Jim Willard shows “bud break” on an old block of concord grapes eight miles north of Prosser, Washington. The baby leaves and buds start pushing out to become grown vines […]Read More
Northwest wine industry leader, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, dumps about 40 percent of its contracts with Washington growers. (Photo courtesy of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.) Read The massive Northwest wine […]Read More
The Washington wine grape harvest is underway. Pinot Noir grapes are being harvested near Vantage, WA. Listen (Runtime :56) Read This year’s wine grape harvest is about two or three […]Read More
Wood smoke is dispersed into canopy covered wine grapes for 36 hours in order to measure how wildfire smoke affects grapes and wine flavors in Prosser, Washington June 2021. (Photo […]Read More
The Washington Wine Commission has a new program for growers called Sustainable WA. It’s a three-pronged approach enabling Washington Wines to be a leader in the industry. It focuses on sustainability in growing grapes, being stewards to the land, and having a healthy workforce.Read More
Listen Read Transcript There’s a glass shortage putting Northwest wineries over a barrel right now in bottling season. Many winemakers may have to make do with another style of bottle, […]Read More
Listen Read Transcript Host Lead: A widespread glass shortage has hit the Northwest wine industry. [GASP!] Correspondent Anna King explains. Some wineries might not be able to bottle your favorite […]Read More
When wineries release their new vintages to the public it’s often called “Spring release.” Those bottlings have been cooped up all winter aging. So have winter-weary patrons. Those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are stepping out to wineries and meeting in small groups both outdoors and in. Read More
To qualify as an AVA, a wine grape-growing region must set itself apart with climate, soil, elevation and physical features. A new one doesn’t come around very often. The Royal Slope AVA is just over 156,000 acres, and is north of the Tri-Cities. Read More
Across the Northwest, there are too many wine grapes and not enough demand. It started with an overly optimistic industry planting too much. Then came the coronavirus pandemic. Now, vineyard managers and wineries are being forced to think creatively to cope with 2020’s bumper crop. Read More
Just in the last year, the wine-in-can category has grown by more than 100 percent across the nation, measured by volume of units sold.
The third largest winery in the nation is Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, based in Woodinville, Wash. Now, it’s pouring huge amounts of juice into aluminum cans under its 14 Hands brand. Read More
Starting early next year, you might see a hike in your favorite bottle of Northwest wine. Winemakers say that’s because the trade wars are driving up the cost of wine packaging. Read More
Some winemakers are calling it the “beerification” of wine. Many Northwest winemakers are trying to make wine a little less fussy by putting it in aluminum cans.Read More
