At Napa Valley Grapegrowers, understanding weather trends is key to supporting sustainable vineyard practices. Recently, we spoke with Erik Moldstad from Precision Forecasting to discuss the current dry and sunny conditions affecting our region.

A Dry Winter Explained
​This season, Napa Valley has experienced drier-than-average weather following a wet early winter. Erik attributes this to a La Niña pattern combined with warmer-than-usual ocean temperatures across the Pacific.

“These warmer ocean temperatures create high-pressure systems along the coast, blocking rain and resulting in dry, sunny weather,” Erik explained. Napa often falls between the extremes of wetter weather in the Pacific Northwest and drier conditions in Southern California during La Niña years. Unfortunately, the forecast for the second half of winter points to less frequent and lighter rain than usual.

Hopes for Rain?
When asked about the likelihood of an atmospheric river breaking through, Erik shared that while some rain is possible, high-pressure systems are expected to dominate. Still, Napa’s early-season rains have filled reservoirs and replenished soil moisture, putting the region in a better position despite the dry outlook.

Looking Ahead
While the forecast suggests continued dryness, Napa Valley is well-prepared thanks to early winter rains. Erik encourages growers to enjoy the mild weather while staying informed. His forecasts, available through Precision Forecasting, provide valuable insights to help vineyard managers adapt to changing conditions.

Half a century ago, a group of forward-thinking, passionate Napa Valley farmers met around Ren Harris’ dining room table in Oakville to create the Napa Valley Grapegrowers. These pioneers recognized the unique potential inherent in this valley to grow winegrapes that could create wine worthy of competition with the finest offerings from across the globe. Over the past 50 years, NVG has evolved to address some of the most pressing issues facing the Napa grape-growing community, further establishing and protecting this amazing land for generations to come.
A few highlights of our work over the past 50 years:

• Our founders helped create and pass legislation ensuring Napa Valley growers were not only recognized but fairly rewarded for their efforts in cultivating some of the best grapes grown in the state of California. NVG evolved to promote the use of geographical and historical indicators to establish a wine’s appellation, allowing consumers to further distinguish Napa Valley wines.
• NVG participated in crafting the Winery Definition Ordinance and supported Measure J as a means to add more impactful longevity to Napa County’s groundbreaking Agricultural Preserve.
• When organic farming began to gain traction in Napa vineyards, NVG launched the Organic Winegrowing Conference to disseminate cutting-edge viticultural practices, a practice that serves as a pillar of our organization to this day.
• Our support of and collaboration with the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office helped eradicate the invasive European Grapevine Moth from Napa’s vineyards.
• In 2018, NVG leadership took the bold step to transition the organization’s nonprofit status from a 501(c)(5) to a 501(c)(3), empowering our efforts to bridge to the greater community. We remain committed to providing key technical education and unwavering advocacy for our members and their vineyards while embarking upon outreach to the community to promote our unique grape-growing heritage.

The NVG Board of Directors, in collaboration with our dedicated NVG staff, has curated a year-long celebration of this milestone, complete with monthly themes highlighting important aspects of our past, present, and future. Our “Grown in Napa Valley” Podcast, released on the tenth of each month, will feature a cast of growers and winemakers who have played a pivotal role in the success of our valley. I invite you to tune in to our freshly released January episode featuring Richard Mendelson and, appropriately, Ren Harris.

We will host several events, including the relaunch of our annual membership meeting (complete with a special guest keynote speaker), to celebrate this feat together with a glass of Napa Valley wine in hand. Keep your eyes peeled for announcements on these upcoming events, and take a peek at our 50th-anniversary calendar.

As we embark upon the next 50 years, the practice of grape growing in our precious valley will be faced with numerous challenges. The wine sales marketplace continues to evolve. Our climate continues to shift. Our knowledge of our environment and our impact upon it will continue to progress. The Napa Valley Grapegrowers stand at the ready to tackle challenges and to support our growers and the health of our environment. We, too, will continue to evolve.

I invite everyone to take a moment this year to embrace the accomplishments of the past, to contemplate the current nature of our valley, and to envision a future that continues to provide for our entire community, just as it has for each and every one of us. I find myself overflowing with gratitude to play a part in leading this historic organization as we celebrate, and I can’t wait to raise a glass with you!

Here’s to the next 50 years of growing together!

Caleb Mosley
​Executive Director

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, Executive Director and host Caleb Mosley celebrates the Napa Valley Grapegrowers' 50th anniversary with two in-depth conversations highlighting the region's rich history, agricultural legacy, and future challenges.
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The episode begins with Richard Mendelson, a renowned wine lawyer, author, and historian. Richard discusses the pivotal moments that shaped Napa Valley, from the 19th-century wine pioneers to the post-Prohibition revival and the creation of the Agricultural Preserve in 1968. He emphasizes the critical role of human influence in terroir, the importance of resilience in the face of climate change, and the need to preserve Napa’s agricultural heritage. 

The conversation continues with Ren Harris, one of the founding members of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers and a celebrated vintner. Ren reflects on his early days in Napa, the region’s shift from prunes to vineyards, and his instrumental role in creating the Napa Valley Grapegrowers organization. He shares stories about his work advocating for farmworker rights, creating health insurance plans for vineyard workers, and establishing marketing orders and appellation rules that shaped Napa’s identity. Ren also discusses the evolution of vineyard practices, his family’s Paradigm Winery, and the significance of preserving Napa’s community spirit and agricultural lands amid climate and economic changes.

This episode is brought to you by Pulido Walker Estate Vineyards. 

"The secret to Napa Valley's success is people, not just terroir. Terroir includes the natural elements, but it also includes the human element — the people who plant the vineyards, work the fields, make the wine. Without that, it's not a complete picture." – Richard Mendelson

"The Agricultural Preserve was a bet on Napa’s future before anyone knew what was coming. It was about preserving the land for agriculture at a time when many didn’t believe in the potential of wine here. It remains the most important decision in Napa's history." – Richard Mendelson

"Social justice is now a part of terroir. When I traveled the world to protect the Napa Valley name, people asked me how we treat our farmworkers. It’s become clear that how we care for our community is just as important as the land itself in defining our identity." – Richard Mendelson
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"You make your wine in the vineyard. I always tell Heidi Barrett, 'We're bringing you really good grapes — just don’t screw it up!' It’s all about even ripening and meticulous farming, and you can’t achieve that by cutting corners." – Ren Harris

"Two dirt farmers from Napa got the federal government to change appellation laws for the entire country. We used the tools we had — connections, common sense, and persistence — to ensure that if it says Napa Valley on a bottle, it means something." – Ren Harris