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Family Winemakers wants to help you grow your DtC with our new partnership

Accepting memberships for 2024!

Family Winemakers of California (FWC) is now accepting Associate Member Renewals and New Applications for 2024.  

Family Winemakers of California is dedicated to championing the rights of its members to produce, market, and sell wine. During each legislative session, FWC actively scrutinizes more than 100 proposed bills that could affect the Wine Industry. On behalf of its small family winery members, FWC then takes action before the California Legislature and relevant state regulatory agencies as an unwavering advocate for positive change. 

An Associate Membership with FWC is strongly encouraged since you are an allied professional or business who serves the Wine Industry and supports the growth and success of Family Wineries. Dues are a mere $600 per fiscal year. A membership with FWC gives your organization direct access to Sacramento legislators through FWC’s lobbyists at Political Solutions. To further extend our educational outreach and support candidates who align with our views, we have established the FWCPAC. Funds are raised independently for this purpose through donations made by our member wineries per Fair Political Practice Commission guidelines. 

We strongly encourage Associate members to become key sponsors for our 2024 Tasting Event season. We have restructured our sponsorship opportunities for 2024 and funding levels begin at $500 for representation across all events. Please contact Jessica Venezia by email, jessica@familywinemakers.org, to receive a full list of sponsor related products and event details and dates to determine which product and placement is the best fit for your organization.

As we embark on the journey in 2024, we invite you to renew your membership with FWC and actively participate in shaping the future of the California wine industry. Your support is invaluable, and together, we can ensure a thriving environment.

Benefits

Advocacy
Family Winemakers is principally an advocacy organization that promotes the rights of members to produce, market and sell wine. Every session FWC works 100+ bills on your behalf, engages on wine industry regulatory issues, and works on direct shipping reform. Reform of state alcohol law in the past 14 years has been substantial. Political Solutions, Inc. is our lobbying firm in Sacramento (916) 492-2766.
Trade & Consumer Tastings

FWC-hosted wine tastings for qualified trade, media and consumers in Southern California and the Bay Area are key marketing events. Each is a cost effective way to reconnect with clients and meet new customers. Participation re-quires payment of dues, an exhibitor fee and insurance with liquor liability coverage. These costs are not included in regular membership fee. Type 02, 17/20 and 85 licensees can pour. Associate members can attend. One event in the Spring (SoCal) and one event in August (SF) for approximately 600 trade and consumer attendees. 

Website Links
FWC members are listed on our new web site (www.familywinemakers.org) under their membership category. This includes contact information and a link to your online wine store, as well as the ability to post your logo and a brief description. More importantly, FWC’s web site will allow wineries engaged in direct-to-consumer wine sales to list themselves on the wine shipping map. The map is designed to tell consumers which wineries sell in their state.
Membership Page
FWC members have password-protected access to their membership information on our Member Page to provide the association with updated information and a simple method to use for the annual renewal process. This is also where registration to pour at a tasting occurs.
Property & Casualty
FWC partners with National Winery Insurance for winery and vineyard property and casualty insurance, which can include liquor liability. For more information and a quote, please contact Jessica Huang at 408-343-8682 or jessica@nationalwineryinsurance.com
Education Program
FWC hosts quarterly webinars on key winery topics with Moss Adams. Look for email announcements to sign up.
Credit Card Process
FWC partners with Elavon for credit card processing services.For more information on rates and services contact Dale Morton dale.morton@elavon.com 678.731.5424
Political Action Committee
FWCPAC extends our educational reach and assist candidates that share our views. Funds are raised separately for this activity under Fair Political Practice Commission guidelines. Participation by member wineries will enhance FWC's ability to advocate small producer views. Contributions are voluntary, but strongly encouraged and have helped build solid relationships for winery issues.
Health Plan Options
We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with David Ernstam Insurance Services to offer our members' exclusive and affordable Ag related health plan options that meet our industry needs. Through this partnership, we have Eric Lewis, David Ernstam, and their team of dedicated health benefit professionals. This partnership could provide you with lower-cost health coverage for you and your workforce in addition to many value-added services. For more information or to get a quote, contact: Eric Lewis – 530. 923.4676 | Email: eric@ernstam.com
DTC Opportunity for Members
VinoShipper – DTC opportunity. FWC has a partnership with VinoShipper offering our members the opportunity to sell direct to 40 states with non-exclusive license agreements already in place. There are no installation, monthly or recurring fees. This is "pay-as-you-go'. You only pay when you sell your wine. Our winery members receive exclusive member only pricing. Contact Theresa Dorr at Theresa@vinoshipper.com with questions.
BVI visually impaired website compliance
An ADA visually impaired website compliance partner at reduced “Family Winemakers Only” pricing through BVI using certified accessibility auditors who are blind and visually impaired. Click here for FWC member only information, or contact Katie Link at Katie.Link@envisionus.com.
 

 

 

 

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