Here is an example of a message to send to your Congressional Leaders
I am one of your constituents and a winegrape grower in the Lodi AVA. I am asking for your help and support in the effort to repeal the Wine Duty Drawback. This part of the federal trade policy:
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Financially incents large wineries to choose importing bulk wine over buying U.S. winegrapes from farmers like me. Companies received refunds totaling $204.7 million between 2018 and 2024. Between 2016 and 2022 bulk wine imports tallied some 325 million gallons.
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Creates an unfair market and discourages large wineries from buying my winegrapes.
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Has brought financial stress, unemployment, and distressed land sales to my community. This winter, farm workers are going door to door looking for work. Banks are refusing to lend without winegrape purchase contracts in place. Multi-generational family farms are listed for sale.
When agricultural communities like mine experience unemployment, the impacts are “masked” because farm payrolls are not reported in the Unemployment Rate. The Wine Duty Drawback affects not only the winegrape farmers but also our vendors, employees and local businesses in the area.
I ask for your help and support in repealing the Wine Duty Drawback. This is only one of several reforms needed to help the farmers in the wine industry. But it is a step in the right direction. Thank you.
Find & Email Your Congressional Representatives
What to Do
1. Find your congressional members.
2. Go to their website and click on the contact me or email me link.
3. Select "Trade" for the Topic.
4. For message subject, "Repeal the Wine Duty Drawback".
5. Select and paste the message above or compose your own message.