By DAN JUDGE/Times-Herald staff writer
Vallejo Times Herald

Article Launched:07/31/2007 07:13:51 AM PDT

NAPA - Vineyard owner Bill Wolf may once again uncork for a good a cause.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed Assembly Bill 323, which allows more vintners to donate and pour their wines at fundraising events for nonprofits.

The bill, authored by Santa Rosa Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, was inspired by Wolf, the owner of AlphaWOLF Vineyard and Olive Ranch in Napa, who was cited for pouring wine at a fundraiser without the proper license.

"Hooray!" Wolf exclaimed Monday. "This means we can contribute back to the community, which we always wanted to do all along, and it helps get our wine in front of the customers."

After pouring at a Chamber of Commerce fundraiser in Tiburon, Wolf said, five Napa Valley vintners were cited because they did not have an "02" license issued to wineries by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Although Wolf owns a vineyard, label and three winemaker licenses, he lacks a physical winery building on his land. He hires other facilities to produce the Eagle Eye brand wine from his grapes and bottle it.

As a result, he did not have the proper winery license allowing him to donate or pour wine at charitable events.

Wolf convinced three of the other cited winemakers - Elkhorn Peak Cellars and StoneFly Vineyard - to take the issue before an administrative judge rather than pay the fines.

They lost, and their licenses were suspended for five days.

Evans agreed to carry the bill amending the rules on pouring wine at charity functions.

Signed into law, AB 323 enables vintners operating under the license combination "17," beer and wine wholesaler, and "20", wine retailer, to donate and pour their wines alongside wineries at charitable fund-raisers.

"All vintners are now free to donate and pour their wares for a good cause," Evans said. "This new freedom will unleash a new wave of generosity across our state. Government should not place obstacles between charities and those who support them."

In 2006, California's wine industry generated more than $115 million in charitable contributions, Evans noted.

According to ABC, about 1,400 California vintners now operate under the 17/20 license combination.
E-mail Dan Judge at UBDJudge@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6831.