CALAVERAS WINEGRAPE ALLIANCE

What CALAVERAS WINEGRAPE ALLIANCE does

The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association established in 1989 and headquartered in Murphys, California, in the Sierra Foothills wine region. It represents and markets on behalf of member wineries and grape growers in Calaveras County, supporting more than 30 family-run tasting rooms that produce Spanish and Italian varietals (Barbera, Tempranillo, Albarino, Verdelho) alongside Old Vine Zinfandel, Cabernet, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc. The organization derives revenue from annual membership dues (processed via Square with optional quarterly auto-pay), event registration and auction proceeds (the Annual Grape Stomp charges $80 per team for up to 120 teams), and corporate sponsorships from local businesses, banks, and medical centers.

CWA's core deliverables are community marketing programs and year-round events rather than a technology product. Flagship programs include the Annual Grape Stomp (the oldest and largest grape stomp in California, held since 1993), the Red White & Rose Tasting Experience on Labor Day Weekend, and the Sierra Foothills Wine Competition (45th annual edition in 2026, hosted at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds). Supporting programs include a Grapes for Sale grower-to-winemaker marketplace, a Growers Corner education program, a History of Calaveras Wine video interview series, a member Brand Ambassador volunteer program, and a Murphys Visitor Center co-hosted with the Calaveras Visitors Bureau.

The underlying technology stack is commodity and operational rather than differentiated: a Wix website, Square payment processing, and TicketSpice event ticketing. The organization is governed by a 2026 Board of Directors representing member wineries (Brice Station, Frog's Tooth, Jazz Cellars, Vina Moda, La Folia), growers (Holley Hill Vineyard, Jordan Oaks Vineyard), and community members, with an Executive Director (Jody Garcia) and accounting staff running day-to-day operations.

Name

CALAVERAS WINEGRAPE ALLIANCE

Legal name

Calaveras Winegrape Alliance

Website

https://calaveraswines.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Calaveras Winegrape Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1989 in Murphys, California, that promotes Calaveras County wines through membership services, events including the Annual Grape Stomp (since 1993) and the Sierra Foothills Wine Competition, and programs supporting 30+ family-run tasting rooms and regional grape growers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Murphys

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from wineries, growers, and associate members. The organization uses Square payment processing for membership dues including one-time payments and quarterly auto-pay options.
2. Event Registration and Fundraising: Grape Stomp registration fees ($80 per team of two), auction proceeds supporting high school scholarships and local nonprofits, and tasting event ticket sales. The 2023 Grape Stomp auction included numerous wine and experience packages.
3. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from community businesses supporting the Annual Grape Stomp and other events. Sponsors include medical centers, banks, resorts, restaurants, and local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Calaveras Winegrape Alliance is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that promotes the Calaveras County wine region through collective marketing programs, educational seminars for growers, and year-round community events. It provides paid membership services to wineries and grape growers, organizes flagship events such as the Annual Grape Stomp and Red, White & Rose Tasting Experience, and runs the Sierra Foothills Wine Competition. It also operates a Murphys Visitor Center and a grapes-for-sale marketplace that connects local growers with winemakers.

Product overview

Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit wine marketing organization established in 1989, dedicated to promoting the Calaveras County wine region in California's Sierra Foothills. Rather than a technology product company, CWA offers a portfolio of marketing and community programs including the annual Grape Stomp (the oldest and largest grape stomp in California), the Red White & Rose Tasting Experience, and the Sierra Foothills Wine Competition. The organization maintains a grapes-for-sale marketplace connecting growers with winemakers, operates a visitor center in Murphys, provides membership services for wineries and growers, and produces educational content through video interview series and the Growers Corner program. CWA supports over 30 family-run tasting rooms and promotes regional varietals including Barbera, Tempranillo, Albarino, Verdelho, Old Vine Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CWA Membership Services Paid annual membership program for wineries, grape growers, and associate members that delivers marketing support, networking opportunities, education events, listing in the member directory, and participation in CWA-sponsored competitions and promotional activities.
• Calaveras Grape Stomp Event Annual ticketed grape stomp competition and harvest celebration held at Murphys Community Park, limited to 120 teams of two at $80 per team, featuring a costume contest, winery heat, live entertainment, food vendors, and a silent auction benefiting community organizations and scholarship programs.
• Red, White & Rose Tasting Experience Ticketed Labor Day Weekend tasting event along the Hwy 4 Wine Trail and downtown Murphys. A wristband grants two-wine tastings at each participating location, driving tourism and supporting the Calaveras wine industry.
• Sierra Foothills Wine Competition Annual wine judging competition organized in partnership with the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, in which professional judges evaluate wines from Calaveras County wineries across 48 categories, recognizing regional wine quality.
• Grapes for Sale Marketplace Online marketplace listing service connecting Calaveras County grape growers with winemakers. Listings include available grape varietals such as Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel from vineyards including Chatom Vineyards, Indian Rock Vineyards, and Airola Road Vineyards.
• Growers Corner Education Program Educational program for grape growers offering seminars, workshops, and resources on viticulture practices, sustainable farming, and industry best practices, supporting professional development for CWA grower members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 family-run tasting rooms supported through marketing programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Indian Rock VineyardsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian Rock Vineyards donated 2.46 tons of Barbera grapes to save the 29th Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp when the usual grape donor ran out due to frost conditions. The Bauer family purchased Indian Rock Vineyards in 2003 and produces high-quality handcrafted estate wines.
• Jackson Rancheria / Six Mile VineyardsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJackson Rancheria donated 1.67 tons of Mourvedre grapes to save the 29th Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp. Six Mile Vineyards is the largest vineyard in Calaveras County and has supplied grapes to renowned wineries including Carneros Creek, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, and Rodney Strong.
• Duarte NurserycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorically donated grapes for the Annual Grape Stomp for many years. Based in Hughson, they supported the event's grape sourcing needs.
• Hatcher WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatt and Valerie Hatcher lead the grape sourcing and event coordination for the Annual Grape Stomp. The Hatcher Winery team, along with School Street Wines, organizes the competition logistics and winery heat.
• Newsome Harlow WinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScott Klann and his team at Newsome Harlow Wines and Ten by Ten Wines serve as key organizers for the Grape Stomp event and coordinate competition logistics.
• Hatcher Winery and School Street WinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWinemaking team led by Matt Hatcher that coordinates Grape Stomp grape sourcing and has won multiple championships including the President's Cup and back-to-back Grape Stomp titles.
• Calaveras Visitors BureaucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners to host the Murphys Visitor Center at 106 Main Street, Murphys. Open Thursday-Sunday to provide tasting room maps, visitor guides, and recommendations for Calaveras Wine Country tourists.
• Feeney Park FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Gold Rush Street Faire during the Annual Grape Stomp event, featuring over 100 booths of arts, crafts, antiques, and food along Main Street in Murphys.
• Calaveras County FairgroundscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with CWA to host the annual Sierra Foothills Wine Competition wine judging event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mendocino WineGrowers: Regional wine trade association (formerly Mendocino Winegrape & Wine Commission) promoting Mendocino County wines. Comparable grower-and-winery trade association with similar member dues and event-driven revenue model.
• Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association: Regional wine trade association promoting Temecula Valley wineries, hosting events and tastings. Comparable as a Southern California regional wine trade association with similar event and member services.
• Santa Barbara Vintners: Regional wine association promoting Santa Barbara County wineries and events. Comparable California regional wine trade association with similar marketing, event, and member-support functions.
• Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance: Regional wine marketing association for the Paso Robles AVA, hosting signature events and driving tourism. Comparable as a California AVA-level trade association with similar member services and event-driven marketing.
• Lodi Winegrape Commission: Grower-focused regional wine commission marketing the Lodi AVA via events, education, and grower programs. Closely comparable as a California regional wine trade/marketing organization with a strong grower-and-winery member base.
• Amador County Vintners Association: Sierra Foothills regional wine trade association also based in the California Gold Country; promotes Amador County wineries and hosts wine competitions and Stomp events. Directly comparable in structure, scope, and target audience to CWA.
• Lake County Winegrape Commission: California regional wine marketing commission focused on Lake County wines. Comparable small-scale California regional wine trade association with marketing and grower support functions.
• Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association: Regional wine trade association for the Livermore Valley AVA, hosting festivals and wine passport programs. Comparable mid-size California regional wine association with similar event-driven tourism model.

Broad incumbents

• Sonoma County Winegrowers: Larger, well-funded wine trade association for Sonoma County with strong sustainability and marketing programs. Comparable trade association role but with substantially greater resources and brand recognition.
• Napa Valley Vintners: Premier California wine trade association and Auction Napa Valley host. Same trade association function for a regional wine economy but operating at vastly greater scale and resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/calaveraswines
• Instagraminstagram.com/calaveraswines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calaveras-winegrape-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CALAVERAS WINEGRAPE ALLIANCE