Behind every bottle of Sonoma County wine is a team of people whose work rarely makes the label. They prune vines on foggy mornings, monitor vineyards through the heat of summer, and guide each growing season toward harvest. Their knowledge is built over years—often decades—spent working the same land.
The Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos Leadership Academy has a simple goal: prepare these talented vineyard employees to become supervisors, managers and community leaders.
This spring, the Leadership Academy celebrated the graduation of its fifth class, marking an important milestone: more than 100 vineyard employees have now completed the academy since it was established in 2022 by Sonoma County Winegrowers and the Fundación.
Because of the Academy, many of these vineyard professionals are now becoming the next generation of leaders shaping Sonoma County agriculture.
“This program represents a meaningful investment by our farming employers in the people who make our industry possible.” says Karissa Kruse, Executive Director of the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation/Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos and Chief Executive Officer of Sonoma County Winegrowers, “As we reflect on the past five years, it’s clear the Leadership Academy has exceeded our expectations, creating opportunities for personal growth, professional advancement, and stronger community leadership.”
The 2026 class includes 24 graduates representing more than 400 years of combined farming experience in Sonoma County. Among them are crew leaders, supervisors and two Vineyard Employees of the Year, each nominated by their employers for their commitment, teamwork and leadership potential.
“We are incredibly proud of the graduates and the impact they are making in their workplaces and communities,” said Duff Bevill, Chairman of the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation/Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos. “This program reflects the commitment of Sonoma County growers to investing in their employees and creating opportunities for leadership and growth.”
The Leadership Academy
Created by Sonoma County Winegrowers and the Fundación, the academy isn’t designed to teach farming techniques. Instead, it invests in the people who already possess deep technical expertise, providing the leadership, communication, financial literacy and management skills needed to advance into supervisory and community leadership roles.
Originally called the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation (SCGGF), the Sonoma County Fundación de la Voz de Los Viñedos was first established in 2002 as a nonprofit to help fund educational workshops in Spanish for agricultural employees. The Fundación is managed by the Sonoma County Winegrowers with a 16-member board of directors composed of agricultural leaders, vineyard and winery owners, and Sonoma County community leaders.
The impact reaches far beyond individual careers. When vineyard employees are given opportunities to lead, entire farming operations benefit.
The Leadership Academy reflects an important shift in how the local wine community invests in its future—not only through sustainable farming practices, but by developing the people who make those practices possible. The academy has already demonstrated measurable success. Many graduates from previous classes have earned promotions or assumed new leadership responsibilities. Employers consistently report increased confidence, stronger communication skills and improved supervision among academy alumni—qualities that benefit entire vineyard operations.
Those benefits extend well beyond the vineyard gates. Sonoma County’s wine industry is one of the region’s largest economic engines, supporting 54,000 jobs. It also generates $3.2 billion in annual wages and contributes about $1.2 billion in tourism spending each year, according to the Sonoma County Vintners Association.
The impact reaches far beyond individual careers. When vineyard employees are given opportunities to lead, entire farming operations benefit. Better communication strengthens crews. Stronger supervisors create safer, more productive workplaces. Experienced employees stay in agriculture longer, passing along invaluable knowledge to the next generation. The result is a more resilient local workforce and a stronger agricultural community.
Cultivating Our Agricultural Heritage
Healthy vineyards depend on healthy soils, but thriving agricultural communities depend on something just as essential: investing in people. As another class of graduates steps into leadership, Sonoma County is cultivating both. Choosing a bottle of local wine in Sonoma County isn’t simply supporting a winery—it’s supporting the vineyard crews, supervisors and emerging leaders whose dedication helps preserve our agricultural heritage. And that matters to everyone who lives in Sonoma County.