Wine Talk: Rep. Mike Thompson  Congressional representative
works hard to reach across the aisle in D.C., as well as up and
down the rows in his vineyard Eric Arnold Posted: September 15,
2006  Since 1998, Rep. Mike Thompson (D), 55, has represented
the first congressional district of California, which includes
Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties. He's a member of the
House Ways and Means Committee, and this year Congress
unanimously agreed to his resolution recognizing the
significance of the Napa Valley victory at the 1976 Paris Wine
Tasting. But perhaps his proudest accomplishment is cofounding
the Congressional Wine Caucus in 1999, with a Republican
colleague. The bipartisan group has 215 members, and while they
get together regularly to taste wine, the caucus has effectively
opened discussion--and passed legislation--on a range of issues
important to the wine industry, such as trade with the European
Union, direct shipping and research into prevention of Pierce's
disease. Thompson isn't just famili