Ukiah, Calif.—It didn’t take long for grapegrowers and winemakers to reunite after growers shot down the state-administered Mendocino Winegrape and Wine Commission (MWWC) earlier this year. Members have chosen a name for a new and voluntary alliance of growers and vintners—Mendocino Winegrowers Inc.—and as of today MWI is in business.

“The direction of the group was apparent very quickly,” said MWI Formation Board member Zac Robinson of Husch Vineyards.  “Lots of ideas were expressed at the community meetings but several recurring themes showed us our common ground.”

The shared mission of the voluntary membership-based not-for-profit group is to promote Mendocino grapes and wine. With more than 300 grapegrowers and nearly 100 wineries in the county, MWI intends to partner with Mendocino County's active appellation associations including Destination Hopland, the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Alliance, and A Taste of Redwood Valley as well as the Mendocino Farm Bureau and the countywide marketing group Visit Mendocino.

"Working together as an association benefits the entire industry in our county," said Katrina Frey of Frey Vineyards. George Lee, a grapegrower and another member of the formation board, sees broad support for the new group, adding, "The interest among my neighboring growers for the new organization is strong."

In addition to Robinson and Lee, the MWI Formation Board of Directors includes Ed Berry, Leroy Chase, Paul Dolan, MJ Girard, George Phelan, Fred Buonanno and Matt Meyer.

MWI began operation Aug. 1. It’s begun its first missions of outreach and organizational structure; a conventional 12-month fiscal year will start Nov. 1. All growers and vintners in Mendocino County were previously members of the Mendocino Winegrape and Wine Commission, which ceased operation June 30.

For more information about the new Mendocino WineGrowers, Inc. contact George Lee at leegf@prfrrg.com or Robinson at zac@huschvineyards.com. To learn more about Mendocino wine visit mendowine.com.