August 27, 2024 — Sonoma County Winegrowers just received final confirmation that their organization has been awarded two significant California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grants, totaling over $900,000! This funding will help us continue advancing our goals and initiatives over the coming years. Importantly, these dollars leverage and elevate the investment our grape growers make in this organization and in working together to promote our wine region.
Below is an overview of the two grants they just received:
Sonoma County Winegrowers/Commission Marketing Grant – $494,435 (November 2024 – June 2027)
- Partnership with professional sports team
- Sonoma County immersion programs for trade, media, and influencers
- Young Professionals educational program
Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos Grant – $409,160 (November 2024 – June 2027)
- Leadership Academy expansion
- Mentorship program for Leadership Academy Alumni
- Continuing education for Leadership Academy and vineyard employees
We are excited to utilize these resources to drive growth for Sonoma County and create more impactful marketing and Foundation programs in the years ahead.
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our mission!
About Sonoma County Winegrowers
Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), was established in 2006, evolving from the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which was first launched in 1983 by local grape growers inspired to work together to elevate the region. SCW is a marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. With more than 1,800 growers, SCW’s goal is to increase awareness and recognition of the quality, sustainability and diversity of Sonoma County’s grapes and wines through dynamic marketing and educational programs targeted to wine consumers and influencers around the world. In 2014, Sonoma County’s winegrowing community embarked on a major initiative to have all Sonoma County vineyards certified sustainable. Today, 99% of the vineyard acreage in Sonoma County has completed certification by a third-party auditor making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world. In addition, in 2020, SCW became the exclusive pilot partner for the California Land Stewardship’s Climate Adaptation Certification. In 2022, SCW began envisioning a Farm of the Future which it officially introduced in 2023. SCW’s sustainability efforts have been recognized with California’s highest environmental honor, the 2016 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA). Learn more at www.sonomawinegrape.org.
