Bill Clinton

“ The history of wine grape growing in the world spans more than 7,000 years. In our own history, wine has continually played an important role in a wide variety of American cultural, religious, and familial traditions. ”

“ From generation to generation, grape growers have helped sustain and preserve our agricultural resources, keeping 850,000 acres of American land as open space for active agricultural production.
More than 8,000 grape and other fruit growers work together with more than 1,300 wineries to produce 85 percent of all wine consumed in the United States. This $8 billion industry strengthens the American economy by supporting more than 200,000 jobs and contributing $1 billion a year in government taxes and fees. ”