Community

• Overview
• Community Events
• Locals' Discount Program
• Community Newsletter

home › programs & events ›

Community Newsletter

WHAT’S HAPPENING this winter… in the vineyard  This the normal dormancy (or sleep) period for vines; dormancy ends with budbreak in the spring.  Winter is time for pruning which plays an important role in vine and fruit development and pruning crews are going about the business of sculpting the vines for the next crop.  Buds and cuttings taken from the vine at this time may be used for propagation.  Pruning has to take place at just the right times because if water gets into fresh prune “wounds” the vines can become susceptible to moisture-induced infections such as eutypa.  When vineyard managers avoid these kinds of infections, they avoid treatments as well.   This is also the time of year for land preparation, weed control and for repairing or setting up new trellis systems.    While the vines are in their seasonal dormant phase, the rain is replenishing the moisture load in the soil and helping to refill local reservoirs and underground aquifers. All this moisture will eventually help bring on the first buds and blossoms of our upcoming growing season as vine roots reach deep down into the soil for just the right amount of water.  It’s a quiet time of year, but a crucial one for the success of the next harvest.  Already, the valley is carpeted in butter-yellow mustard – a sure sign of spring.    in the winery Wineries are engaged in the usual mix of activities, which ranges from giving tours and tastings to rearranging barrels in storage facilities to bottling wines.  In the cellar, the first wines of the most recent harvest like Riesling and Chenin Blanc will be bottled for release in spring.  Cellar crews are busy going barrel to barrel hand stirring the yeast or lees with a baton-like instrument in a process known as botanage.  This keeps the yeast active and integrates the flavors of the yeast into the wine for a more complex layering of flavor.  Bordeaux red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are finishing secondary fermentation known as malo-lactic fermentation.  This fermentation does not add or change the alcohol in the wine, but transforms the acids from malic acid to lactic acid to help soften the developing wine as it spends the next many months barrel aging.   NEWS AND VIEWS Is your favorite school an Adopt-a-School "orphan"? Supporting education and vocational programs for youth is a priority for the community and for NVV and we are collaborating with the Napa County Office of Education (NCOE) on a local Adopt-a-School program.  Our goal is to have each of the 42 public schools (K-12) in Napa County adopted by a NVV member winery; currently 25 schools are adopted with 17 remaining.  Creating an Adopt-a-School partnership is easy and the possibilities and rewards from linking local businesses with education are endless and the best examples prove that it doesn’t cost a thing to make a difference.  If you are affiliated with a Napa Valley winery, we encourage you to consider adopting a school.  Click here for more about the Adopt-a-School program and to see a list of available public schools (and those who have already been adopted).     American Canyon Chamber Recognizes NVV as Member of the Year The Napa Valley Vintners was recognized as the "Member of the Year" by the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce at the chamber's annual dinner on January 18. "NVV is always supportive of our endeavors," said Pam Wilkinson, president & CEO of the American Canyon Chamber of Commerce. "The NVV supports the Chamber not only financially, but also by getting involved. Without members like the NVV, the Chamber would not be headed in the positive direction that it is." This is the second year in a row NVV has received such recognition: the Napa Chamber of Commerce presented the NVV with its "Business of the Year" Award in January 2007.   What is so special about March 31? March 31st is a special day around here because Auction Napa Valley (ANV) tickets go on sale!   As a Napa County resident and friend of the NVV, don’t miss your chance to purchase half price tickets for just $125 to “Taste Napa Valley – The Marketplace. ” This must attend celebration of neighbors helping neighbors is on Friday, June 6 at Trinchero Family Estates in St. Helena.   The ambiance is festive, lively, and entertaining and the day includes a wonderful array of activities including the Barrel Tasting & Auction and the fabulous E-Auction. Auction Napa Valley 2008 is June 5-8 and the Heitz Wine Cellars family will chair this Napa Valley signature event. "Our family is proud to carry on the legacy of this incredible fundraiser that brings together the best Napa Valley has to offer while doing the good work of providing for our community's healthcare, housing and youth services non-profits," said Kathleen Heitz Meyers. You don't want to miss this celebration of all the best our Valley has to offer in wine, cuisine and fun!  Find out more about ANV – The American Wine Classic and purchase your discounted tickets beginning March 31st at http://www.napavintners.com/anv/.   Napa Valley Vintners receive Green Business Certification The NVV office recently enrolled in the Bay Area Green Business Program and received official certification as a Green Business, one of only approximately a dozen businesses in Napa County to receive certification so far from the Association of Bay Area Governments.  To be certified as a Green Business, a company or organization not only brings its operations into compliance with all environmental regulations, but must also meet the targeted resource conservation and pollution prevention measures of the program.  Greening the NVV’s home is the latest in our ongoing environmental initiatives such as the Napa Green Certified Winery program, and making all NVV events including Auction Napa Valley, models of waste diversion and reduction.     NVV’s Napa Green Certified Winery program launches   Napa Green Certified Winery, a brand-new NVV program that brings sustainable business practices inside the winery, was officially launched to NVV members and the wine community at a special event on January 29th.   Renowned mountaineer, environmentalist and Patagonia® founder/owner Yvon Chouinard inspired attendees by sharing his insights about the process to make his company more environmentally responsible--and how this benefited the company's bottom line. Wineries are taking action to protect our environment and are committed to the continued stewardship of our valley’s resources.  Napa Green Certified Winery goes beyond compliance and includes practices that address water conservation, energy conservation, pollution prevention, and solid waste reduction.  The program was developed by the NVV as a companion to Napa Green Certified Land, already underway in Napa County which establishes sustainable land management practices endorsed by federal, state and local regulatory agencies.    15 minutes of fame at a local service club Are you a member of a local service club like Rotary and Kiwanis and looking for programs for your group?  If so, the NVV can help!  We have a 15-minute presentation at the ready and can provide engaging speakers and an informative presentation for your club or business group.  Please contact Jeri Hansen-Gill at jhansen@napavintners.com to schedule a presentation.    About the NVV Now in our seventh decade, the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association is the sole organization responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley Appellation as a winegrowing region second to none in the world. Respect for our history reinforces our commitment to the preservation and enhancement of the Valley’s land, wine, and community for future generations. We address the shared interests of our more than 300 member wineries and aspire to be the essential organization for all Napa Valley vintners. Please feel free to forward this newsletter.  A free subscription form and more about NVV activities and wine industry news and topics of interest can be found at www.napavintners.com. Next issue:  Spring 2008