ROBERT P. KOCH Robert P. (Bobby) Koch is President and Chief Executive Officer of Wine Institute. In this capacity, he leads Wine Institute, the public policy advocacy association representing 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses responsible for over 85 percent of the nation’s wine production and more than 90 percent of U.S. wine exports.

His responsibilities include promoting and protecting the interests of the California wine industry worldwide, overseeing the industry’s legal, governmental and regulatory affairs and international marketing. Prior to his promotion to President and CEO, Koch headed the Washington, DC office of Wine Institute.

He joined Wine Institute in July 1992 as Vice President, Federal Government Relations and became Senior Vice President in January 1996. He previously served in senior leadership positions for House Majority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (1989-1992) and House Majority Whip Tony Coelho (1987- 1989); and as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (1983-1986). He received his B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland in 1983. Koch is a member of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC), the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100, and a board member of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.