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Sonoma County Vintners Announces Community Connection Initiative

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Compliance Manager, Enhanced Winery Best Practices Program and Continued Commitment to Community Giving

Sonoma County VintnersSANTA ROSA, Calif. (August 23, 2016) – Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) Executive Director Jean Arnold-Sessions today announced the organization’s “Community Connection” initiative. The new initiative is highlighted by the development of a Compliance Manager position, an expanded best practices education program for member wineries, and SCV’s continued commitment to community giving in Sonoma County.

“With more than 425 wineries and 1,800 vineyards, Sonoma County is a highly acclaimed wine region,” said Arnold-Sessions. “People from all over the world visit Sonoma County for our wines and vineyards, our farm-to-table foods, and the significant diversity and beauty of our land. At Sonoma County Vintners we recognize that success and economic growth also bring challenges, and we believe that by working with our neighbors, we can manage present and future concerns together. Our community’s economic development, jobs, revenues and social services depend on good planning.”

The Compliance Manager will enable SCV to better communicate and support use-permit compliance with member wineries. Although in the programming stage, Arnold-Sessions said that SCV will offer to work directly with Sonoma County’s Permit and Resource Management Department as well as the Board of Supervisors and other community organizations to develop the scope of the Compliance Manager position.

According to Arnold-Sessions, major focal points for SCV Best Practices are the importance of winery use-permit compliance and education, public communication to connect colleagues and community, and event impact awareness programs. SCV is expanding its best practices education which will include additional seminars for members. These seminars will focus on winery event execution and the complexity of use-permits and other permit restrictions affecting event management, including property infrastructure, parking restrictions, noise restrictions and septic permits.

A case study provided by Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, highlighting the successful best practices of its signature annual event, Passport to Dry Creek Valley, will serve as a leading model for wineries to follow in working together for positive community impact.

“Our vintners and staff live, drive, work and shop in our neighborhoods, and we have children or grandchildren in our local schools,” said Arnold-Sessions. “We take the responsibility of our connection to the community very seriously. Additionally, we are working together with our partner American Viticultural Areas (AVA) associations to find common ground and resolution to any potential challenges fueled by the county’s economic success.”

The wine industry is Sonoma County’s foremost economic driver, with wine-related tourism generating $1.25 billion annually and contributing an additional $13.4 billion in local economic revenue, approximately two-thirds of the entire Sonoma County economy according to Moody Analytics. The wine industry is also one of the county’s largest employers, responsible for more than 54,000 jobs.

Over the last 10 years, SCV, in partnership with the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers, continues its leadership in community philanthropy. The Sonoma Wine Country Weekend and Harvest Wine Auction have raised $20 million for the community. The funds raised, which benefit 95 local organizations, make a significant impact on the children and families of Sonoma County.

About Sonoma County Vintners

For more than 70 years Sonoma County Vintners (SCV) has been the leading voice of Sonoma County wine. The organization’s 250+ members range from small, family-owned wineries to large-volume corporations. Collaboration is the cornerstone of the group’s efforts, and its strategic partnerships have resulted in a broad spectrum of forward-thinking programs and events. SCV works closely with Sonoma County Winegrowers and Sonoma County Tourism Bureau to build the profile of Sonoma County globally as a distinctive grape-growing and wine-producing region.

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