The region’s wine leaders realized several years ago that an investment in students and research would ultimately lead to a more lucrative statewide industry.The students have come and the research is underway with the opening of the Washington State University Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Wine Science Center in Richland.“Industry leaders...

By Wine News ServicePolitically, Washington’s Columbia Valley has been the red part of a blue state for decades. And when it comes to wine, Washington has shifted firmly to being a red wine-producing state.The last year Washington produced more white wine than red was in 2012, and it’s likely to...

By Sean BassingerEven the sweetest wine has waste.That’s why two Eastern Washington cities have invested in special wastewater treatment facilities to handle wine effluent.It’s not a glamorous piece of the wine industry, but it’s a critical part of a continued multimillion-dollar effort to draw more wineries to the Tri-City area.The...

Wine growlers, wine at movies among proposed bills in OlympiaThe state’s wine industry — with the Mid-Columbia at the center — is in great shape and getting better as several state legislators push bills to improve sales in Washington.The state has about 900 wineries — compared to about 300 in...

The top priority for the new director of Clean Plant Center Northwest in Prosser is to increase the region’s supply of virus-free fruit trees, vines and hops. Scott Harper“The front line of the battle against viruses is clean material,” said Scott Harper, who was hired Jan. 3 to run the...

Heat and cold extremes can be damaging to grapevines and affect fruit and winemaking decisions.A research symposium, “Climate Extremes: Is the Pacific Northwest Wine Industry Ready?” will take a closer look at the issue from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 17 in the East Auditorium at Washington State University...