SACRAMENTO – The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation will host its second annual CAWG Foundation Gala, which will feature a reception, silent auction and a friendly wine competition judged by California political leaders. It will be held at The Sutter Club in Sacramento on March 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The goal of the gala is to bring together California legislators, government officials and CAWG members to increase awareness of the foundation’s accomplishments and raise money for scholarships for children of California winegrape grower employees.
For the wine competition, legislators and government officials were invited to nominate California red or white wines. Nominated wineries that have confirmed for the competition so far include Beach House Winery, Bloomfield Vineyards, Claiborne & Churchill Winery, Cooper Vineyards, Doffo Winery, Fiddletown Cellars, Four Brix Winery, Gratta Wines, Iron Horse Vineyards, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Michael David Winery, Oak Farm Vineyards, Opolo Vineyards, Rosenblum Cellars, Rusack Vineyards, Scheid Vineyards, The Steven Kent Winery, Wiens Family Cellar and Wilson Creek Winery. For event information, visit www.cawg.org (calendar and events).
“We were pleased with the enthusiastic response at last year’s event and wanted to build on that this year,” said CAWG President John Aguirre. “With the support of participating wineries and legislators and success in fundraising, we can make a difference in the lives of students by providing financial assistance for their education.”
Contacts:
- Meredith Ritchie, CAWG Communications, 916-984-4473, meredith@cawg.org
- Natalie Collins, CAWG Manager of Member Relations, 916-379-8995, natalie@cawg.org
About the California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation
The CAWG Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Each year the foundation awards two $8,000 four-year scholarships to students planning to attend a campus in the University of California or California State University system, and four $2,000 two-year scholarships to students planning to attend a California community college. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. The Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student who resides on the Central Coast and plans to major in enology or viticulture at Allan Hancock College or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The foundation awards at least seven scholarships each year and has awarded $371,500 since its inception in 1998. For more information, visit www.cawgfoundation.org.
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bout the California Association of Winegrape Growers
CAWG provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies, research and education programs, and sustainable farming practices to enhance the business of growing California winegrapes. The organization represents the growers of more than 50 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. For more information, visit www.cawg.org.
