WA State Wine Commission pivots toward distributors in new strategic plan
Comes with operating budget reduced by approximately one-third The Washington State Wine Commission, the state-mandated body charged with promoting Washington wine, has released a new, five-year strategic plan. Among the key shifts is a focus Read more...
What trouble at Vintage Wine Estates means for Washington wine
Earlier this month, Vintage Wine Estates (VWE) announced that it was reducing staff by 15%, restructuring the company’s business, and simplifying its business model. These moves come after the publicly owned company, like many large Read more...
Washington loses a link to its history
Charles Sleicher, the last surviving member of the 10 original founders of Associated Vintners (AV), passed away January 23rd. He was 99 years old. Sleicher was at AV when the winery purchased the land that Read more...
Walla Walla Valley wines making inroads in Boise
Portland, Oregon Taste Walla Walla event. Image by Richard Duval. Starting next week, the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance will be conducting its annual tasting events. These events have long included Seattle and Read more...
Why Sokol Blosser is adding an ingredients list to its wine labels
Last week, Willamette Valley’s Sokol Blosser announced that it was adding an ingredients list to its wine labels. The change starts with the winery’s just-released 2023 Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir. “It’s something that I’ve Read more...
Winery of the Year – Passing Time
“All these farmers, it all starts with them,” says Damon Huard, president and co-owner of Passing Time in Woodinville, Washington. Huard’s wine journey began in 1997 after he was signed by the NFL’s Miami Dolphins Read more...
Ste. Michelle requests rezoning of Woodinville property
Ste. Michelle's Woodinville property. Areas 1-5 in rezoning request. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE) has requested the City of Woodinville rezone portions of its Woodinville property. The rezoning would allow for residential townhouse Read more...
Areas of Columbia Valley experience record low temperatures
Snow Day event at Yellowhawk Resort January 13. Image by Richard Duval. The Columbia Valley, a sprawling appellation largely in eastern Washington but stretching into Oregon and abutting Idaho, experienced record low temperatures Read more...
El Niño Conditions to continue in Pacific Northwest
The following article was written by Michael Fagin. Fagin is an operational meteorologist providing weather forecasts to clients in the Pacific Northwest and providing custom forecast for groups climbing Mt. Everest and other major peaks. Read more...
Getting to know new Stoller VP winemaking Ben Howe
Melissa Burr and Ben Howe, Stoller Wine Group Last week Stoller Wine Group announced that Ben Howe has been named vice president of winemaking. With the move, Melissa Burr, who held the position Read more...
The next most read articles of 2023
If you saw my article on the Top 10 most read articles of 2023, you no doubt noticed that many of them (six!) were about Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE). This should come as Read more...
Top 10 most read articles of 2023
Here’s a look at the Top 10, most read articles at Northwest Wine Report last year based on 157 articles published. (Note that I did not include the article Top 60 Northwest Wines of Read more...