The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) has announced that longtime grower Patrick Garvey has been selected as the 2012 recipient of the prestigious Napa Valley Grower of the Year award. Garvey will be honored for his broad contributions to Napa Valley agriculture and the community on May 18 at the 38thNVG Annual Dinner at HALL St. Helena.
Garvey served as NVG President from 1992-1994, and has led many important industry initiatives over the years, including the creation of the Oakville and Rutherford appellations and the development of the Napa Valley Vit Fair (now in its 23rd year). He has a deep commitment to farmworkers and in this capacity, chairs the Napa County Farm Worker Housing Commission and is one of the founders of the Cinco de Mayo Golf Classic, which has collected over $½ million to benefit farmworker housing centers in the Napa Valley. He and his wife of 37 years, Julie, have set up a fund called Rise to the Occasion, which provides financial help to those in need in the community.
Garvey came to the Napa Valley in 1978 to farm winegrapes. He currently owns and manages over 600 acres of vineyards, all farmed by the family with sustainable practices.
NVG President David Beckstoffer recognized the important place Garvey holds in Napa Valley history book, noting “Pat is a tremendously well-respected grapegrower and a model citizen in our community. His contributions to the Napa Valley are numerous and although he would be the last to say it, he is highly deserving of this special award”.
Nominations for the Napa Valley Grower of the Year come from the NVG membership and the recipient is chosen by a Selection Committee made up of Past Presidents of the organization and current committee members. The award criteria are: a strong commitment to sustainable practices; recognized leadership in agricultural preservation; dedicated community focus, contributions to the Napa Valley community; and someone who actively promotes Napa’s reputation for the highest quality vineyards.
Information on the May 18 celebration is available from the Napa Valley Grapegrowers: www.napagrowers.org With 600 members, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers has played a vital role in strengthening Napa Valley’s reputation as a world-class winegrowing region for over 37 years. Its mission is to promote and preserve Napa Valley’s world-class vineyards.
