BECOME
A MEMBER
JOIN
Whether you grow grapes, own a winery, retail business, restaurant, or tourism business in Calaveras County, there are many important reasons to become a member of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance. Established in 1989, within the heart of the Sierra Foothills wine region of Northern California, the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance is a community of family-run winery and vineyards owners along with small businesses, tourism organizations, and local wine enthusiasts. We are committed to sustainable practices that best support the land as well as the wines produced. Pre-Gold Rush era, the winemaking families of the Sierra Foothills staked the first vineyards planted in California in 1859 by Francis Medina, of the Bay State Ranch on the Calaveras River near San Andreas. Members of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance are focused on the production of hand-crafted wines, made in small batches, including Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Italian, Bordeaux, and Rhone varietals shared in our welcoming tasting rooms. We are dedicated to the success of our members as we provide educational workshops, develop meaningful events and host community-focused fundraising programs. Find our 2023 Member Events & Programs doc HERE.
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Membership Options:
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Open enrollment periods are in January and July for Winery and Industry members. Please download the membership application below and return it to the CWA office with payment. Online payment option located HERE. All memberships are subject to the discretion of the Board.
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Membership Value
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Marketing Programs: The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance staff and board is committed to marketing our unique wine region and our member businesses to a variety of wine enthusiasts and collectors regionally and nationally. Effective marketing programs provide a constant stream of exposure and information about our members to the media and the public, at large. Marketing tools include production of an annual CWA brochure with tasting room map and member directory, an interactive and digitally optimized website, distribution of monthly email marketing campaigns, social media advertising, video interview series, educational blog articles and print materials with invitations to annual events. Businesses that support the Calaveras County wine industry will find unlimited possibilities to showcase their products, services and experiences to our list of over 7500 consumers.
Promotional Programs: The smart and steady growth of our wine industry provides opportunities to enhance our annual events and invite tourists to Calaveras County businesses and tasting rooms. CWA sponsored events include: Presidents’ Wine Weekend in February, The Sierra Foothills Wine Competition and Fair Wine Pavilion in May, the CWA Vineyard Tour in June and CWA Grape Stomp and Harvest Celebration in October.
Education and Research: Members are invited to attend all educational programs. Grower and Winemaking Education Meetings are held the first Friday of each month, free of charge to active members and guests. Guest speakers include viticulturalists, plant biologists, entomologists, wine brokers and other professionals who represent the wine industry and agriculture in general. In addition, members have access to specialized tools including the Pressure Chamber for testing irrigation in the vineyards. Marketing and wine presentations workshops are offered throughout the year lead by subject matter experts in wine consumer engagement, hospitality and tourism.
Monitoring of Local Governments: As the government continues to become more involved in every level of business it is imperative to keep apprised of constantly changing regulations. The CWA in conjunction with other wine industry associations strive to stay abreast of issues that may affect personal property rights, water rights, agriculture rights, liquor licenses, and other legal challenges. The CWA provides our members with educational resources and speakers.