Shutdown Postponed

A few days before the November 17 deadline, the House passed a two-step Continuing Resolution that was accepted by the Senate and signed by the President, averting a government shutdown while establishing new deadlines of late January and early February to adopt a new budget—or go through the same fire drill again.

That’s a big deal. First, it keeps everything running normally. Second, it means our Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs, Michael Kaiser, won’t have to spend his family holidays prowling Capitol Hill. Third, we can now proceed with a planned legislative wine reception on November 29 with our colleagues and partners at Wine Institute.

More things to be thankful for…

WineAmerica Fall Retreat: Thank You, and Welcome!

Last week WineAmerica held our annual Fall Retreat in the wine country of Traverse City, Michigan, where Board member Marie Chantal-Dalese of Chateau Chantal served as local coordinator and gracious host. The two-day event served as a reminder of how important Michigan has been to the American wine industry and to WineAmerica for so many years.

Michigan was one of the few northern states which long ago staked its future on classic vinifera wine grape varieties, especially Riesling, and has since broadened its offerings and reputation for quality. Several years ago, Black Star Farms Dry Riesling won Best Riesling in the World at the prestigious Canberra International Riesling Challenge, and Michigan’s various regions are often cited as top wine country destinations by major travel media.

The Braganini and O’Keefe families have been stalwarts not only of the Michigan wine industry but also WineAmerica. St. Julian Winery is a true pioneer in the state’s wine industry, as well as the top medal winner, and a longtime member of WineAmerica. The late David Braganini served as Treasurer for years, and his brother John and sister–in-law Sarah received our Dedication Award on his behalf. Chateau Grand Traverse’s O’Keefe family shares similar characteristics and commitment on behalf of the industry, so we presented Eddie O’Keefe III with our Leadership Award for his time on our Board and as Chairman.

Segueing from the past to the future, we were also delighted to welcome three new members to our 17-member Board of Directors. Kelly Bostock owns and runs Dos Cabezas WineWorks in Arizona with her husband Todd, and will be representing the Rocky Mountain region on the WineAmerica Board. Representing California, Jason Haas is the second generation proprietor of Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, where WineAmerica will hold its 2024 Fall Retreat. Dave Kostelnik handles marketing and public relations for Virginia’s Early Mountain Vineyards, and will serve as an At-Large member of the Board. More information on each of them will appear in future editions of this newsletter.

WineAmerica, the only National Association of American Wineries, is governed by a 17-member Board of Directors including two from California, one each from New York, Oregon, and Washington, and several regional seats plus At-Large members. Elections are held annually, and the leadership positions are changed every two years. The combination of Board members who have served for long, medium, and short periods of time ensures a combination of historical context and new perspectives, making WineAmerica a vibrant organization.