[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16438]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING CHARLIE BARRA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2016

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleague Congressman Mike 
Thompson today in recognition of Charlie Barra and his exceptional 
community service on the occasion of his 90th birthday on December 12, 
2016.
  Born in Calpella, California in 1926 to Italian immigrants, both from 
generational wine growing families, Charlie Barra and his two brothers 
spent their young teen years working in their father Antonio's 
vineyard. In 1945, when Charlie was a junior in high school, he leased 
a ranch from one of his old Italian neighbors, beginning his long and 
successful independent career in viticulture.
  In 1955, Charlie purchased the 175-acre Redwood Valley Vineyards 
located at the headwaters of the Russian River. At the time, most 
growers were farming ``standard'' grapes that were used by the major 
wine producers to make basic table wines. Charlie worked with pioneers 
of the industry and began moving to a varietal-focused vineyard. He was 
one of the first growers on the North Coast to plant Chardonnay, 
Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir.
  As a true steward of the land, Charlie converted all his vineyards to 
organic grapes in 1989. In 1997, after a downturn in the grape market, 
Charlie and his wife Martha began BARRA of Mendocino Winery, 
specializing in premium wines. He was honored by Slow Foods San 
Francisco as a pioneer for organic farming in the United States in 
2011. To this day, Charlie Barra prides himself on never having missed 
a harvest.
  Throughout his life, Charlie Barra has been an active member of the 
community. He was a founding member of the California North Coast Grape 
Growers association and served on its board for 41 years. Charlie was 
appointed to the Mendocino County Planning commission in 1965 and again 
in 1975, and Governor Ronald Reagan appointed him to the Mendocino 
County Board of Supervisors in 1968.
  Charlie Barra's legacy is one of stewardship of the land, economic 
development and community service to Mendocino County. Please join us 
in congratulating him on his 90th birthday and expressing our deep 
appreciation for his long and exceptional life and outstanding 
contributions to our local economy.

                          ____________________