Napa Insider
Ag biz and road bumps
By Christina Julian
A s I sit to crank back — with spinal stenosis, arthritis and middle age to blame according to my sports medicine doctor. I’m feeling extra ornery, entering week five of the waiting game for a callback from the surgical center at Kaiser Permanente to simply schedule a pain injection. This will no doubt lead to more waiting for out this month’s column, it is with anger and pain reverberating from my neck to lower
wine grapes and other specialty crops not covered under the FBA. Meanwhile, a group of bipartisan lawmakers including Mike Thompson (CA- 04), Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), introduced the Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act. The relief program is focused on providing direct support to specialty crop growers and wine producers who are dealing with economic losses due to ever-changing tariffs, shrinking export markets, trade retaliation and rising input costs. The goal of the bill is to ensure that these growers
and producers get additional support via a direct payment program that, if passed, would allow the USDA to purchase surplus specialty crops for use in federal nutrition programs like school meals or SNAP and could authorize funding through 2030. As for the status of our coveted crops, the 2025 growing season was kind to the region with a long, consistent season and no major heat events. Cool spring and mild summer temps allowed grapes to mature gradually bringing optimism about the vintage from winemakers across the state. Just for kicks As I approach 56 orbits around the sun this month, a tradition of mine returns with the unveiling of my latest rendition of wacky (and simple) wine pairings I am crushing on. This reignited interest is in part fueled by the perk of living with tweenagers who ensure there is no shortage of candy contraband and snacks in our house. My son recently discovered Sugar Babies, one of my all-time favs, with the chewy caramel goodness, which pairs perfectly with salted peanuts and the Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc. The fact that this candy classic delights my kids as much as it did me when I was their age, only sweetens the deal. Another retro snack attack that’s still standing after all these years are pretzel rolled Combos with new flavors abounding. One recent standout in my opinion is the buffalo blue cheese varietal, which is delicious with the Abiouness Grenache Blanc. And finally, for the sweet and savory lovers in the crowd, Dot’s Pretzels barbecue flavor with Miner Viognier is another winning combo. Life feels very complicated these days, but sometimes, wine tasting doesn’t need to be. Cheers! u
an actual appointment once I finally get ‘the call.’ For this lack of service, we have paid thousands of dollars of premiums, which only adds to my annoyance. And then there is the matter of the escalating insurance premiums and service fees ushered in by the New Year, all of which have eliminated any shards of sanity I had left. The broader Napa County population isn’t faring any better. Those with insurance through Covered California saw premium hikes as much as 85%, due to the expiration of federal subsidies, leaving some with no aid at all. While the state is offering assistance to the lowest income enrollees on Covered California, as many as 5,800 Napa residents off the Marketplace are seeing premiums go up by 10%. While skyrocketing healthcare is nothing to celebrate, there are some glass-raising moments in our midst. The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) hit a major milestone by achieving 75% of its funding for the Napa Valley Center for Grape Growing and Farmwork education. The public charity received a $1 million donation from Andy and Betty Beckstoffer in December and early lead donations from the Foley Family, Moulds Family and Trinchero Family Estates. These donations and the project as a whole mark a renewed commitment to educational opportunities for farmworkers and growers, as well as to advancing viticultural and agricultural stewardship in the region. When completed, the space will serve as the first permanent home for NVG and feature hands-on training space, classrooms and community meeting spaces situated on 2.2 acres in Oakville — with one acre planted to vines. The project is set to break ground in summer of 2026, while fundraising continues for the remaining $3.3 million needed to complete the center. Also monumental, the organization recently celebrated its 50-year anniversary, which feels extra meaningful for our family as my father- in-law, Bob Dwyer, served as the executive director of the NVG in the 80s. He and others helped lay the groundwork for the organization’s commitment to the preservation of viticultural excellence in the Napa Valley. In other agriculture news, lots of moves and shakeups with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which announced the $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) package. The program offers proportional support to producers based on modeled losses from the 2025 crop year. Of that $12 billion in aid, $1 billion is reserved for
After years in the technology and advertising trenches, Christina Julian traded city life for country and unearthed a new philosophy— life is complicated, wine and food shouldn’t be. Her debut novel, a romantic comedy called The Dating Bender , is now available. Learn more at christinajulian.com . You can reach her at cjulian@ northbaybiz.com.
March | April 2026
NorthBaybiz 27
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