June 23, 2026 (Sacramento, CA) — AB 1585 (Connolly & Ransom) was withdrawn from a Senate committee hearing this morning and will not be heard this year. This means the bill is defeated for this legislative session.
The decision to pull the bill was not a reflection of a lack of support. AB 1585 passed the Assembly without a single “no” vote, earned the backing of winegrape, wine, agricultural, and consumer organizations from across California and the nation, and generated more than 10,000 letters from Californians urging Senators to act. Those efforts ultimately did not move the Senate.
AB 1585, co-sponsored by the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) and Family Winemakers of California (FWC), would have required wine labeled “American” and sold in California to be made entirely from domestic grapes. Despite overwhelming support, it became clear that the influence of a small number of powerful opponents had shaped the direction of the committee, which was evident in the committee’s own analysis. Rather than participate in a process that would not allow for a fair consideration of the bill’s merits, the authors made the difficult decision to withdraw AB 1585 and preserve the opportunity to continue this fight.
“This is a deeply disappointing outcome for California growers, wineries, and consumers,” said Natalie Collins, President of CAWG. “California has a long history of leading on transparency and higher standards, yet a bill that passed the Assembly 67-0 and simply asked whether wine labeled ‘American’ should be made from American grapes never received an honest debate in the Senate. At a time when growers are removing vineyards and family wineries are struggling, it is troubling that preserving the ability to blend foreign wine into products labeled ‘American’ proved more important than strengthening consumer trust. In the end, the interests of a handful of global beverage companies carried more weight than the voices of California growers, family wineries, and consumers.”
“While this is a temporary setback, the true loss today belongs to the consumers who were denied a meaningful step forward in choice and clarity,” said GinaLisa Tamayo, Board President of Family Winemakers of California. “Family-owned wineries are built on transparency, and we firmly believe we are on the right side of this issue. The core challenges this bill sought to address are not going away. We will continue to stand with the bill’s supporters and advocate for truth in labeling.”
CAWG and FWC are grateful for the leadership of Assemblymembers Connolly and Ransom in fighting for truth in labeling and for the California growers and wineries who are truly behind the American name.
“This fight is not over,” said Collins. “But today should be a wake-up call. If we cannot agree that ‘American wine’ should mean American grapes at this critical moment in our industry, then we have a much bigger problem than labeling rules. How is California’s iconic wine industry supposed to rebuild when members of our own industry and their lobbying groups are fighting against American grapes in American wine? That is the question every grower, winery, and member of this industry in California should be asking today.”
About the California Association of Winegrape Growers
CAWG is a statewide nonprofit trade association advocating for California’s winegrape growers to ensure the sustainability of the winegrape industry. CAWG promotes the industry’s long-term success by advancing the adoption of sound public policies and fostering awareness and understanding of winegrape growers’ contributions to the economy, environment, and California communities. Learn more at cawg.org
About Family Winemakers of California
Founded in 1990, Family Winemakers of California is a statewide organization representing the interests of family-owned and independent wineries. With a mission rooted in advocacy, access, and education, FWC continues to champion the needs of independent producers who are the backbone of California’s wine economy. Learn more at familywinemakers.us
