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Your Solution To Farm Labor Housing. . . We offer a variety of floor plans that are customized to meet your needs. In the early 1980s, though he added more varietal wines to the mix and changed the label several times, the winery still struggled to match sales to production. "I could see that we were going to be in a sea of wine if we couldn't figure out how to sell what we were making," Randy said. In 1984, he began making wine for wholesale customers, sending bulk or bottled wine to wineries in Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and other states. These days, he makes wine for about 40 customers, including wineries in the Pacific Northwest. Some want the wine bottled as "shiners," an industry term for wine bottles without labels; others want wine in bulk to blend and bottle themselves. The original family vineyard of 35 acres was sold several years ago, along with Randy's own vineyard of about 15 acres, although he continues to purchase the —Randy Tucker grapes for his wines. "They're the same grapes that we've always been using, I just can't put 'estate' on the label a nymore," he explained. Many of the original vines planted in the vineyard were varieties that have fallen out of favor, such as Chenin Blanc, and have been replaced with more popular cultivars like Viognier and Syrah. "The wine won best of show at an Olympia wine competition, and I've never looked back." Changes During the last three decades, Randy has watched phenomenal growth occur in the industry. "The piece of the pie is getting much smaller," he said, but adds that Tucker Cellars is still doing well with its wholesale wine niche. "A lot of wineries look down on what's called a 'virtual winery', but you still have to produce quality wine other wineries believe is good enough to put their label on." Tucker Cellars, located on the edge of Sunnyside along a major interstate, also relies on tourism to bring in customers and has a case-buyers wine club to help move product. One of the biggest technological changes he's made in winemaking is in the use of oak barrels. French oak barrels are expensive, costing more than $950 for something used for a limited time. Wine oxidizes as it is stored in the barrels, another negative factor with barrels. Randy first experimented with toasted oak chips in 2007, and used oak chips in a tank of Viognier wine, much like making a cup of tea. The oak chips were put in a muslin bag and steeped in the wine for about a month. "The wine won best of show at an Olympia wine competition, and I've never looked back," he said, adding that many of his wines are now made with oak chips. Today, Randy and his wife, Debbie, who has helped run Tucker Cellars, now face their biggest change. With no children interested in taking over the winery, the Tuckers have developed an exit strategy; the winery is for sale. "It's time to move on," he said, adding that it's been a great industry to work in. "I've been blessed to go to work for the last 32 years and love what I do." • www.goodfruit.com • LARGEST BUILDER OF MANUFACTURED HOMES • BEST INDUSTRY WARRANTY AVAILABLE PHOTO BY MELISSA HANSEN Randy Tucker expanded the number of wines sold at Tucker Cellars from two to 15 and sells much of his wine to other wineries. Precision-built housing affordably priced and designed to provide strength and longevity, while offering comfortable amenities for a grower's work force. Ask for Silvestre Lozano . . . Serving Central Washington Growers For over 23 Years! Clayton Homes offers the Lowest Factory Direct Pricing . . . and won't be out priced ! Emails to: joseph.sarne@claytonhomes.com 509-452-9228 ® 2010 Rudkin Road Union Gap, WA 98903 www.claytonyakimavalley.com A Growing Legacy Since 1816 trees are healthy, strong and tall 2014 crop is selling fast! For best selection, call 800-435-8733 now! Stark Bro's Nurseries & Orchards Co. PO Box 398 • Louisiana, MO 63353 • 573-754-5111 • Fax 573-754-3701 Good Fruit Grower SEPTEMBER 2013 31