WINERY ORGANIZATIONS: CALIFORNIA

California is not only America's leader in wine production, but one of the world leaders as well. Their wine comes from as far north as Mendocino County to as far south as Temecula Valley. No matter what the region, California is renowned for its optimal climate and big, fruity wines.

Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino County, Lake County

Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association
Anderson Valley, located less than 100 miles north of San Francisco, is a cool coastal climate perfect for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Founded in 1983, this alliance of winegrowers works to support and promote Anderson Valley as a premium wine-producing and grape-growing region. The website features local events, provides wine education and includes a listing of wineries.

Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance
Their website offers the history and background of wine in Mendocino county, as well as a listing of the many wineries and brew pubs located there. The site also features a number of tourist-friendly items, including recommended driving tours, wine event postings and links to other county attractions.

Napa Valley Grape Growers
The mission of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers is to promote and protect the interests of Napa Valley’s premium grape growers through education, advocacy on grape commodity issues, and outreach to the community to maintain Napa Valley’s reputation as one of the premiere wine grape growing regions in the world.

Napa Valley Vintner's Association
This association of Napa Valley winemakers works to promote and protect the region's winegrowing reputation as one of the finest in the world. Website offers press releases, information and calendar of events.

Lake County Winegrape Growers
Since its inception in 1992, the Lake County Winegrape Commission has marketed the premium Lake County winegrape growing region to new and existing grape buyers and wineries all over California. The Commission also assists growers in a variety of activities including educational and research programs that benefit growers' vineyard development.

Russian River Wine Road Association
Founded over twenty years ago, the Russian River Wine Road is an association of wineries and lodgings in the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Chalk Hill and Coastal regions of Northwest Sonoma County. The Wine Road, which started as an organization of nine wineries, today has a strong membership of 120 wineries and 50 lodgings.

Stags Leap District Winegrowers
The Stags Leap District, an official appellation within Napa Valley, begins seven miles north of the town of Napa, on the Silverado Trail. This alliance of wineries and grape growers benefits from the district's cool Pacific breezes, long, dry summer days and unique volcanic soils with overlays of bale loam, which produces wines of power and complex layers of flavor. The area is compact—it is one of Napa Valley's smallest appellations with only fifteen wineries—so it’s easy to hop from one winery to another.

Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley
An association of more than 60 wineries and 150 winegrape growers located in the Dry Creek Valley, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley (WDCV) is dedicated to advancing the recognition, enhancement and preservation of Dry Creek Valley as a premium winegrowing region. Dry Creek Valley is known for its signature varietal, Zinfandel, family-owned and multi-generational wineries and vineyards and the pristine and unspoiled beauty of the valley.

Santa Cruz, Monterey, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley

Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association
In 1981, threatened by impending development pressures, a small group of vintners and growers formed the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Assocation. Today, with a growing membership of over 40 wineries, 30 growers and more than 100 community businesses, the Winegrowers Association is dedicated to advance, protect and promote the quality wines, vineyards and experiences of the Livermore Valley Wine Country.

Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association
The organization brings together the talents and resources of members, partners and community in order to promote and support the county's leadership in the wine industry. Free winery maps and event listings are available on their website.

Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association
The Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association is a non-profit organization that communicates, reinforces and enhances its status as a world-class wine region through marketing, promotion and educational resources.

San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association
A local organization representing more than 30 area wineries. The association promotes tourism of the San Luis Obispo wine country, as well as sponsors events, including a wine and food festival held in the spring.

Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association
The Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 to support and promote Santa Barbara County as a premium wine producing and wine grape growing region. The Vintners’ Association produces festivals, seminars and tastings and provides information to consumers and the wine and travel media.

Santa Lucia Highlands' Wine Artisans
The Santa Lucia Highlands' Wine Artisans, formed in 2005, is a formal association of vineyards and wineries that grow grapes in the Santa Lucia Highlands or use the region's fruit to craft their wines. Their primary goal is to promote this unique viticultural district and increase awareness and appreciation of the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance
The Sta. Rita Hills is a relatively small appellation of approximately 100 square miles, known for its production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Winegrowers Alliance represents 35 wineries and vineyards located within the geographical boundaries of the appellation.

Santa Rita Hills Wine Trail
The Santa Rita Hills Wine Trail passes through vineyards, orchards and fields of flowers in Santa Barbara. Home to a handful of wineries, this region has earned a reputation for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A listing of wineries and tour groups is available on their website.

Amador County, Calaveras County, Mariposa

Amador Vintner's Association
This association of 25 wineries from Amador County lists essential information about visiting Amador wine country, profiles of member wineries, descriptions of Amador's leading grape varieties and wines, and news about special events and other attractions.

Lodi, Woodbridge

Lodi Winegrape Commission
In 1991 local growers voted to fund the Lodi Winegrape Commission. With its $1,000,000 annual budget the Commission conducts programs in marketing, grower education and viticultural research. The Commission represents almost 750 winegrowers farming nearly 100,000 acres of winegrapes, and has successfully moved the Lodi region well into the 21st Century.

Temecula, San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County,
Ventura County

Temecula Valley Winegrowers
The Winegrowers Association is a nonprofit regional organization dedicated to promoting the making and growing of quality wine & winegrapes in the Temecula Appellation.

San Diego County Vintners Association
A group of the finest wine makers in San Diego County.

Ventura County Wine Trail
Launched in June 2008, the Ventura County Wine Trail stretches from Ojai to Malibu and encompasses an increasing number of wineries, restaurants, hotels and attractions.

Ventura County Winery Association
Comprising six urban wineries located between Ojai and Camarillo, the Ventura County Winery Association's mission is to promote the production and appreciation of fine wines grown or produced in Ventura County. Member wineries produce more than 250 different white, rosé, and red wines using grapes grown in Ventura County and throughout California.

Wine Institute of California
Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy association of California wineries. Wine Institute brings together the resources of 840 wineries and affiliated businesses to support legislative and regulatory advocacy, international market development, media relations, scientific research, and education programs that benefit the entire California wine industry.

P.S. I Love You
An advocacy group for Petite Sirah, it currently has 77 members, consisting of wineries and wine clubs. Along with an annual Petite Sirah Symposium for members of the trade to discuss the varietal’s viticulture and marketing, the group organizes interactive seminars at various wine events.