SANTA ROSA, Calif. (October 6, 2025) –

The California Department of Food & Agriculture has announced it has certified the votes on the referendum to continue the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, also known as the Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW), for another five years.  Garnering 85.77% percent of the vote, winegrape growers strongly supported continuation of the organization.  The Commission was established in 2006 and is required by California law to conduct a grower vote every five years to determine if they want to continue to be assessed to fund the organization.

“It is very gratifying to see the efforts of the Commission recognized and supported by the very people who fund it and make all the great work possible,” said Bret Munselle, chairman of the SCW board of directors and owner of Munselle Vineyards.  He added, “Through the assessment, the growers have been personally investing in promoting Sonoma County for nearly 20 years and with this vote, SCW will continue its quest for another five years.”

Sonoma County is one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions with more than 1,800 growers who farm vineyards across 19 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).  Sonoma County is recognized globally for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation. Known for its forward-thinking growers, SCW successfully led the charge to become the world’s first sustainable winegrowing region in 2019 with a record 99% of its local vineyards certified sustainable.

“The results of the referendum indicate the strong support among winegrape growers for the direction and continued efforts of our organization,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “On behalf of our board of directors of the Sonoma County Winegrowers, our team and myself, I sincerely thank our winegrowing community for their support of SCW.  There are great challenges ahead so we will continue to innovate,  collaborate, and lead to do everything possible to create the best environment to grow and sell Sonoma County wines.”

SCW continues to lead through its Farm of the Future initiative, establishing Sonoma County as a “living lab” for innovation and regenerative agriculture. This first-of-its-kind platform brings together global collaborators such as Ford Pro, John Deere, Wilbur-Ellis, and Agrology to accelerate climate-smart farming solutions.

SCW’s dynamic marketing efforts extend nationwide through partnerships with brands and organizations including Landry’s, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant Group, the San Francisco Giants, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bears, Coachella Valley Firebirds, GuildSomm, Somm Journal and Food & Wine magazine—sharing the story of Sonoma County’s heritage, innovation, and excellence with new audiences across the country.

Beyond the vineyard, SCW supports the people who power the wine industry through its 501(c)(3) foundation, Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos, which invests in vineyard employees and their families. This includes a pioneering Leadership Academy designed to elevate the next generation of agricultural leaders.

About Sonoma County Winegrowers:
Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW) is a marketing and educational organization committed to promoting and protecting Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions. With more than 1,800 grape growers across 19 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), Sonoma County is recognized globally for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation.

In 2014, Sonoma County Winegrowers led the charge for all local vineyards to become certified sustainable, resulting in 99% of the region’s vineyard acreage being certified by a third-party auditor—making Sonoma County the most sustainable winegrowing region in the world.

SCW continues to lead through its Farm of the Future initiative, establishing Sonoma County as a “living lab” for innovation and regenerative agriculture. This first-of-its-kind platform brings together global collaborators such as Ford Pro, John Deere, Wilbur-Ellis, and Agrology to accelerate climate-smart farming solutions.

Beyond the vineyard, SCW supports the people who power the wine industry through its 501(c)(3) foundation, which invests in vineyard employees and their families. This includes a pioneering Leadership Academy designed to elevate the next generation of agricultural leaders.

SCW’s dynamic marketing efforts extend nationwide through partnerships with brands and organizations including Landry’s, Lettuce Entertain You, the San Francisco Giants, Houston Rockets, Chicago Bears, Coachella Valley Firebirds, and Food & Wine magazine—sharing the story of Sonoma County’s heritage, innovation, and excellence with new audiences across the country.

Contact: John Segale | John.Segale@fahlgren.com | (916) 600-1081