The ninth annual Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry was presented today to Emily Hodson, the winemaker at Veritas Vineyards and Winery, a co-owner of Flying Fox Vineyards and Winery, and an active leader in the Virginia wine industry. Members of the Smith family and sponsoring organizations present the Rich Smith award to Emily Hodson (third from left). The prestigious award annually reflects the spirit and accomplishments of the late Richard (Rich) Smith, founder of Valley Farm Management and Smith Family Wines in California’s Santa Lucia Highlands wine region in Monterey County. Rich was first and foremost a family man, but also a successful grape grower and winery owner, and a highly respected colleague known for the combination of passion, commitment and collaboration which helped advance the American grape and wine industry. Ever since Rich passed away in December 2015, three organizations—WineAmerica, N

Shutdown Postponed A few days before the November 17 deadline, the House passed a two-step Continuing Resolution that was accepted by the Senate and signed by the President, averting a government shutdown while establishing new deadlines of late January and early February to adopt a new budget—or go through the same fire drill again. That’s a big deal. First, it keeps everything running normally. Second, it means our Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs, Michael Kaiser, won’t have to spend his family holidays prowling Capitol Hill. Third, we can now proceed with a planned legislative wine reception on November 29 with our colleagues and partners at Wine Institute. More things to be thankful for… WineAmerica Fall Retreat: Thank You, and Welcome! Last week WineAmerica held our annual Fall Retreat in the wine country of Traverse City, Michigan, where Board member Marie Chantal-Dalese of Chateau Chantal served as local coordinator and graciou

Afternoon Brief, February 23rd

‘Help Us Fight’: California Farmers Ask for More Aid After Deadly Storms: Despite a new relief fund in Sonoma county, farm workers face economic catastrophe when storms and fires strike...