SEATTLE (January 25, 2011) – The Washington State wine industry continued its phenomenal growth in 2010, according to an announcement released today by the Washington State Wine Commission. The news brief cited the following highlights:
– The Washington State Liquor Control Board licensed the state’s 700th winery, up from 360 wineries just five years ago.
– The Washington State Department of Agriculture declared that Washington State has now planted more than 40,000 acres of wine grapes across the state, reflecting an increase of roughly 2,000 acres per year over the past five years.
– The United States Department of Agriculture announced another bumper crop for the 2010 harvest – 160,000 tons – an increase of 4,000 tons (3%) over 2009, and 40,000 tons (33%) from 2006.
– Food & Wine magazine, after naming a Washington State winemaker as its Winemaker of the Year in 2009, named a Washington State winery as its Best New Winery in America for 2010.
– Wine Spectator magazine, after naming a Washington State wine as #1 on its annual Top 100 list last year, devoted an entire cover story to Washington State in 2010.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with all of the accomplishments by the Washington State wine industry over the past year,” says Robin Pollard, Executive Director of the Washington State Wine Commission. “We’re still growing at a phenomenal rate, and awareness of Washington State as a premium wine region has never been higher,” she adds.
The Washington State Wine Commission is a state government agency that represents the grape growers and wineries of Washington State. Their mission is to promote the state’s wines locally, nationally and internationally.
For more information on the Washington State Wine Commission, visit www.washingtonwine.org.