California Has Sustainable Winegrowing Code, Hailed by Governor Schwarzenegger

 

Governor Schwarzenegger applauds California"s wine industry as one of the largest, most successful wine enterprises in the world. According to the Wine Institute (www.wineinstitute.org), California"s wineries and winegrape growers produce $19 billion in sales in the United States alone.

 

In his recognizable accent, Governor Schwarzenegger declared, "Every bottle of California wine served across the globe reflects our excellence and serves as an ambassador for our fantastic lifestyle, cuisine, and culture.- Typically each September the Governor will make an announcement and proclamation on behalf of the wine industry; he does advertising promotions about California being the destination capital for culinary travel.

 

 

California"s best wine resource is its climate. To capitalize on its reputation as the premiere wine destination, Californians cater to American and international tourists by promoting everything from vineyard tours to wine tasting lessons to wine-related cultural events. 20 million tourists visit wine regions throughout the state to explore the wine industry. And California does not end its wine activities in California; rather, the events spread across the country, all the way to New York during September. Big events are held in New York that feature the gamut of Californian wines. Participants are encouraged to experience the variety of flavors and colors that come from diverse regions of California. 

 

 

A big part of California"s success and attention comes from its willingness to embrace environmental stewardship as part of its winegrowing community code. Governor Schwarzenegger applauds the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices, which was initiated in 2002 by the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers. Environmentalists, regulators, academicians, and social equity groups provided input during the two years it took to write the document. Winegrowers have a nearly 500 page workbook to assess their practices, including tips on winegrape growing, soil management, pest management, ecosystems management, water and energy conservation, materials handling, and human resources.

 

California"s ground-breaking code is a role model for other winegrowers in the US and around the globe. For more information and to check out the workbook online, go to www.cawg.org.