First time Women’s Division
NAPA, CA (February 20, 2014) – Under beautiful sunny skies, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers’ (NVG) Farmworker Foundation held its 13th Annual Napa County Pruning Contest in Yountville, Thursday, February 20, where the industry’s best vineyard workers challenged each other’s art, skill, and speed at pruning Napa Valley vineyards. More than 13 women competed in the first ever Women’s Division, alongside 56 men in the Men’s Division.
Beginning at 8 a.m. on Beringer Vineyards Gamble Ranch, each contestant pruned six Chardonnay vines in the day’s preliminary competition. Teams of three judges reviewed the quality of the cuts, which accounted for 40% of the total score; 60% of the score is the time it took to prune the vines. Six top scoring women and eight top scoring men moved on to the finals, where four men and four women placed as winners.
Most contestants were champions of similar, preliminary competitions in their workplace vineyards and are area residents, full time employees, volunteer to compete and paid her/his regular salary for that day. The annual Pruning Contest is one of dozens of activities produced by NVG’s Farmworker Foundation to support vineyard workers and their families.
After the contest, everyone enjoyed an abundant taco lunch while celebratory music played. Winners in each division took home more than $2,100 in cash winnings, armfuls of tools, and gift cards. NVG encourages winners’ employers to match their cash prizes.
Women’s Division Winners:
1st Place: Celia Perez, V. Sattui – $600 plus a custom trophy buckle; shears, loppers, saw, handheld blower, $200 and $150 gift cards plus $100 in cash
2nd Place: Maria Romero, Walsh Vineyard Management – $400 plus shears, loppers and a $150 gift card
3rd Place: Maria Dolores Torres, Promontory – $200 plus shears, saw and a $100 gift card
4th Place: Maricruz Gutierrez, The Napa Valley Reserve – $100 plus shears, saw and a $50 gift card
Men’s Division Winners:
1st Place: Omar Perez, Joseph Phelps – $600 plus a custom trophy buckle; shears, loppers, saw, handheld blower, $200 and $150 gift cards plus $100 in cash
2nd Place: Victor Silvestre, Renteria – $400 plus shears, loppers and a $150 gift card
3rd Place: Rolando Esquivel, Beckstoffer Vineyards – $200 plus shears, saw and a $100 gift card
4th Place: Jesus Juarez, Moulds Family Vineyard – $100 plus shears, saw and a $50 gift card
All pruning equipment provided by premier sponsor, Central Valley Builders Supply, and gift cards are courtesy of Silicon Valley Bank and Volvo Equipment Rental. Cash prizes awarded by Vineyard Industry Products.
About Napa Valley Grapegrowers
NVG is a non-profit trade organization that has played a vital role in strengthening Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class viticultural region for over 39 years. NVG represents over 670 Napa County grape growers and associated businesses. Through its unprecedented Farmworker Foundation, NVG has raised over $715,000 to produce high-level programs for vineyard workers that focus on health and safety, personal success tools such as gaining management and leadership skills, financial advice, English language opportunities, and information on community services for them and their families. NVG has educated over 4,000 farm workers and supervisors to date. For more information, visit www.napagrowers.org. Follow Napa Valley Grapegrowers on Facebook and Twitter.
