Wine Issues

The heart and sole of the California wine industry lies within the boundaries of the First Congressional District. As a life-long resident of the Napa Valley, a former winery employee and a current winegrape grower, Congressman Thompson is acutely aware of the impact that the wine industry has on the First District and the state of California as well as the rest of the nation.

Today, the wine industry contributes $45 billion a year to California’s economy and creates hundreds of thousands of jobs, and much of this is done in the First Congressional District.

Learn about a recent report on the economic contributions of the wine and grape industries.

That is why Congressman Thompson, upon arriving in Washington, immediately set about creating a legislative organization to focus on the wine industry. He co-founded the Congressional Wine Caucus in 1999. Today, the Caucus brings together 250 Senators and Representatives from all 50 states to educate and engage them in legislative and regulatory matters pertaining to the wine industry.

Under Congressman Thompson’s leadership, the Wine Caucus has held numerous policy briefings and wine receptions on Capitol Hill and become involved in a wide variety of legislative issues, all with the goal of promoting our incredibly vibrant American wine industry from the vineyard to the wine glass. Some of the issues that the Caucus has been working on in the 108th Congress include: securing funding to stop the spread of Pierce’s Disease and the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, direct to consumer wine shipments and the protection of geographic indications and names of origin.

Press Releases

House Honors Life of Wine Icon Robert Mondavi (June 26, 2008)

Thompson, Boxer and Feinstein Introduce Resolution to Honor Robert Mondavi (May 29, 2008)

House Approves Nearly $40 Million for Local Agriculture Priorities (August 3, 2007)

Please click here for more Press Releases