We will publish this newsletter for the trade on a quarterly basis, printed and electronically at first, with a goal to send this to you via email-only in the coming months. Please visit us at www.napavintners.com and click on "Tools for the Trade" to subscribe to on press-trade edition. As an incentive to subscribe to the on line version, when you sign up, your name will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a beautifully framed map of Napa Valley's appellations.

The vines may be dormant this time of year, but we're busy as ever, promoting and protecting the Napa Valley Appellation: we're heading out on market visits across the U.S. and around the world, hosting two world-renowned auctions here in our own backyard, plus continuing to educate about what makes the Napa Valley so unique and why we work so hard to protect our name and our heritage.

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Napa Valley Vintners
Court Refuses to Hear Bronco's Appeal
Corks were popping at wineries throughout Napa Valley on January 23, 2006 in celebration of the U.S Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal to reopen the case of California's truth in labeling law in what is a resounding victory for consumers and NVV alike. Certiorari denied, in case 05-653 was announced without any further comment.

The case brought to the U.S. Supreme Court by Bronco Wine Co. was a request that the court hear an appeal of the California State Supreme Court's denial of an appeal to its ruling against the wine conglomerate. The long-running legal battle stems from a California truth in wine labeling statute (25241) that was signed into law in 2000 whereby wine brands could not promote themselves to be something they are not. Specifically, wine brands cannot represent themselves as appearing to be produced in Napa Valley from Napa Valley grapes when they are not. The California court unanimously ruled against Bronco in April 2005 and in August 2005 refused to hear an appeal.

Linda Reiff, executive director, of the NVV, said: "Those who have been misusing the Napa name have been on notice since the California law was passed in 2000, and today that notice has come due. Our goal has been unwavering from the start: if it says Napa on the label, the wine in the bottle better be from Napa."

The controversy stems from wine brand names that use Napa place names, yet intentionally produce wines from grapes grown outside the Napa appellation. This undercuts the reputation of Napa Valley-grown products while trading on the cachet of the renowned wine growing region. The issue at hand is that these "value" wines specifically seek sales by misrepresenting to the consumer that they are seemingly from high-profile, quality-associated brands. Napa's growers and wineries have worked diligently for over 150 years to be second to none as world-recognized leaders in fine wine production.

PREMIERE NAPA VALLEY X
Napa Valley's Hottest Ticket for the Trade Celebrates 10th Anniversary

February 25, 2006
Nearly four hundred of Napa's renowned winemakers and winery owners will host hundreds of winetrade and media from around the world in Napa Valley for Premiere Napa Valley (PNV). This invitation-only barrel tasting and auction is an opportunity for members of the trade to barrel taste and bid on wines that are truly unique: made one time for this event only in tiny quantities-5, 10 or 20 cases-and sold only to one bidder. As each lot comes of age, the wine is bottled, specially labeled and shipped to its owner. For information about attending PNV and placing absentee bids, please call us at 707-963-3388.

If You Can't Attend
We encourage trade to attend PNV, not only to purchase wines, but to meet and mingle with vintners, old favorites and new up-and-comers alike. If you can't make it but would like to obtain one or more of these unique lots, absentee bidding is available.

Let Us Help Promote and Sell Your Lot
If you become the proud owner of a PNV auction lot, we can help you promote and sell that lot through our "Find a Premiere Napa Valley Retailer" link on the NVV web site. More than 1 million people visit the NVV web site each year, so don't miss this opportunity to get your business in front of customers looking for PNV (and other Napa Valley) wines.

Notes from the Field
2005 Napa Valley Harvest Report: Outstanding Quality Across the Board

Initial Results Find Vintners All Smiles!
Once again growers and winemakers all over Napa Valley are thrilled with the prospect of not just a great quality harvest, but an outstanding one for vintage 2005. The year began with wet weather, followed by a dry period in March, then continued rainfall well into spring with later than usual bloom and set on the vine. The valley experienced unseasonable precipitation into early June.

The cool weather continued, with a pleasant summer with few heat spikes. As September approached, growers had concern that the larger than normal crop on the vine would not fully ripen as fog prevailed well into when warm temperatures of Indian Summer typically prevail to harvest. Eventually, though later than normal, the warm days arrived, building much-needed sugars, especially in the red varieties.

"From a vintner's perspective I've never seen the vines look healthier," remarked Craig Williams, senior vice president and director of winemaking for Joseph Phelps Vineyards, as harvest neared. "This year's harvest seemed late compared to years like 2004 and some growers were getting anxious, but it wasn't really all that late compared to older vintages," said Jon Ruel, director of viticulture for Trefethen Vineyards.

As harvest began, growers had the best of scenarios; an extended hang time with perfectly balanced sugars and acids. Colors in red wines, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, were intense, inky-dark and opulent. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers were equally happy with the vintage as the extended time on the vine provided wonderful aromatics that should translate into the final bottling.

Some wineries were taken by surprise not only by the incredible quality that they were seeing and tasting at harvest, but also by the consistency and abundance of the crop. Winemakers were scrambling to find as much tank and barrel space as possible as it was unfolding as one of those vintages to write home about.

Tools for the Trade
The Science Behind the Romance of Napa Valley Now Available

There's nothing more romantic than wine, and we've got the cold, hard facts to demonstrate what makes Napa Valley second to none in growing the world's finest wine grapes. It's all in an easy-to-use seminar created by the NVV that you can use to educate yourself, your staff and your clients.

Presented in a downloadable PowerPoint presentation, the program explains Napa Valley's unique geologic history, diverse soils, micro-climates and appellations, and brings home the importance of place to wine. Find the romance and the science at www.napavintners.com and click on "Tools for the Trade."

Napa Floods: 'Wringing' in the New Year
Wet and wild weather on December 30th with as much as ten inches of rain, as measured on Mt Veeder, created swollen rivers and creeks and extensive flooding in the commercial area along the Napa River in downtown Napa. After days of precipitation, and ground already saturated, this 50-year storm event arrived. Within a 24 hour period the Napa River rose above flood stage and buildings and streets in downtown Napa, located at the southern end of the valley, were quickly inundated with the rising water. By January 1, the river had dropped below flood stage, but left behind widespread damage.

High water and flooding did occur in the vineyard land in the valley, but most vines were spared damage due to state-of-the-art, sustainable agricultural practices. Cover crops, such as fescues and rye, are planted between the vine rows to keep the top soil from washing away during the rainy winter months. The regions first rains arrived in early November which provided moisture to activate the dormant grasses. By the time the heavy storms arrived at year's end, the cover crops were able to stabilize the soil and prevent extended damage.

Some trellis systems were affected as high water swept by, but with the exception of some levee breaks along the Napa River that created surging water, most vineyards survived well intact. Grapevines are dormant this time of year and are largely unaffected by excessive moisture.

Most growers have done extensive stream bank restoration over the years and this hard work paid off. Phillip Blake from the U.S. Department of Agriculture said: "We are seeing some real flood damage reduction benefits from the extensive riparian restoration work and use of sustainable farming practices such as cover crops."

Taste Napa Valley Coming to a Town Near You!
Our winemakers travel across the U.S. and around the world to promote Napa Valley's wines with events we call Taste Napa Valley. This program is both educational and fun and features trade-only and consumer tastings, charity fundraisers and our signature event, Nightlife Napa Valley ~ a late-night club party to introduce Napa wines to the younger crowd. Our goal is visit with friends, old and new, and share our wines. You get to meet the characters who create these treasures and get the low-down on what's new in Napa Valley.

If you would like to host an in-store or on-premise tasting with our winemakers as part of Taste Napa Valley, contact Kim Wiss, marketing director, at 707-968-4201 or via email at kwiss@napavintners.com. Look for us from here to Shanghai! Check our calendar for cities and dates.

2006 NVV Calendar of Events
Join us in the valley and on the road as we promote and protect the Napa Valley Appellation around the world and in our own back yard.

Premiere Napa Valley X - February 25, 2006
A mid-winter barrel tasting and auction exclusively for the trade featuring more than 180 one-of-a-kind wines crafted for PNV. Held at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, 2006 toasts our 10th anniversary of this sell-out annual event.

Taste Napa Valley: Washington, D.C. - March 13-16, 2006
Over sixty vintners will bring our message to Washington to meet with legislators to continue the work in truth in wine labeling laws and protecting the Napa Valley Appellation. Capping off the visit will be a series of consumer events and a trade tasting at the Ritz-Carlton.

Prowein: Düsseldorf, Germany - March 24-28, 2006
The NVV heads to the largest international wine trade fair in Europe to promote the Napa Valley as winegrowing region second to none in the world.

Taste Napa Valley: Asia - April 21-28, 2006
Vintners visit Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong for a series of trade and consumer events, including Nightlife Napa Valley, our signature event, for younger wine drinkers.

London International Wine & Spirits Fair - May 16-18, 2006
Vintners will be pouring in the Napa Valley Appellation booth, and will host Nightlife Napa Valley UK.

Auction Napa Valley - June 1-4, 2006
The grand daddy of America's charity wine auctions, now in its 26th year, features a weekend of private events throughout the valley and a rousing auction with incredible live, barrel and e-lots. ANV has raised over $60 million dollars to date for health care, low-income housing and youth and family services

Masters of Wine Symposium in Napa Valley - June 29-July 2, 2006
Working in conjunction with the Institute of the Master of Wine's symposium, vintners will host a wine dinner and an educational seminar for members of the trade and media. For additional information log on to www.master-of-wine.org

Society of Wine Educators Annual Conference: Oregon - July 9-15, 2006
Members of the NVV offer enlightening, entertaining and educational seminars for members of SWE.

Taste Napa Valley: UK - September 7-14, 2006
Vintners head to Dublin and London for a series of trade and consumer tastings, including Nightlife Napa Valley.

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