Welcome to the Missouri Vintners Association

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Katie Nott

Dear Missouri Vintner,

The Missouri Vintners Association membership is made up of winery owners from throughout the state of Missouri.  We work with professional lobbyists in Jefferson City to stay abreast and quickly address legislative issues facing commercial Missouri wineries.  We regularly communicate the needs of commercial Missouri wineries to the Missouri Wine and Grape Board and our organization is a state association member of Wine America.

We keep close ties with the Missouri Grape Growers Assn. and the Missouri Wine Technical Group in an effort to continually improve the products Missouri wineries proudly offer our customers.

It has been an honor to serve as President of this organization for the past year and a half.  On behalf of the Officers and Board of Directors of the Missouri Vintners Association, I would like to encourage you to join other Missouri Vintners in our effort to promote the production and marketing of Missouri wine.

Sincerely,

Cory Bomgaars, President

Missouri Vintners Association

Les Bourgeois Vineyards

Rocheport, Missouri

 

Please scroll down or click on the page names above for more information, news, articles and other items of interest to our members.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

URGENT LEGISLATIVE NEWS FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Laura Neese

“Dear Vintners Association Members,

The Vintners Association Board has unanimously voted to oppose Senate Bill 837 concerning alcohol supplier/ wholesaler franchise relations. After meeting with the Wine Institute and discussions with council, we have come to the conclusion that SB837, if passed, could negatively impact the growth of the Missouri wine industry. This bill decreases the ability for an alcohol producer to choose between wholesalers once the producer enters a relationship, making it nearly impossible for a producer to change wholesalers without paying retribution to the current wholesaler, even if they are under performing. Further, we believe that this will decrease the willingness of wineries looking to enter into a relationship with a wholesaler, knowing that it will be difficult to leave them if there relationship is not working. I have included talking points and council’s memo on the bill as attachments to this email.

We are requesting that you contact your senator and voice your opposition to this bill. Your senator’s contact information can easily be found from the following link : http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/senalpha.htm If you do not know your senator or your district you can easily look it up by entering you zip code. This bill is moving fast and will pass if we are not heard from. The senate will be out for Easter break over the weekend. If you cannot get in touch with your senator by phone, please leave a message, an e-mail and try by phone the following day. Feel free to call me if you have any questions.

AGAIN THIS BILL WILL PASS IF WE DO NOT SHOW OUR OPPOSITION.

Cory Bomgaars

President

Missouri Vintners Association

573-698-2613

coryb@missouriwine.com

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

An Update from Zach Brunnert

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Laura Neese
Zach Brunnert is an Associate with Flotron & McIntosh, strategic government consultants with over 120 years of combined experience in state government. They work with the Missouri Vintner’s Association to promote legislation that is positive for the Missouri Wine Industry, and to help our representatives understand the negative impact any legislation may have on our industry. 

“Last week marked the halfway point for the 2012 legislative session. Legislators have been very busy with work in the various committees since January. One of the largest topics of interests this year has been the state budget. With over $300 million budget shortfall this fiscal year the state has been forced to make some tough choices. The House Budget Committee has already voted out the budget bills and then the week following legislative spring break, they will be brought to the House floor, for the entire body to debate.

We have been busy working on several issues this year on behalf of the Missouri Vintner’s Association. At Flotron & McIntosh, we have been engaged and working with Rep. Galen Higdon (R-29) to find a dedicated funding source for liquor control. Furthermore, working with  Rep. Don Ruzicka (R-132) to push his bill that promotes Agri-tourism. There has been some serious defense being played to keep the Wine & Grape Growers Tax Credit in statute. There were various bills filed to eliminate the tax credit along with other programs. So far none of the bills that have included the elimination of the Wine & Grape Growers Tax Credit have moved out of committee.

May 18th is the last day of this legislative session and the last day for many elected officials who are leaving office due to term limits. Next year we will face a new crop of legislators to educate on the interests of the Vintner’s Association.”

If you have any questions or responses to this brief update, please post them here and Zach will do his best to follow up and keep you informed.

Posted in Legislative, Missouri | 2 Comments

Vintners Assn 2011 Annual Meeting

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Katie Nott
Posted in Events, News/updates | Leave a comment

Welcome to the Missouri Vintners Association

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Katie Nott

Welcome to the new website for the Missouri Vintners Association.  We are in the development phase of this site, so please bear with us as we move forward with this project.

Posted in News/updates, Uncategorized | Leave a comment