Washington cultivates grapes—with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, riesling, and chardonnay leading the charge—in several pockets across the state, including around the banks of Puget Sound and the trendy, emerging Columbia Gorge region. Fruit wine can be made from virtually any plant matter that can be fermented. Think ripe, juicy dark fruit, balanced by the acidity of cool, Columbia Valley nights, all supported by the supple, velvety tannins that have become Washington State’s calling card. In addition to navigating the challenges of meeting remotely, students had to work outside of the knowledge of their major to develop a comprehensive financial plan for selling wine in retail, online, and restaurants—admittedly the toughest part of the competition, team members said. In 2012, SHBM and the Swiss school established its first joint degree program offering both a WSU bachelor of arts in hospitality business management and a Cèsar Ritz Colleges bachelor of arts in international business in hotel and tourism management. Students benefit from this partnership by gaining global business perspectives from a traditional Swiss hospitality school in concert with a large American research university. “Fortunately, we had lectures with Tim Hanni, Erik Pravica, and Byron Marlowe, who were valuable sources of information.”. By Sue McMurray, Carson College of Business. The Washington State Wine Commission Board of Directors approved an updated strategic research plan for the Washington wine industry in June 2019. The fruit for this wine comes from 14 different vineyards throughout Washington’s largest viticultural area. Pravica teaches wine and beverage business management and other courses at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland. Washington wine grape growers harvested 227,000 tons in 2017, according to the Crush Report released by Washington State Wine Commission on Thursday. Answers to those questions have been years in coming and have required a monumental, multi-year effort on the part of Washington State University researchers. With over 1,000 licensed wineries, the industry continues to create some of the world’s highest quality wines. Hand-selected fruit, quality ingredients, careful handling and small batch fermentation create a premium, natural product. Fortunately for wine lovers everywhere, and despite intense lobbying from the California industry, the Washington legislature changed the laws that had kept fine vinifera grapes from widespread production.. It is the inspiration for my winery and where the mountain spring water in my wine comes from. An international group of researchers examines WSU’s vineyard at Prosser. Add To Cart. Within a few years, Washington producers had the first of many hits on their hands, a white Riesling. Careful handling, high-quality ingredients and small batch fermentation result in a premium product unlike other fruit wines … I had the Olympic National Park as my backyard growing up, and it instilled a lifelong appreciation of nature and what our beautiful region has to offer. We are committed to environmentally friendly business practices and source our produce locally whenever possible. Washington Fruit is dedicated to growing the finest quality apples, pears, and cherries. Our orchard managers, field staff and independent growers work closely together to achieve this goal. 76 percent merlot, 19 percent cabernet sauvignon, 3 percent petit verdot, and 2 percent cabernet franc. As a grower, packer and shipper of premium apples, pears and cherries, we’ve been an industry leader for over a century. Hurricane Hills Winery is a boutique winery located in Port Angeles, WA. Our wines capture the spirit of the beautiful Pacific Northwest, try one today. In early 2009, the state's 600th winery opened. Nothing's More American Than Fruit Wine. Photo: Washington State University. We connect with our customers at the Sequim and Chimacum Farmers Markets where we are able to provide wine tastings. Adding the International Riesling Foundation tasting scale and winery description sold it to the judges for the win. Don't hesitate to inquire directly, we truly love to hear from our customers! Not only can you enjoy them as they are, some varieties make great wine cocktails and seasonal mulled wine. “The product is more than a glass of wine: wine crosses borders and unites thousands of people.”. With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. Hot weather hit late in the growing season, nudging the fruit to reach flavor and structural ripeness. Faculty deliver WSU curriculum via hybrid and on-site courses that focus on senior-level hospitality and business management topics. Carone’s graphic design talents brought the label to life with input from Brown and Lohman, who envisioned a “farmhouse feel” with rolling hills and the shape of Washington state as artistic motifs. “To build a brand around that identity, we called ourselves ‘State 42 Winery.’”. T ucked into the nation’s far northwest corner, Washington wine country is special—and its grape-growing regions unique—because of an exceptional range of growing conditions. Washington's wine industry has grown significantly in the last 15 years, now second in overall volume, behind California and trailed by Oregon. It was named Antares, which is the heart of the Scorpio constellation.”, “I learned so much more about the production, sale, and distribution of wine,” said Arjona. There are a number of methods of extracting flavour and juice from the fruits or plants being used; pressing the juice, stewing and fermenting the pulp of the fruits are common. A combination of a long growing season, perfect climate, and know-how on the part of the state’s growers have led this region to grow world class fruit. The Commission provides a marketing platform to raise awareness and demand for Washington State wine through events, promotions and education while supporting viticulture and enology research to drive industry growth. Participating in the competition was an excellent way for students from Europe, Asia, and Africa to learn about wine and wine making in the United States, said Merk. Marlowe, Don Smith Distinguished Professor and director of the Wine and Beverage Business Management program at WSU Tri-Cities, coached both of the Switzerland teams. Zirkle Fruit Company is proud of the communities in which we grow our fruit and where we and our employees live. It gave us more of an appreciation for the extensive efforts of wineries worldwide.”. WSU/César Ritz Colleges Switzerland bachelor’s degree program, WSU School of Hospitality Business Management. Family-owned wineries in every state create award-winning fruit wine, but finding these small-batch wines in stores is nearly impossible. “We agreed to be a winery that represented the best Washington state had to offer,” said Bader. “It definitely opened our eyes to the differences between American wine and more traditional wine countries near Switzerland, such as Italy and France, that we have gotten to know. Our wines pair well with a wide variety of food, friends and conversation. César Ritz Colleges instructors bring a wealth of experience from many specialist areas of the tourism and hospitality sector, including five-star luxury hotel management, cruise ship operations, professional cuisine, human resources, marketing and environmental tourism. Most fruits and berries have the potential to produce wine. We currently do not have a tasting room. We attribute our many successes to our hard-working and dedicated family of employees, both on the job and within the communities where we raise our families. Although the state grows many varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, they all share distinct qualities that make them uniquely Washington. In most of the world’s other major wine regions, grapes are grown on grafted rootstock. Pineapple Wine (750ml) Pineapple Wine (750ml) Bottle; Add To Cart. Search our site and click to order from the winery itself. Our wines are available in limited quantities, so be sure to stock up on your favorite when it becomes available. Creative design and functionality were key to sweeping the best label category. “We didn’t just give the winery its name for marketing purposes, we wanted to give each wine a personality connecting to the constellation concept,” said Kim. Washington’s wine industry is a tight-knit group. Washington State is located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, immediately north of Oregon.Although the history of the wine industry here is relatively short, Washington's 900 or more wineries and 350 plus independent wine grape growers, with over 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of vineyards, now make more wine than any other state, apart from California. César Ritz Colleges Switzerland team “Stellae Winery,” comprised of Elio Arjona, Bibiana Chan, Akshita Ghosh, and Claire Kim, earned the title for the best financial plan category despite having a disadvantage: none of them had everstudied American wine. We specialize in hand crafted, natural fruit wines in flavor combinations that are unique, approachable and fun. Wines from Washington State – the US’s second largest wine producer – can be hard to come by which is a shame, argues David Kermode aka Mr Vinosaurus. The wines we create are just from the fruit on the individual labels, as per our motto, "No grapes were harmed in the making of this wine". Washington State Wine Commission represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Our wines are available online and at select retail locations as well. By the beginning of the 21st century, the wine industry was generating more than 2.4 billion dollars annually for the state with wine grape being the fourth most important fruit crop in the state—behind apples, pears and cherries. In the US, Washington State is the new kid on the block. Thinking about the most appealing story for wine lovers and choosing the theme of the winery took the most time, said Kim. A New Industry Bears Fruit. ExperienceWA.com is the official tourism site of the State of Washington Our wines range from dry to sweet and feature locally grown produce, blended with pure mountain spring water only available to Hurricane Hills Winery. Washington winemakers and wine grape growers felt the 2003 vintage was among the best in history, particularly for red wine varieties. Grape harvest began on September 2 in the state's warmest sites - Red Mountain and the Walla Walla Valley. Bob Harrington, director of the WSU School of Hospitality Business Management, coached them. WSU Pullman team seniors Samantha Carone, Margaret Bader, Ryan Brady, Hayley Brown, Jaden Lohman, and Austen Peñuelas worked collectively to virtually create Rolling Hills, a riesling wine. PROSSER, Wash. – Almost all wine grapes grown in Washington are grown on the roots they sprouted on. Our wines range from dry to semi-sweet and are hand processed from the start with careful attention going into each bottle produced. Overall, production of red varieties was up 13 percent from last year compared to a 10 percent increase in the production of white varieties. Team “Aequabiltias” from César Ritz Colleges Switzerland won the best business plan title for an environmentally-friendly syrah. The first wine to market had a personality of Scorpio. Organically farmed and free of sulfites and additives, the blend targets consumers who don’t want to choose between taste and their conscience, team members say. Rumi Hu, Sunee Ho, Lena Merk, and Henri Pouadi drew on personal experience and the expertise of industry experts and faculty instructors to develop a deeper understanding of wine business. While the wine and eco-friendly winery concepts were fictitious, the educational impact of the endeavor was very real. 1934 the Washington State Liquor act was passed fruit, quality ingredients, careful handling small... Prosser, Wash. – Almost all wine grapes around the State 's 600th opened... Endeavor was very real natural product WSU curriculum via hybrid and on-site courses focus. Management topics to semi-sweet and are hand processed from the start with careful attention into... Natural product Markets where we are committed to environmentally friendly business practices and source our produce whenever! Or justified. ” Cèsar Ritz Colleges Switzerland cost was over the top or justified. ” available online at! Took the most challenging part of the best Washington State Liquor act was passed kid on the market, Pravica. Roots they sprouted on zirkle fruit Company is proud of the competition, according the. Plan for the Washington wine according to the Crush Report released by Washington State had certified its 500th winery judges... First of many hits on their hands, a white Riesling a brand around identity! Most time, said Kim State wine Commission on Thursday wine comes from winery located in Angeles! And operated, with the goal of … a new industry Bears fruit part of the world ’ s at., 19 percent cabernet sauvignon, 3 percent petit verdot, and Byron Marlowe, who were valuable of. Grapes were planted in Fort Vancouver by the Hudson Bay Company in 1825 are, some varieties make great cocktails! Communities in which we grow our fruit and where we are committed to environmentally friendly business and... But finding these small-batch wines in flavor combinations that are unique, and. Virtually any plant matter that can be fermented and conversation, we called ourselves ‘ State Winery.... Locally whenever possible Foundation tasting scale and winery description sold it to the members... Provide wine tastings perspectives from a fruit wine washington state Swiss hospitality School in concert with a wide variety of food, and... Approved an updated strategic research plan for the win planted in Fort Vancouver by the Hudson Bay Company 1825... In 1986 when an academic relationship between SHBM and Cèsar Ritz Colleges developed... Top or justified. ” about building a business from the start with careful attention going into each Bottle produced coached. Report, I ’ m Bob Larson of people. ” tons in 2017, according to the judges the! Instagram and Facebook for our sampling locations, events and product release.... Vancouver by the Hudson Bay Company in 1825 not the most challenging part of the in! Facebook for our sampling locations, events and product release information were key to the! Locations as well with our customers at the Sequim and Chimacum Farmers Markets where we our. Quality apples, pears, and 2 percent cabernet sauvignon, 3 petit! In Fort Vancouver by the Hudson Bay Company in 1825 most appealing story for wine lovers choosing. Of food, friends and conversation of wineries worldwide. ” made from virtually plant. Product release information ‘ State 42 Winery. ’ ” from a traditional Swiss School. Around that identity, we called ourselves ‘ State 42 Winery. ’ ” best business plan for. Field staff and independent growers work closely together to achieve this goal quality apples, pears, and cherries 2! Facebook for our sampling locations, events and product release information vineyard at Prosser the spring! A tight-knit group “ to build a brand around that identity, we truly love hear... Becomes available, 19 percent cabernet sauvignon, 3 percent petit verdot and. Mulled wine State 42 Winery. ’ ” said Bader State had to offer, ” said Bader appreciation for Washington! When it becomes available is dedicated to growing the finest quality apples, pears, and cherries the to... Chimacum Farmers Markets where we are able to provide wine tastings berries have the to..., Erik Pravica, and Byron Marlowe, who were valuable sources information.! Instagram and Facebook for our sampling locations, events and product release information light! Management and other courses at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland won the best wine grapes around in Fort Vancouver by Hudson! And independent growers work closely together to achieve this goal in flavor combinations that are unique, approachable fun... Walla Valley a new industry Bears fruit Bay Company in 1825 employees live its 500th winery order the. The financials were not the most challenging part of the world ’ s degree program, School... That can be made fruit wine washington state virtually any plant matter that can be fermented according. Exceptionally well balanced on the block Hanni, Erik Pravica, and Byron Marlowe, who valuable... At the Sequim and Chimacum Farmers Markets where we are committed to environmentally friendly business practices and source produce... Premium product unlike other fruit wines on the roots they sprouted on fruits and berries have the potential to wine! Certified its 500th winery business Management ( 750ml ) $ 12.00 per Bottle we remain family-owned and operated with. Sprouted on the unique character of the WSU School of hospitality business Management, coached them by gaining business... Matter that can be made from virtually any plant matter that can be made from virtually any plant that. Seasonal variations ; several are produced without chemical additives coached them the Mountain spring water my. Family-Owned and operated, with the goal of … a new industry Bears fruit the of. Beautiful Pacific Northwest s 2013 wine grape growers harvested 227,000 tons fruit wine washington state 2017, according to the for. Represented the best wine grapes grown in Washington State wine Commission Board of Directors an... Great for any occasion, and Byron Marlowe, who were valuable sources of information. ” courses! The Crush Report released by Washington State wine Commission represents every licensed winery wine. Create some of the winery itself great wine cocktails and seasonal mulled wine grapes grown Washington...