Amended in Assembly March 14, 2013

Amended in Assembly February 26, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 15

Introduced by Assembly Member Chesbro

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Blumenfield, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Conway, Cooley, Daly, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Holden, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Maienschein, Mansoor, Medina, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Torres, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, and Yamada)

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February 12, 2013

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 15—Relative to wineries.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 15, as amended, Chesbro. Wineries: leadership.

This measure would proclaim April 2013 as the “California Wines: Down to Earth” month, to celebrate the sustainable leadership of California wineries and winegrape growers.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Sustainability is a vital part of the long-term future
of California wine, which contributes an estimated $61.5 billion
in annual economic impact to California’s economy; and

WHEREAS, Wine Institute and the California Association of
Wine Grape Growers created the California Code of Sustainable
Winegrowing workbook more than a decade ago, with the third
edition released in January 2013, and it has since been used by
vineyards and wineries representing three quarters of California’s
wine grape acreage and production to self-assess operations; and

WHEREAS, The California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing,
now managed by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance,
is comprised of more than 200 best practices for vineyards and
wineries that benefit the environment, employees, neighbors, and
high-quality wine; and

WHEREAS, Other state and regional sustainability programs,
such as Lodi Rules, Sustainability in Practice (SIP), Napa Green,
Fish Friendly Farming, the Green Business Program, and others,
all play an important role in the California wine communities’
efforts to grow grapes and produce wine in a manner that is
environmentally sound, economically feasible, and socially
equitable; and

WHEREAS, Growing participation in organic, biodynamic, and
sustainable certification programs further conveys California
vintners’ and growers’ adherence to high standards, desire for
transparency, and dedication to continuous improvement; and

WHEREAS, California’s wine community conserves water,
energy, and other natural resources, protects habitat, employee
welfare, and air, water, and soil quality, and promotes the use of
natural pest management and alternative energy and fuels; and

WHEREAS, California’s 3,600 wineries and 4,600 winegrape
growers are primarily family businesses, with a long-term
commitment to the health and vitality of their communities, and
to preserving the land for future generations; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature proclaims April 2013 as
the time to celebrate the sustainable leadership of California
wineries and winegrape growers with the theme, “California Wines:
Down to Earth” month, timed to Earth Day on April 22; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.