Wine regions from Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, Hungary, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States have united to form the Global Artisan Vintners Alliance. This collaboration aims to help wineries in each region address common challenges, exchange best practices, and enhance the quality of their wines.
The concept for this alliance originated from David Haubert, the District 1 Supervisor of Alameda County, California, known for the Livermore Valley wine region. His goal is to connect local winemakers with their international counterparts. Haubert expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Our vision is to create a network of global wine region partners who share the same ideals and values and the same struggles we endure. Coming together will allow us to trade ideas, tips, and secrets for our business."
The alliance plans to host quarterly Zoom meetings and annual in-person gatherings discussing topics such as agri-tourism, social media marketing, and sustainable winemaking.
Regarding the upcoming in-person meeting, Haubert mentioned, "The first will be in the Bay Area in June. We’re going to rotate hosting duties among our partners. Ideally, we’ll encourage cross-border collaboration, with winemakers visiting each other’s regions and sharing best practices."
The founding wine regions of the Global AVA include:
- Livermore Valley Wine Community, California
- Texas Hill Country Wineries, Texas
- Chilecito, Argentina
- Dalmatia, Croatia
- Chinon, France
- Alentejo, Portugal
- Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil
- Badacsony, Hungary
- Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
Brandi Lombardi, the executive director for the Livermore Valley Wine Community, noted the historical significance of their region, highlighting both traditional and new winemaking practices. She believes the alliance will create more opportunities for winemakers and attract tourism.
Lombardi stated, "David’s dream was to connect us across borders for collaboration, and we’ve already found our initial Zoom meeting incredibly informative."