WineAmerica Annual Policy Conference
May 6-7th, 2023 – Washington, DC
All WineAmerica members are invited to attend.
If it’s May, it must be DC. Obviously it’s not May yet, but we’ve put all the plans together for an annual “fly in” when our members from around the country converge on the nation’s Capital to meet with their Senators and Representatives and advocate for our legislative priorities. Having actual constituents visit their DC offices is a powerful way to spread the message and show our collective commitment.
Another highlight of our spring conference is a meeting at the offices of the Tax and Trade Bureau which regulates the wine industry. This session is with the people who truly run the show, and they are eager to get industry input.
Vital Associations
Free the Grapes!
Est: 1998
HQ: CA
Members: Wine Lovers and Wineries
Mission: Freedom of choice for wine consumers
Oh, how we take things for granted! Today, wines may be shipped directly to consumers in 47 different states, which certainly was a lifesaver during the Covid shutdown. But it wasn’t always that way, and we can thank Free the Grapes! and its founding members for this freedom.
The Coalition for Free Trade, Family Winemakers of California, Napa Valley Vintners, WineAmerica, and Wine Institute combined forces in 1998 to create FTG! as a nonprofit organization of consumers and wineries to advocate for the liberalization and expansion of Direct to Consumer (DtC) shipping. It’s a national grassroots coalition of wine lovers and wineries who seek to remove barriers and streamline restrictions in states that prevent consumers from purchasing the wines they want directly from wineries.
FTG! was instrumental in the push for the U.S. Supreme Court’s favorable “Granholm” ruling in 2005, and with its founding partners has been responsible for the amazing record of today’s 47 states that allow DtC.
WineAmerica Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs Michael Kaiser serves on the Board of Directors of FTG!, which is funded through the annual Direct-to-Consumer conference as well as contributions from wineries. We strongly urge wineries to support this organization, which has brought so much business to your door.
FTG!’s website has sections summarizing key issues and describing how to take action. But the first step should be to join.
