Sacramento, Calif.—Paul Kronenberg, president of Family Winemakers of California, FWC, is retiring after 17 years in the post. According to a statement from the group, during Kronenberg's tenure FWC sponsored successful legislation that opened up many marketing opportunities for small producers including farmers’ market tasting and sales, off premise sales through the winery event permit, order taking at non-profit fundraising events and the expansion of social media usage for wine marketing. FWC has held multiple trade and consumer tastings across California every year and started a fine wine marketing project in China.

“Improving market access for small producers has always been a major tenet of the organization and FWC’s success in shepherding the legal effort that led to the seminal direct shipping victory in Granholm v. Heald, and its capacity cap decision in the Massachusetts case are a result of his tireless efforts," said FWC board chairman Joseph Harbison, owner of Harbison Estate Wines, of Kronenberg's leadership. "We look forward to continuing FWC’s public policy engagement. We greatly appreciate what he has done for our members and the industry, and we wish him success.”