Currently wine labeled as Washington wine need only be made from 75% Washington grapes. On January 29^th the Washington State Legislature received its first reading of a bill upping that percentage to 95%. If a wine label identifies either the Walla Walla or Columbia Gorge AVAs, then 95% of the grapes must come from within the AVA as these two cross our border with Oregon. If passed, the bill will become law in July of this year.  The bill has in fact passed the House and been forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

This will bring Washington wine into line with the requirements governing our neighbors, British Columbia and Oregon. It is generally thought of as a positive move and is being supported by the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers and the Washington Wine Institute.

As the second largest wine grape production state in the US, this wouldn’t seem to be a hardship to Washington’s wineries. However, I admit to not knowing how many wineries in the state, if any, might supplement their production with bulk juice from other regions. Washington’s grapes command a premium price per ton and controlling costs is always a priority with smaller producers. Yet, as Washington wines continue to make strides in recognition for excellence in varietals such as Syrah and Riesling, this law may further enhance the reputation of the state’s wines and winemakers. All in all, this legislation looks to be a great thing for our AVAs, growers, wineries and the Washington wine consumer.