November 19, 2025 (Napa Valley, CA) — The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) has announced the Oakville Capital Campaign, an initiative to build The Napa Valley Center for Grape Growing and Farmworker Education – a permanent home dedicated to cultivating viticultural excellence, advancing farmworker education, and preserving the agricultural heritage that defines Napa Valley.
This important project is deeply rooted in the legacy of the late Steve Moulds, past NVG President, who championed the acquisition of the Oakville property and envisioned it as a cornerstone of NVG’s future.
After securing the site, Steve wrote to NVG members with a clear and enduring sense of purpose: “I can have no greater goal in life than to secure the future legacy of the only true caretaker of agricultural aspiration, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers. We have all embarked on a journey of epic proportions. As the risks facing agriculture grow around us, our response has been to lay a foundation upon which our ideals in fostering best practices will flourish.”
The Oakville Capital Campaign has already raised significant funding with 100% participation from NVG’s Board of Directors and is supported by a growing community, including NVG founders Ren Harris, Andy Beckstoffer, and John Trefethan. With this announcement, NVG invites the broader community to participate through contributions and continued engagement.
A vision for a permanent home for agriculture achieved a recent milestone in June 2024, with Napa County granting the project its building permit, making the Center officially shovel-ready and on track to break ground in summer 2026.
The Center – which sits on 2.2 acres nestled against the Mayacamas, including 0.9 acres planted to vine – will become a vital industry and community hub. Its demonstration vineyard will serve as a living classroom where growers, farmworkers, and the community can engage in hands-on learning, innovation, and environmental stewardship. The Center will also provide space for NVG’s ongoing initiatives including educational programs, farmworker training, industry collaboration, and community outreach.
As NVG celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025, the Center represents a defining investment in the next fifty years of agricultural preservation. Napa Valley remains the only major agricultural region in the United States that has not lost a single acre of agricultural land since the passage of the Agricultural Preserve in 1968 – a testament to the organization and region’s long-standing commitment to farmland protection. The Center builds upon that legacy, strengthening NVG’s ability to respond to the growing challenges facing agriculture today.
“This project embodies who we are as growers – forward-thinking, collaborative, and deeply committed to the land and the people who care for it,” said Mark Pulido, Pulido~Walker Estate Vineyards, Napa Valley Grapegrowers Oakville Capital Campaign Co-Chair. “It is also a tribute to Steve Moulds, whose vision and leadership continue to guide our work. His belief in the importance of securing a home dedicated to grower and farmworker education is the foundation of this campaign.”
“Our finish line is in sight,” said Michael Silacci, Opus One Winemaker, Napa Valley Grapegrowers Oakville Capital Campaign Co-Chair. “With continued community support, we will build a Center that strengthens advocacy and educational efforts for Napa Valley agriculture for generations to come.”
For more information on the Oakville Capital Campaign, or to make a gift, please contact Chloe Tyer at ctyer@napagrowers.org or visit centerfornapagrowers.org.
About the Napa Valley Grapegrowers
For 50 years, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, has played a vital role in strengthening Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class viticultural region. Its mission is to cultivate viticultural excellence and environmental stewardship for the Napa Valley, and it represents over 600 Napa County grape growers and associated businesses. For more information, visit napagrowers.org and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
