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 multi-billion dollar wine industry in Washington state would not be what it is today without the field workers. The storytelling program Breaking Ground captures the stories about growers and winemakers and also the field workers.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
Red cheat grass blooming between vineyard rows, Tapteil Vineyard, Red Mountain AVA, Washington Andrea Johnson Listen (Runtime 1:21) Read Red Mountain Washington is world-renowned for its wine grape production. It’s […]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
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
Even if a wildfire doesn’t burn a vineyard, smoke can get into grapes. Smoke taint tastes like a small bit of ashtray, creosote post or burnt tires — so it’s not desirable in your pinot or merlot. 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
Wineries and breweries in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties must keep their doors closed for now, unless they serve food out of their own kitchens. That’s the updated guidance for the three counties, which are seeing some of the highest numbers of coronavirus cases in Washington. 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
