(Monterey, CA) March 2, 2015 – On February 27th at the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association Annual Meeting the membership overwhelmingly approved moving forward with conjunctive labeling legislation. The proposed legislation will require any wine labeled with a Monterey County sub-AVA to also include “Monterey County” on the label. Upon approval of proposed legislation by the California State Legislature, this will apply to all such bottles produced on or after January 1, 2019. Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay) is authoring Assembly Bill 394.
MCVGA President Scott Caraccioli explains, “This is a tremendous opportunity to build upon the brand equity and loyalty of Monterey County grapes and wines. Additionally, conjunctive labeling in Monterey brings extra value by leveraging the existing positive international renown of the Monterey region.”
Kim Stemler, Executive Director of the MCVGA, agrees, “It was critical to the Board of Directors that we included the entire Monterey wine community in the development of the legislation. The result of this process has been very positive in furthering a unified, cohesive community that is working together to elevate Monterey County to the international prominence it deserves.”
Board Welcomes New Members
Three new Directors were also voted to the Board at the Feb. 27th meeting: Vince Berry, Hahn Family Wines; Lawrence Lohr, J. Lohr Vineyards & Winery; and Kevin Zollinger, Wente Vineyards. The new Directors join existing Board Members:
Scott Caraccioli, Caraccioli Cellars, President
Matt Shea, Bernardus Winery, Vice President
Sabrine Rodems, Scratch Winery, Secretary
Joyce Yates, Lockwood Oaks Vineyards, Treasurer
Robert Cook, Chalone Vineyards/Diageo
David Coventry, Winemaker
Mark Manzoni, Manzoni Cellars
Steve Smit, Constellation Brands
Jennifer Smith, Paraiso Vineyards
Mike Ward, Carmel Road/Jackson Family Wines
Chris Steinbruner, Advisor to the Board
