CAWG Elects New Board Officers and Directors; Tom Slater Assumes Role as Chair

NEWS RELEASE

 

SACRAMENTO, Dec. 1, 2021 – The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) has announced the election of new board officers and directors. CAWG is governed by 27 growers in six districts who serve three-year terms beginning Dec. 1.

 

Tom Slater of Slater Farms in Clarksburg was elected chair. He succeeds Mike Testa of Coastal Vineyard Care in Buellton, who served in the role for two years. Other directors elected as officers are Jeff Bitter, winegrape grower in Madera, vice chair; Gregg Hibbits of Mesa Vineyard Management in Templeton, vice chair; Jason Smith of Valley Farm Management in Salinas, secretary; and Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko of Napa Wine Co./Yount Mill Vineyards in Oakville, treasurer.

 

“Tom Slater is known as an industry leader who has been active on a variety of issues important to the agricultural community in the Delta and winegrape growers throughout California,” CAWG President John Aguirre said. “He leads a board of directors that is highly engaged and motivated to improve California’s policy climate.”

 

Reelected directors are Duff Bevill of Bevill Vineyard Management in Healdsburg, Greg Gonzalez of Foley Family Farms in Los Olivos, Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko of Napa Wine Co./Yount Mill Vineyards in Oakville, Marshall Miller of The Thornhill Companies in Santa Barbara and Jeff Wiens of Wiens Family Cellars of Temecula.

 

New directors are Aaron P. Lange of LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards in Lodi (returning to the board), Ron Lanza of Wooden Valley Winery and Lanza Vineyards in Fairfield, Dave Michul of Beckstoffer Vineyards in Rutherford and Molly Scott of Justin Vineyards in Paso Robles.

 

Outgoing directors are David Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards in Napa, Joe Cotta of Joseph Cotta Vineyards in Galt, Troy Javadi of Meadowlark Harvesting in Paso Robles and Robert Pirie of Colligere Farm Management in Lodi.

 

Media contacts:
• John Aguirre, (916) 379-8995, john@cawg.org
• Meredith Ritchie, (916) 984-4473, meredith@cawg.org