NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Assemblyman Bill Dodd (D-Napa) has been appointed chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Wine by Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins.

The Select Committee on Wine is a bipartisan committee that examines the diverse issues affecting California’s wine industry.

“I want to thank Speaker Atkins for appointing me to chair this important committee,” Assemblyman Dodd said, “The wine industry is a crucial economic driver for our region and the state as a whole. As chair, I will ensure the committee looks at the challenges facing our wine industry and works to identify pragmatic solutions.”

California makes 90 percent of all the wine produced in the United States.

The California wine industry has an economic impact of more than $61 billion to the state and creates upwards of 330,000 jobs.

The wine industry also is an essential part of California tourism, bringing in upwards of 20 million tourists annually.

Wine produced in the Fourth Assembly District, which includes all or portions of Yolo, Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Solano and Colusa counties, represents a significant percentage of all the wine produced in the United States, and billions of dollars in economic activity.

Wineries in this district are a particularly integral part of local tourism, accounting for more than half of all tourists spending on wine throughout all of California.

“Assemblymember Dodd’s appointment to chair the Assembly Select Committee on Wine reflects the increasing importance of the wine industry to the state’s economy, as well as the leadership role that the North Coast region plays within the industry,” said Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, a marketing order established in 1991 to promote the region’s premium winegrapes and assist winegrape growers through marketing, research, and educational programs.

“In Lake County alone, the wine industry directly employs more than 925 people in a range of positions including vineyard workers, winemakers, hospitality professionals, accounting and compliance administrators, and sales and marketing professionals. In addition, the industry supports an additional 1,000 local jobs in other industries,” Sommerfield said.

The appointment places Dodd in a position to lead of one of the most important committees impacting the economic stability of the Fourth Assembly District.

“As the committee chair, I’m eager to work with both sides of the aisle in hopes that we can keep this industry flourishing.” said Dodd. “The committee will review crucial issues, such as the impact of the ongoing drought on winegrape growers, innovation in environmental sustainability, and competitiveness in a global marketplace.”

Dodd was elected to the Assembly in November and served in local government for 14 years.

He has significant experience in advancing policies that preserve agriculture and open space, and has served in leadership roles promoting California wines internationally.