Amador County – Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Dist. 3) has recently accepted a position as co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus and will be holding a “listening session” in March in Calaveras County.

Lungren joined the caucus to help educate his colleagues on wine industry matters. Robert Ehlert, Senior Field Representative for Lungren said in a release Thursday that the District 3 Congressman has “accepted an invitation to join and serve as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Wine Caucus.” ¶ Ehlert said it is “a bipartisan group of legislators whose mission is to educate and engage colleagues in legislative and regulatory matters pertaining to the wine community.”

Rep. Mike Thompson, a California Democrat, extended the invitation to Lungren to join the caucus late last year because, like Thompson – who represents wine country constituents in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma and Yolo counties – Lungren represents vintners and growers in Amador, Calaveras, Sacramento and Solano counties.

Thompson founded the group along with Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA, retired) in 2000.

Elhert said “according to the California Wine Institute, wine grapes are the largest fruit crop in the nation and the sixth largest crop overall.” The industry has an annual impact of $51.8 billion on the California economy, and an economic impact of $125.3 billion on the U.S. economy. California wine creates 875,000 jobs in California and the United States, with a total $25.2 billion payroll.

“Though we have some very large wineries in the Third District,” Lungren said, “the majority are small businesses with unique challenges and needs.” Lungren said “I visited with Amador County vintners last year and am planning a listening session with wineries and growers in Calaveras County next month and will plan future meetings with other groups in the District.”

Lungren said: “I think some people might be surprised to know that virtually half of the $31 million Amador County ag economy is a result of growing wine grapes.”

The listening session in Calaveras is set for March 23 at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys. It was set to “hear from constituents about the wine industry.” The session is open to the public.

Lungren serves as Chairman of the House Administration Committee in addition to serving on the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.