Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/132109
Grapes Spotlight on Yakima Valley T he thirtieth anniversary of Yakima Valley as an American Viticultural Area is an opportunity to inform consumers and trade groups about the qualities of Yakima Valley grapes and wine and spread the new about changes in the region, says a wine industry veteran. Wine Yakima Valley, a grower and winery association dedicated to promoting the region, is putting the spotlight on Yakima Valley this year through a variety of events. In March, the group sponsored an educational session on the history of the Yakima Valley AVA during Taste Washington, an annual consumer and media event held in Seattle. This summer and fall, Wine Yakima Valley will host tours of the region's wineries and the state's oldest vineyards for consumers and media. The group will host several wine tastings with the Seattle wine trade to showcase the region's wines. by Melissa Hansen These special events are in addition to traditional consumer events sponsored by the group, such as its February red wine and chocolate pairing, Spring Barrel Tasting, Catch the Crush, and Thanksgiving celebration tastings. Up to the mid-1980s, most of the Washington State's wine industry— its growers and wineries—were located in or near the Yakima Valley. As one of the state's earliest wine grape growing regions, it was the center of PHOTO cOurTesy Of Wade WOlfe Washington's first appellation has evolved into a premium wine grape region. Wade Wolfe entered the industry in Washington State in the late 1970s. Natural Fish Fertilizers for Organic & Sustainable Crop Production h i g h l E x t re m ely ev e l C a l cs o f ava i l a b l e P h o s pi u m & horus Presenting "Making Winery Sustainability Work" Learn the results of our year-long winery sustainability trials plus, evaluate the sustainability of current winery practices. $15 per person per session The two-hour sessions will be held: Tuesday, July 23, Walla Walla Wednesday, July 24, Grandview Thursday, July 25, Woodinville Speakers Include: Judy Thoet - Winerywise™ Steering Committee and Winemaker, Salem, OR Dr. Jim Harbertson - Washington State University- IAREC, Prosser, WA Janice Camp - University of Washington, Seattle, WA Stuart Childs - Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, Portland, OR Chris Serra - LIVE (Low Input Viticulture & Enology), Salem, OR BERRIES VINEYARDS ORCHARDS Register at www.winerywise.org Dramm Corporation Manitowoc, WI • U.S.A. www.FishFertilizer.com 38 June 2013 GOOD FRUIT GROWER 360.333.4044 Casey Schoenberger Mount Vernon, WA With funding from: University of Washington Washington State Department of Agriculture School of Public Health, Safety and Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Health Investment Project www.depts.washington.edu/wineryhs www.goodfruit.com