California: Napa wine reps will accompany Governor Brown on China trip

(KGO) -- It's been months in the making and next Wednesday, just days after his 75th birthday, Gov. Jerry Brown will make his first trade trip to China. Among the delegation to go with him are representatives from Wine Country.

Brown has predicted billions of dollars in investments and exports because of this trip and people representing tourism, Hollywood studios and even California agriculture will be part of his delegation. California wines will also play an important role.

When Brown makes his first trade trip to China, California wines will play a central role at all the dinner events planned. Napa and Sonoma wines have been recognized as among the best in the world, but in China they're still relatively unknown.

"They know all sorts of things about California. They don't know, by and large, that we actually make wine and we're the fourth largest wine producing region in the world," said Linsey Gallagher from the California Wine Institute.

To Chinese consumers, California is quickly recognized as the home of the Golden Gate Bridge, Disneyland and movie studios. All of these signature industries will be part of the governor's delegation of more than 100 people who will be traveling with him to several cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai. And for Wine Country, it's another chance to make further inroads there.