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IWVA's mission is to create a friendly regulatory environment for Farm Wineries in Indiana. Our specific charge is to protect the Farm Winery permit against legislation that would intentionally or indirectly harm our industry. Over the last 50 years, IWVA has enjoyed an incredibly successful track record. One of the ways we achieve that success is by building and maintaining a strong, effective lobbying presence at the Statehouse. Alcohol is a highly regulated product, and it is critical that the industry have representation in front of the Indiana General Assembly and strong relationships with the Indiana Alcohol Tobacco Commission (ATC). IWVA is represented by The Corydon Group, which is an independent lobbying firm in Indianapolis. Our primary lobbyist is Chris Gibson, who is the managing principal of the firm. In addition to the presence that our professional lobbyists maintain, IWVA has organized countless member visits to the statehouse over the years to build relationships and testify on specific pieces of legislation. Legislative reports are provided to the membership on a weekly basis during the legislative session to provide insight into potential policy changes in real time. This advance notice gives IWVA members an opportunity to provide feedback and, in some cases, impact the outcome before it is final. |