California Governor signs up to Napa

Published: 23 July, 2008

A great day for consumers who care about quality and truth in labelling

Napa Valley vintners are celebrating victory over the use of the Napa name. Senate Bill 1293 was signed into law by California Governor Gray Davis (Harpers Weekly print version, 15 September), thus protecting the name of America's most famous premium wine-producing region. The law requires that any wine with the word "Napa" on the wine label must contain at least 75% Napa Valley-grown grapes. "This is a great day for consumers who care about quality and truth in labelling," said Jack Stuart, president of the Napa Valley Vintners' Association and president of Silverado Vineyards. "Our thanks go to the Governor for his support of this very important measure for the industry and consumers." "For more than a century, Napa County wines have been renowned for their quality," said Governor Davis. "This legislation will end consumer confusion and deceptive marketing, and protect the reputation of the Napa Valley wines." The law assures consumers that the wines produced and/or sold in California with brand names, packaging materials or advertising referring to Napa, in fact qualify for the Napa County appellation designation. The San Francisco Chronicle recently called the proposed law, "a modest truth-in-bottling bill". State Assemblywoman Pat Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) and State Senator Wes Chesbro (D-Arcata) sponsored the original versions of the legislation - AB 683 and SB 1293 - approved by the Legislature earlier this year. The Napa Valley Vintners' Association is a non-profit trade organisation representing 181 wineries, ranging from small, family-owned operations to large producers.

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