SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a friendly wager with Texas Governor Greg Abbott on the matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros in the 2017 World Series, which begins tonight.
In the spirit of bi-partisanship and in recognition of the resilience of the communities impacted by the recent wildfires in California and Hurricane Harvey in Texas, the governors are wagering wine, beer and food from businesses in regions impacted by these disasters and encouraging the public to see, taste and experience what their respective states have to offer.
“While we don’t expect to have to send any vino to Texas, we hope travelers from all over the world – yes, even the Lone Star State – will continue to visit California,” said Governor Brown.
Northern California’s wine region has more than 1,200 wineries, and only a handful were heavily damaged or destroyed. Vintners report that 90 percent of this year’s grapes were harvested before the fires and most tasting rooms have reopened.
“Texas and California are recovering from some of the worst natural disasters our states have ever encountered,” said Governor Abbott. “As we work to overcome these challenges, our two states are united by America’s pastime as we cheer on our home teams in the World Series. Go Astros!”
If the Astros win, Governor Brown will send Governor Abbott a selection of wine from wineries in the Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino regions impacted by recent wildfires. If the Dodgers win, Governor Abbott will send Governor Brown a six-pack of Houston-brewed beer and Texas BBQ.
The first game of the best-of-seven World Series will be played tonight at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.