This episode of Grown in Napa Valley highlights both the business realities and opportunities facing Napa Valley grape growers. In the first segment, Caleb Mosley speaks with Michael Cuffe of Napa Valley Creative Agency about a marketing audit program offered through NVG and funded by the Western Extension Risk Management Education (ERME) program. Cuffe discusses how many growers, particularly those who have relied on long-term contracts for decades, now find themselves needing to market their vineyards for the first time. He emphasizes the importance of basic branding tools such as websites, professional photography, storytelling, and social media presence, while encouraging growers to highlight the prestigious wineries and wines their vineyards have supplied over the years. Despite current industry challenges, Cuffe remains optimistic about Napa Valley's future and believes growers who invest in telling their story will be better positioned for long-term success. 
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In the second segment, Remi Cohen, President and CEO of Domaine Carneros, joins Caleb for Glass with a Grower and shares her journey from vineyard-focused viticulturist to winery executive. Cohen reflects on the importance of connecting vineyard practices to consumer storytelling, noting that every grower plays a critical role in promoting Napa Valley wine. The conversation explores Domaine Carneros' history, sparkling wine production, sustainability initiatives, and the challenges of the 2026 growing season, including an unusually early start followed by erratic weather. While acknowledging ongoing market pressures, Cohen encourages growers to remain positive, continue sharing the value of Napa Valley agriculture, and focus on innovation, hospitality, and long-term resilience as the industry adapts to changing conditions.

• "If you're a grape grower, you should have a website. Do you need an Instagram page? Not really. But should you have a website that's just a well-produced profile piece of your property? Absolutely." - Michael Cuffe 
• "I really, really want growers to start lifting and talking more about the really amazing things they're doing in their vineyards." - Caleb Mosley 
  
• "If you're growing grapes in Napa Valley, you are a wine grower. You need to think all the way through to that end product." - Remi Cohen 
  
• "Wine's not cool right now. But I do believe wine is going to be cool again. That's the way things work. It flips back and forth." - Michael Cuffe 
  
• "It's an all hands-on deck moment. We all as an industry need to be selling what we do, the magic of our industry, the magic of Napa Valley." - Caleb Mosley 
  
• "The strong producers, the smart producers are going to be thriving after this turn. Think smart, work smart, be strategic, and be as positive as you can." - Remi Cohen 
  

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, Executive Director Caleb Mosley sits down with climate scientist Daniel Swain to discuss the unusual 2026 growing season and what Napa Valley growers should be paying attention to. Swain explains the record-breaking heat experienced in March and April, the complex relationship between climate change and extreme weather events, and why growers are increasingly dealing with both ends of the spectrum: severe drought conditions and periods of excessive rainfall. The conversation also explores topics such as offshore winds, fog, vapor pressure deficit, wildfire risk, and how a warming climate is changing the challenges facing agriculture across California. 
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The discussion then turns to the developing El Niño, which Swain believes is highly likely to strengthen through the summer and could become one of the more significant El Niño events on record. He outlines the potential implications for California, including an increased likelihood of a wet winter, possible early-season rainfall events, and greater weather variability throughout the remainder of the year. Swain emphasizes that while climate change presents real risks, it also creates opportunities for California agriculture to rethink water management through groundwater recharge, floodplain restoration, and capturing excess winter runoff. The episode highlights the importance of adaptation, preparedness, and long-term planning as growers navigate an increasingly dynamic and unpredictable climate future. 

Between April 21 and May 26, 2026, the Napa Costco Wholesale location received multiple shipments totalling 220 grapevines from Burchell Nursery, Inc. in Fresno County. All life stages of GWSS have been detected on plants from these shipments across multiple California counties, and one GWSS egg mass was found among the Napa shipment. Of the 220 grapevines delivered, 157 remain unaccounted for and may be in the possession of community members who purchased them this spring.

GWSS is a serious invasive pest that spreads Pierce's disease, a bacterial infection that is frequently fatal to grapevines and can also damage citrus, almond, and ornamental plants. Early detection and rapid response are essential to protecting Napa Valley's vineyards and agricultural resources.

If you or anyone you know purchased a grapevine, citrus tree, or other fruit tree at Napa Costco (or a neighboring Costco location) in April or May, please take the following steps immediately:

• Keep the plant isolated in its original pot or container. Do not plant it if you have not already done so.​
• If possible, place the plant in two secured trash bags, sealed closed.
• Do not return, transport, relocate, trash, or compost the plant.
• Contact the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner's Office at 707-253-4357 or [email protected]. An inspector will be dispatched the same day.

For identification tips and photos, visit BUGSPOT.ORG or the California Department of Food and Agriculture website. The attached flyer also includes helpful images of what GWSS adults, nymphs, and egg masses look like.
We know our growers are the first and best line of defense for Napa Valley agriculture. Please share this alert widely with neighbors, colleagues, and anyone in your network who may have purchased plants at Costco this spring. Together, we can keep our vineyards protected.

Identifying the glassy-winged sharpshooter

On Friday, May 22, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers had the privilege of hosting a remarkable group of visitors: a cohort of Ukrainian agri-tech startup founders participating in the UC Berkeley Agro Accelerator program. The afternoon, held at the iconic V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, was a working session designed to bridge two worlds: the deep-rooted agricultural tradition of Napa Valley and the innovative, technology-driven perspective of a new generation of global entrepreneurs.
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This was not a wine tourism stop. It was a genuine exchange between professionals who share a common commitment to advancing agriculture through science, innovation, and collaboration.

The UC Berkeley Agro Accelerator brings together agri-tech companies that already have products and market traction, but are looking to scale, sharpen their investor readiness, and learn how demanding agricultural markets evaluate new technologies. The cohort represented a wide range of innovation areas including precision agriculture, IoT hardware, livestock management, greenhouse automation, and farm data platforms.
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Napa Valley was chosen as the closing experience of their two-week California program for good reason. Our region represents a global standard of excellence in high-value agriculture, and offers a compelling case study in how a sophisticated farming community evaluates, adopts, and integrates new technologies over time. The afternoon was designed to help the founders reflect on the human side of ag-tech adoption: how trust is built with growers, why some solutions succeed while others struggle to gain traction, and what it takes to become a genuine partner to farmers rather than just a vendor.

On Friday, May 8, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers gathered at Louis M. Martini Winery for an evening that reminded us exactly why this organization exists and who it exists to serve.

Our 51st Annual Celebration brought together growers, vintners, partners, and friends from across Napa Valley to recognize a community built not simply on wine, but on farming, stewardship, and the shared belief that this place is worth protecting for generations to come.

Each year, Annual Celebration offers a moment to pause during the growing season and reflect on the people behind the vineyards. The individuals and families who rise before sunrise, adapt through uncertainty, invest in the land, and continue moving Napa Valley agriculture forward.

This year’s celebration was especially meaningful as we honored Jim Regusci as the 2026 Grower of the Year.

Photos by Michael Cuffe of Napa Valley Creative Agency 

​We're excited to announce the launch of the inaugural Napa Valley Grows eAuction, a small, intentional fundraiser built around the growers, families, and vineyard stewards who make Napa Valley wine what it is.

The Napa Valley Grows eAuction features just 12 lots. That's by design.

Rather than building a catalog of dozens of offerings, we curated a focused collection sourced directly from the growers behind the wines: people who have supported NVG for years through education programs, board service, environmental stewardship, and advocacy on behalf of Napa Valley's farming community. Every lot in this auction has a person behind it. Every "About the Grower" section tells a story that belongs here.
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This is not a wine sale with a charitable footnote. It's a grower showcase where the wines happen to be extraordinary.

We could tell you about the scores and the vintages, and they are impressive. But the growers behind every one of these lots are the real reason this auction exists. 

At NVG, our work centers on supporting growers through education, advocacy, and environmental stewardship. The Napa Valley Grows eAuction is an extension of that mission, an opportunity to bring the growers who sustain this valley to the forefront in a more personal way, and to raise meaningful funds for the work we do together.
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The wines are remarkable. But this auction is really about the people behind them.

Explore all 12 lots and place your bids until May 17th at 6pm.
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Thank you for taking the time, and for supporting the growers who make Napa Valley what it is.

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley explores the intersection of music, wine, and Napa Valley culture through conversations with Faith Ventrello and Justin Dragoo. Faith shares her journey from a career in the music industry at major labels like Capitol, Elektra, and Virgin Records to building a wine-focused life in Napa Valley. She discusses co-founding Folklore, a downtown Napa wine bar and record store that has become a community gathering space blending live music, vinyl culture, food, and wine. The conversation highlights how music and wine naturally complement one another and how Napa’s evolving cultural scene has embraced both. 
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Later in the episode, Justin reflects on his transition from the tech world in New York City back to Napa Valley, where he joined Gargiulo Vineyards and helped grow the family winery business rooted in Oakville farming traditions. He also shares the story behind the evolution of BottleRock Napa Valley and explains how the festival successfully combines world-class music, wine, and culinary experiences to attract a new generation of Napa Valley visitors. Justin emphasizes the strong parallels between the wine and music industries, from storytelling and authenticity to creating immersive experiences that connect people to place, culture, and community. 

• “I think the wine community and the music community have a lot in common.” - Faith Ventrello​
  
• “You want to see something authentic… it’s the same draw people have to Napa Valley wine.”​ - Justin Dragoo 
• “There’s a thread between music, agriculture, and wine that all kind of comes together here in Napa.” - Caleb Mosley 
• “There’s a lot of places in Napa that don’t let people be weird… sometimes people just want to be a little weird.” - Faith Ventrello
• “The novelty behind BottleRock is this incorporation of wine into music.” - Justin Dragoo 

​Across Napa Valley, innovation happens every day in the vineyard. Growers experiment with new irrigation strategies, trial different rootstocks, test soil health practices, and refine cultivation methods to produce better fruit while stewarding the land for the future.

What many growers don’t realize is that some of these efforts may qualify for a federal incentive known as the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit.
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Originally designed to support technological innovation, the credit also applies to agricultural businesses, including vineyards and wineries, that experiment with new or improved processes, techniques, or products. In many cases, growers are already doing work that qualifies without realizing it.

The federal R&D tax credit, established under Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code, provides a dollar-for-dollar reduction in federal taxes for businesses that invest in qualifying research activities in the United States.
 
Unlike a deduction, which only reduces taxable income, a tax credit directly reduces the amount of tax owed. In addition to forming the basis of the credit, the same qualifying expenditures may also be taken as a deduction.
 
For agricultural businesses, this incentive recognizes that innovation is not limited to laboratories. Vineyard experimentation, equipment trials, and cultivation improvements can all qualify if they meet IRS criteria.

​To qualify for the credit, activities generally must meet four conditions:
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1. Permitted Purpose
   The work aims to develop or improve a product, process, or technique.
2. Technological in Nature
   The activity relies on principles of biology, chemistry, engineering, or similar sciences.
3. Elimination of Uncertainty
   The project attempts to solve a technical challenge or unknown outcome.
4. Process of Experimentation
   The work involves trial and error, testing, modeling, or evaluation.

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Many vineyard improvements, from irrigation design to vineyard layout trials, can meet these criteria when properly documented. 

The Napa Valley wine community has long understood that stewardship extends beyond the vineyard rows. It also means advocating for thoughtful policies that sustain agriculture, protect the Agricultural Preserve, and ensure that grape growing remains viable for generations to come.

Over the past year, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers has been working closely with three key partners — Napa Valley Vintners, Napa County Farm Bureau, and Winegrowers of Napa County — to develop a shared set of recommendations for local policy improvements that support Napa’s agricultural community.
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Together, the four organizations represent thousands of growers, wineries, and agricultural businesses that form the backbone of Napa County’s rural economy and landscape.

This initiative began more than a year ago, when leadership from the four organizations came together to identify areas where local policies could better reflect today’s agricultural realities. Through ongoing conversations with elected officials, county staff, and community stakeholders, the groups developed a joint set of recommendations designed to ease unnecessary regulatory burden, modernize outdated policies, and strengthen protections for agriculture.

The result is a unified policy document delivered to the Napa County Board of Supervisors outlining both immediate actions and longer-term planning priorities that support the continued vitality of Napa County agriculture.
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This collaboration reflects something important: Napa’s wine industry is strongest when it works together.

Agriculture is not only Napa Valley’s heritage,  it is a cornerstone of the region’s economy and community. Agriculture generates more than $11.7 billion in economic benefit for Napa County and supports nearly 72 percent of the local workforce.

Yet growers and wineries today operate within an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Federal and state regulations already shape nearly every aspect of farming and land stewardship. When local processes become outdated or unnecessarily burdensome, they can create delays and challenges not only for growers but also for county staff and the broader community.
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The joint recommendations aim to address these issues constructively while maintaining the values that have defined Napa Valley since the establishment of the Agricultural Preserve nearly 60 years ago.

The organizations’ recommendations focus first on practical improvements that can streamline processes and update outdated policies. These include:

• Updating the county’s interpretation of AB 720 to include vineyards located on winery parcels
• Removing the outdated “By Appointment Only” winery sign requirement
• Allowing administrative approval for minor marketing plan changes that do not increase visitor intensity
• Establishing clearer processes for incomplete permit applications to reduce delays
• Streamlining review of minor or CEQA-exempt project changes
• Recalibrating groundwater management fees to better reflect realistic program costs
• Updating baseline tree canopy metrics and encouraging flexible mitigation strategies
• Reforming the appeals process, including fee recovery for prevailing parties and transparency around parties in interest

​These recommendations are intended to make local processes more efficient while preserving the core protections that safeguard Napa’s agricultural lands.

In addition to immediate policy updates, the joint document outlines broader priorities for Napa County’s upcoming General Plan update and long-term land use planning.
Among the shared goals:

• Maintaining the 75% Napa grape sourcing requirement
• Protecting agricultural zoning and minimum parcel sizes
• Reinforcing urban growth boundaries
• Ensuring Right to Farm protections
• Recognizing vineyards as part of wildfire resilience and landscape stewardship
• Supporting the processing and sale of Napa-grown agricultural products

​These priorities reflect the wine industry’s commitment to maintaining Napa Valley as a working agricultural landscape.

This collaboration will culminate in a joint presentation during public comment at the April 28 meeting of the Napa County Board of Supervisors, where representatives from all four organizations will formally introduce the recommendations and encourage thoughtful dialogue about the path forward.
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Industry leaders, growers, and community members are encouraged to participate and lend their voices in support of a resilient agricultural future.

​By working collaboratively, Napa’s agricultural organizations are demonstrating that thoughtful engagement with local government can strengthen both the industry and the community it serves.
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For NVG and its partners, this effort represents something larger than a single policy discussion. It is a commitment to ensuring that Napa Valley remains a thriving agricultural region, today and for generations to come.