1. Jim Trezise – President – New York Wine & Grape Foundation
CAPITAL NEWS:
Happenings in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Impacting the North Coast Wine Industry
Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
Speakers:
Jim Trezise – President – New York Wine & Grape Foundation
Edgar “Pete” Downs - Acting President, Family Winemakers of California

2. The Business Climate for Wine in Washington
Jim Trezise
Executive Committee, Wineamerica

3. WineAmerica Grassroots Public Policy Advocacy
th St. NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036
Phone:

4. WineAmerica The national organization of American wineries has winery members from 41 states

5. WineAmerica members have broad legislative reach

6. WineAmerica Organization
Membership
Board of Directors and Executive Committee
State and Regional Associations Advisory Council (SRAAC)
Government Affairs Counsel: Meyers & Associates
Staff: Tara Good, Director of Operations
Michael Kaiser, Director of Public Affairs

7. WineAmerica Initiative Partners
Family Winemakers of California
Wine Institute
State and Regional Wine Trade Associations
Winegrape Growers of America
National Grape & Wine Coalition
FIVS
Brewers Association
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
MIC Coalition
Many Others

8. The Business Climate for Wine in Washington
Who knows?!

9. The New Political Landscape
Donald Trump, President-elect
Cabinet and Agency Changes (USDA, TTB, FDA, EPA, USTR, etc.)
Program Changes (Trade Agreements, Research Funding, Market Access Programs, TTB Funding, etc.)
Issues Impacts (Immigration Reform, Excise Tax Reform, etc.)
Republican Senate
Republican House of Representatives
Republican Governors Majority
Conservative Supreme Court Majority (eventually)

10. Key Issues and Outlooks
Excise Tax Reform
Immigration Reform
Music Licensing
Trade Policy
USDA Funding (Research and Export)
TTB Funding
Genetically Modified Organisms
Marijuana Laws
And More…

11. WineAmerica Successes
Small Producer Tax Credit (1991, major savings dependent on winery size)
Repeal of Special Occupational Tax (2004, $500 to $1,000 annual savings depending on size)
Repeal of Bond Requirement as of 1/1/2017 (up to $1,000 annual savings)
Music Licensing Consent Decree by D.O.J.
Country of Origin Labeling Repeal

12. Return on Investment

13. WineAmerica Top Priority Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act
54 Senate Co-Sponsors
286 House Co-Sponsors
Enormous Potential Savings for Wineries of All Sizes

14. Excise Tax Reform-the Basics
Federal Excise Tax Rate is $1.07*
Credit of $1.00 on first 30,000 gallons produced (effective tax rate 7 cents)*
Credit of $.90 for 30,001 to 130,000 gallons produced (effective tax rate 17 cents)*
Credit of $.535 for 130,001 to 750,000 gallons produced (effective tax rate 53.5 cents)*
Increases table wine maximum alcohol threshold to 16%
May apply to table wine or sparkling wine (to be specified by producer)
*for table wine

15. Key to Success- grassroots public policy advocacy
Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act
Sample Savings by Winery Size
Gallons (Cases) Prod Current Taxes Proposed Taxes Total Savings WA Invest*
10,000 (4,206) $1, $ up to $1, $100 (Minimum)
50,000 (21,030) $8, $5, $3, $420
100,000 (42,060) $17, $14, $3, $841
300,000 (126,182) $321, $110, $210, $2,524
1,000,000 (420,609) $1,070, $601, $469, $8,472
*Through Family Winemakers-WineAmerica Joint Membership Offer

16. Return on Investment

17. WineAmerica Membership Flyer

18. Special Partnership: Family Winemakers and WineAmerica
Membership in Family Winemakers: 6 cents per case, $300 minimum
Optional Joint Membership in WineAmerica: Additional 2 cents per case, $100 minimum
Normal minimum for WineAmerica membership is $500

19. Jim Trezise, jimtrezise@nywgf.org, 585-394-3620
Thank you! Questions?
Jim Trezise,

20. Thank You to Our
Session Sponsor: