Economic Impact of Napa's Wine Industry more than $13 Billion to Napa County

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) released today the updated and most comprehensive report to date on the value of the region's wine industry titled The Economic Impact of Napa County's Wine and Grapes by Barbara Insel, founder of Stonebridge Research.

Key Findings in Insel's report:

• The region's wine production has an annual economic impact on Napa County of $13.3 billion
• The wine industry, directly and indirectly provides 46,000 full-time equivalent jobs in Napa County
• Wine-related tourism generates more than $1 billion annually
• The wine industry generates nearly $1.3 billion annually in local, state and federal taxes
• The high value of the product speaks clearly to Napa's reputation for quality wine
• Napa's vintners generate $84 million annually in charitable contributions

"This is the most comprehensive examination of our wine industry's economic impact to date, giving us a more detailed look from a multitude of resources, from one-on-one interviews with wine and wine-related businesses to local, state and federal reporting agencies," said NVV Executive Director Linda Reiff. "The Napa wine industry is healthy and thriving, fueling our local and national economies even in these uncertain times."

Insel's report noted that along with the renown of the appellation and the cluster of industry expertise in Napa Valley, the region attracted even more vintners, winegrowers, and service providers, making Napa a hub of the California wine industry.

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Napa Vintners Invest $1.14 Million to Resources, Education and Services for At-Risk Families

Today the NVV announced its second category of giving from the proceeds of the 2012 Auction Napa Valley fundraiser: $1.14 million for resources, education, and services for at-risk families, as part of its $7 million commitment to two strategic priorities--community health and children's education.

According to research conducted by Nobel Prize-winning University of Chicago Economic Professor James Heckman, a difficult family environment--especially adverse parenting--is a major predictor of cognitive and social issues with children. Many of the biggest socioeconomic problems--crime, obesity and chronic diseases, homelessness, teenage pregnancy, school dropout rates, and domestic violence, to name a few--can be traced back in large part to this one common denominator: the early family environment.

"Early intervention to prevent these issues produces great returns not only to individuals--in the form of better educational, health, economic and social outcomes," explained Linda Reiff, NVV executive director,"but to society, by saving taxpayers money and increasing economic productivity."

This second round of community investment by the NVV is designated for early-intervention programs that help families with income, education, health and other barriers become self-sufficient and provide safe environments for all family members.

A total of 11 local, community-based programs will receive grants: Children's Health Initiative; COPE Family Center; Family Centers of St. Helena, Calistoga and American Canyon; Healthy Moms & Babies; Napa Emergency Women's Services; Napa CASA; ParentsCAN; Planned Parenthood; and Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center.

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Still Harvesting Above the Napa Valley

Look to the western hills and Spring Mountain, where we routinely pick into November. The vineyards lie above the valley floor fog and get sunshine beginning at dawn. 20% of our fruit, all cabernet, is still hanging, and I expect to have everything picked by the end of this week.

An outstanding vintage!

Jac Cole
Winemaker
Spring Mountain Vineyard

Napa Valley Harvest 2012 Finale

As it was with the San Francisco Giants, so it is with Harvest Napa Valley 2012: a winning season. Perfect ripeness and lots and lots of fruit are now in the cellars, about to undergo the alchemy of fermentation and the winemaker's art.

The last in our harvest video series answers monumental questions such as: "What is the first thing you do at the end of harvest?" (open a very cold beer, crash and sleep for 24 hours, throw a pig roast) and "If harvest were a holiday..." along with the crazy laughter that comes at the end of a very good year.

Thanks for taking the Harvest Napa Valley 2012 ride with us! Visit http://harvestnapavalley.com for more on Harvest Napa Valley 2012

The hairiest harvester is...

Congratulations to Matt Levy of Schramsberg Vineyards & J. Davies Estate on his win of the most hotly contested race in the Napa Valley - the Harvest Beard Competition! With an impressive 7,942 votes for his metamorphosis, Matt has won a $250 gift certificate to a Napa Valley restaurant recognized by our Wine List Program. Thank you to our hairy participants and all who voted!