products in Mendocino County had the potential to be one of the leading segments of the state’s winegrape and wine industries. To realize this potential, there was a need to make consumers aware of the high quality of winegrapes, wine, and winegrape products produced in Mendocino County. The activities made possible by the establishment of the Commission are intended to meet this need and further the interests of the industries and the state.