“The good news in all of this is we’re already moving in the right direction.” —Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers
October, though it often begins in late August and can sometimes extend into November. The specific timing depends on the weather and the grape varietal. Along those lines, “The current status of the Wine Improvement District is that it’s on hold,” says Prema Kerollis, board president of Sonoma County Vintners. “It’s on hold at least through harvest or the end of the year.” She notes, “Basically, the Wine Improvement District has introduced useful and inclusive conversations. Its purpose is to unify and unite the county and though the initial response was so emotional, I think it’s doing that work of challenging our vintners to think creatively about what we need.” In addition to Lee’s brainstorming session, the winegrowers association sent out a survey in September to help understand the state of the wine community.
“We were looking at doing a survey to capture interest yes or no in the Wine Improvement District,” Kruse says. “Since that has been paused, we adjusted,” with questions including “What ideas do you have to market and support the wine community right now? What ideas do you have for funding?” Kruse adds, “We’re trying to capture the priorities of growers and wineries, also the community if they want to weigh in.” While the fortunes of Sonoma County’s wine industry are still shaky, one thing seems certain: When the improvement district is revisited near the year’s end, it will be with a better grounding in the wine community’s wishes. g
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October 2025
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