Longtime Mendocino County winegrape grower Bill Pauli was elected chair of the California Association of Winegrape Growers at its November 10, 2011, board meeting.

Pauli, who along with his wife and sons runs Pauli Ranch, succeeds Kim Ledbetter Bronson, executive vice president of Vino Farms, as chair of the association. Pauli is a past-president of the California Farm Bureau Federation and has served on the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

A third-generation farmer, Pauli grew up on a family farm in Potter Valley. He became a full-time farmer immediately after graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, and shifted the farm's focus from pears to grapes. A few years later, he entered the winemaking business.

Today, Pauli farms approximately 1,100 acres of vines in the Ukiah, Potter and Redwood valleys.

“As a past leader of the California Farm Bureau Federation, Bill brings tremendous leadership experience and a depth of knowledge about our industry and agriculture, generally, to his role as CAWG chair,” said John Aguirre, CAWG president. “CAWG members can expect very active leadership from Bill Pauli.”

Other officers elected to CAWG's board of directors at the November meeting are:

Vice Chair - Heidi Scheid, Scheid Vineyards, Greenfield

Vice Chair - Tom Murphy, The Murphy Companies, Farmington

Secretary - J.R. Shannon, CRS Ranch, Visalia

Treasurer - Ryan Metzler, Fruita del Sol, Fresno

CAWG represents the growers of more than 60 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. The statewide association provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies, research and education programs, sustainable farming practices and trade positions to enhance the business of growing California winegrapes. For more information about CAWG, please visit www.cawg.org