Founded by Micro-Wineries.
Built for Micro-Wineries.
The Micro-Winery Guild brings together independent, family-owned wineries, supporting their growth while connecting consumers to the most authentic vineyard and wine experiences in wine country.
About the Micro-Winery Guild
The Micro-Winery Guild (MWG) was created to support independent, family-run wineries producing under 5,000 cases annually. Through advocacy, credibility, and collective visibility, MWG ensures micro-wineries aren’t just preserved, they’re positioned to thrive.
MWG is the only wine industry organization built by small producers, exclusively for small producers. Its members form a roundtable of active collaborators and industry thought leaders with a unique perspective rooted in small business. The Guild offers a unique model centered on authentic vineyard and micro-winery experiences as an economic engine, which gives micro-wineries a distinct and ownable place in the market.
Why Micro-Wineries Matter
Rooted in Agriculture
No themed tasting rooms. No large staff. The ambiance of the vineyard and intimate spaces brings guests closer to the source.
Family Stewardship
These wineries are owned and operated by families whose livelihoods depend on the land they farm. Sustainable, thoughtful practices guide every decision.
Authentic Hospitality
Micro-wineries are often working farms, not manufactured destinations. Every visit offers a chance to connect with the people who farm the land and craft the wine.
Quality over Quantity
Production follows nature, not the market. Each vintage reflects the season, the land, and a specific moment in time.
What the Guild Provides
Industry-Recognized T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience Seal
Members offer the T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience - a recognized standard for authentic vineyard visits.
Collective Marketing
The Micro-Winery Guild promotes members through the media, tourism partnerships, and shared storytelling.
Industry Credibility
Membership signals immediate brand authenticity to journalists and consumers.
Regulatory Advocacy
Leadership on issues impacting micro-wineries - including AB 720 and pop up vineyard tasting experiences.
Peer Community
Meet and connect with other producers navigating similar situations within small-scale winemaking.
Market Differentiation
Consumers instantly understand why you are different - and why it matters.
The T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience
At the heart of the MWG is the T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience – a defined, peer-reviewed standard representing the highest expression of what makes family-run micro-wineries exceptional. Every experience is carefully curated, while emphasizing education, stewardship, and sensory understanding. It offers a depth of story and authenticity that stands apart from the standard tasting room models.
Terroir
Vineyard-driven experience rooted in place
Artisan
Led by the people who make the wine themselves
Small-scale
Intentionally limited to maximize quality
Trust
No script, no upsell, no spectacle
Engagement
Engage-ment
Real conversations and connection
The T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience Seal
Displayed only by wineries accepted into the Micro-Winery Guild.
For visitors, the Seal represents a different kind of wine experience: intimate in scale, grounded in education, and shaped by genuine connection rather than itinerary.
For wineries, it reflects a commitment to preserving the integrity of small-scale farming and production, offering experiences that are rare, authentic, and unrivaled.
Displayed at tasting rooms, vineyards, and on marketing materials, the T.A.S.T.E. Seal signals an experience that is authentic, personal, and truly distinctive.
Recognized Standard
Identifies wineries sharing a small-scale experience unlike anything else available in wine country.
Guild Membership
Displayed only by wineries accepted into the Micro-Winery Guild.
Visitor Trust
Signals personal, producer-led experiences designed to educate rather than entertain.
Pride of Craft
A badge that celebrates family-run micro-wineries and the people behind the wine.
Advocacy
The guild actively represents micro-wineries in regulatory and policy conversations specifically affecting small scale agriculture operations (annual production under 5,000 cases).
This work ensures the preservation of small, family farms for future generations.
Recent efforts include:
- The creation and passage of the Napa County Micro-Winery Ordinance
- Local implementation of AB 720
- Assistance securing Type 93 tasting permits
- Ongoing engagement with county planning, regulatory agencies, and trade organizations to ensure micro-wineries are represented
The Micro-Winery Guild supports policies like AB 720 that acknowledge the unique realities of small family farms and provide a viable path to share authentic, place-driven vineyard experiences with visitors.
For many micro-wineries, access to the public is essential. It offers a direct way to sustain family agriculture while deepening guests’ understanding of the farming, stories, and care behind every bottle.
Assembly Bill 720: What it Means for Small Wineries
In 2026, California enacted Assembly Bill 720, allowing wineries to host small, educational tasting experiences directly in vineyard settings.
Beginning January 1, qualifying vineyard sites may host a limited number of these experiences with approval from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and oversight from local governments.
This marks a meaningful shift in how vineyard-based hospitality is recognized—positioning it as an extension of agriculture rather than a move toward large-scale commercial development.
California counties are now implementing this mandate. A majority of our members are located in Napa County, where a pilot program has been established with the following guidelines to ensure safety and preserve the agricultural character of vineyard sites:
- Up to 36 vineyard tasting days per year
- Maximum of 49 guests per event, including staff
- Activities focused on outdoor education and vineyard visits
These guidelines allow visitors to experience vineyards directly while protecting the rural character of Napa Valley. They also enable Micro-Winery Guild members to offer verified T.A.S.T.E. Experiences directly in the vineyard.
Micro-Winery Guild Membership
Membership by Invitation
The Micro-Winery Guild is a curated network of independent producers committed to preserving the integrity of small-scale farming and authentic vineyard experiences.
Membership is intentionally selective to ensure alignment, shared values, and meaningful collaboration among peers.
The Path to Membership
Initial Inquiry
Share your business and philosophy with our team
Peer Review
We evaluate fit based on production, practices, and values to ensure each member can deliver a T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience
Onboarding
Selected micro-wineries are onboarded to ensure alignment with and delivery of the T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience standards
T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience
Members are authorized to offer and represent the T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience using the Seal
Membership Criteria
- Family-owned and operated with no corporate or investor backing
- Produce between 500 and 5,000 cases of wine annually
- Have a business model that is majority direct-to-consumer
- Aligned with the principles of the T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience
- Willing to participate in the MWG review and onboarding process
- Learn more about our certfication standards here
Apply for Membership
If your micro-winery meets the MWG criteria, we invite you to submit an inquiry for membership.
The Micro-Winery Guild is more than a designation, it is a community of like-minded producers working together to elevate and preserve the future of micro-wineries.
Frequently Asked Guild Questions
MWG is the only wine industry organization built by small producers, for small producers; a roundtable of thought leaders and collaborators. We exist to elevate, protect, and promote California’s smallest, most authentic, family-run wine producers.
The Micro-Winery Guild represents a shared standard built on authenticity, stewardship, and connection. Unlike other wine industry groups, MWG is a curated network of small, family-run wineries that offer deeply personal, place-driven experiences. Each member is committed to the T.A.S.T.E. Experience—creating visits that are intimate, meaningful, and rooted in the people and land behind the wine.
Members must independently run wineries producing fewer than 5,000 cases annually and meet the standards required to deliver a T.A.S.T.E. Verified Experience.
Producers submit an application, undergo peer review, confirm eligibility, and adopt the T.A.S.T.E Verified Experience as stated in the written standards, ensuring transparency and integrity in the designation.
Use the Guild’s directory to discover participating wineries and contact them directly to schedule a visit.
- Certified to use the T.A.S.T.E Verified Experience seal
- Differentiation from large wineries
- PR, media, and tourism visibility
- Peer support and community
- Protection of legacy and family agriculture
Membership dues are $1,000 annually.
Need More Information?
This section is designed to provide answers to any of your questions. Whether you’re interested in joining the Micro-Winery Guild or simply want to know more about our mission, fill the form below and you’ll hear from us shortly.
Media & Industry Partners
For press inquiries, interviews, or partnership opportunities, visit our Media page.