The first wine grape vineyard to be USDA-certified organic in Washington state is closing its tasting room as it adapts to customer trends and other challenges facing the wine industry. 

Badger Mountain Organic Winery will close its tasting room on Oct. 31, it announced via social media and in an email to customers.  

“This was not an easy decision. Tasting room visits have slowed in recent years, both for us and across the industry,” the winery’s statement read. “As more of our community connects with us online, through retail, and especially through our wine club, we’re shifting to meet that change. The wines, the wine club and the relationships we’ve built will continue, just in a new way.” 

The winery’s offerings come from Badger Mountain Vineyard, founded by Bill Powers in 1982 on Little Badger Mountain, just southeast of Badger Mountain. The vineyard received its USDA organic certification in 1990, three years after Powers began organic practices at the vineyard.