Family Winemakers of California monitors and lobbies a variety of public policy issues on behalf of its members. Legislation ranging from changes to the tied-house laws (the state’s alcohol laws) to environmental issues that affect winery and vineyard operations must be identified, their impact gauged and action taken.

The scope of the effort is significant. Each year the California Legislature introduces over 2,000 bills. And state agencies, such as the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control or departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency that regulate business activities, formulate new regulations based on recent laws or update old regulations. In addition, Family Winemakers monitors regional regulatory agency activity and federal actions by the Tax and Trade Bureau.

The 2009 legislative session has concluded.  Except for special session work on taxes and education, regular policy work won't start again until January 2010.   Family Winemakers is sponsoring SB 2 (Wiggins), which extends and expands the current Pierce's Disease Program if growers approve in a referendum that would be held in 2010.  The association is also closely involved on a measure that will allow consumers to take unfinished wine home from wine bars, as well as allow wineries to sell wine by the glass at branch office tasting rooms (AB 1470 - Evans).  SB 415 (Oropeza), opposed by FWC, would expand the scope of local government involvement in all alcohol license issuances and transfers.