Established in early 2025, organization embraces collaboration among sustainable wine regions across the globe
November 12, 2025 (Livermore, CA) — The Global Artisan Vintners Alliance (AVA) announces it has appointed Mirena Bagur as the Executive Director. The Alliance was established in early 2025 to create and promote a union of sustainable partner wine regions across the globe and currently includes eleven member regions. The founding region in the US, Livermore Valley Wine Community, California was soon followed by Texas Hill Country Wineries, Texas. International regions currently consist of Chilecito, Argentina; Dalmatia, Croatia; Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil; Chinon, France; Imereti, Georgia; Badacsony, Hungary; Chianti Rufina, Italy; Baja California, Mexico; and Alentejo, Portugal;
“Proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and recognizing the need for the Alliance to enter a new phase, I am pleased to name Mirena Bagur as the Executive Director. After working with Mirena for a year, I am confident she will leverage her international experience, gravitas and passion, as well as knowledge of the wine industry, to lead the organization in expanding its footprint and strengthening relationships among members, ” said David Haubert, Alameda County, District 1 Supervisor, who played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Global AVA, and serves as its President. “Mirena will also focus on enhancing collaboration with value-added education among the partner wine regions.”
Supervisor Haubert has served Alameda County District 1 since November 2020.
Mirena’s career includes working in the high-tech industry where she led global campaigns for many brands in a large global agency, including a focus on healthcare when she taught an entrepreneurship course at Harvard/MIT. She has been an active member of many entrepreneurial and business mentoring associations, and has cofounded Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc. In that role, she collaborates with numerous Croatian government agencies, business and wine associations, and leverages her business experience to uplift the education about Croatian indigenous wines as a tool for promoting the Croatian economy and tourism in the US. She is also involved in various cultural organizations. Mirena holds a masters of economy degree, focused on international trade from the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Her bio is on LinkedIn.
“It’s already been inspirational to work with the founding members of the Global AVA and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the Supervisor’s team in Livermore and all the regions as we figure out how to meaningfully collaborate moving forward,” said Mirena Bagur, executive director of the Global Artisan Vintners Alliance. “So far, we’ve had a year to familiarize and discuss similar topics to address, and I look forward to leading the Global AVA into our next phase when our work will become better known to potential new regions. We will also create additional forums for knowledge sharing and collaboration. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the existing alliance members for their excitement and collaboration to date and am happy to announce we will have the in-person opportunity to exchange ideas at the next annual Summit, which will take place in Hungary in late March 2026.”
The Global AVA was established to foster collaboration and exchange of information between winemakers, wine associations, government representatives, tourism and economic development organizations, and business associations. Representatives of the partner wine regions actively participate in professional development opportunities and exchanges. For more information and to sign up for the Global AVA newsletter, visit theglobalava.org.
ABOUT THE GLOBAL AVA
Headquartered in Livermore, CA, The Global Artisan Vintners Alliance (AVA), was established in January 2025 to create a mutually-beneficial alliance of partner wine regions across the globe that promote collaboration and share best practices around viticulture, agri- and eno-tourism, marketing initiatives, and economic development to elevate each wine region & their global presence. Media and wine regions interested in more information about the Global AVA and membership opportunities, can contact us at info@theglobalAVA.org. Or, find us on Facebook @The-Global-AVA, Instagram @TheGlobalAVA and LinkedIn.
