Putting Washington wine on the map
From Woodinville to Walla Walla, explore Washington’s wine country with a new, interactive map from the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington State University Viticulture and Enology program, and WSU AgWeatherNet: http://trade.washingtonwine.org/ava-map.
The map highlights Washington’s wine industry, with 13 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), and an ever-expanding list of wineries, and vineyards. In the early 1980s, Washington state was home to 19 wineries, but the growth of the industry has put more than 780 wineries on the map, and over time established Washington state as the second largest wine producer in the U.S
The map also includes weather data including rainfall, wind speed, and soil temperatures powered by WSU AgWeatherNet, and data from a project developed with support from the WSU Viticulture and Enology team, including Joan Davenport, Gerrit Hoogenboom, Thomas Henick-Kling, and Michelle Moyer. AgWeatherNet (AWN) provides access to current and historical weather data from Washington State University’s automated weather station network along with a range of models and decision aids. For more information visit: http://weather.wsu.edu.
Learn more about wine science at WSU: http://wine.wsu.edu/campaign/.
It’ll only take a minute
WSU research scientist Carolyn Ross and her team’s research on fruity flavors finishing first in model white wines were recently featured in Scientific American’s 60-Seconds Science. You can listen to the broadcast from Christopher Intagliata, here.
Get ready for Revelry this Memorial Day weekend
If you’re ready to get out of the tasting room and into the terroir, pack your bags and follow Auction of Washington Wines to the best Memorial Day weekend event in the state.
Saturday, May 24, is the main event, Revelry on Red Mountain, hosted at Col Solare. Attendees can make a weekend of it and get insider’s access during the Vineyard Tour and Lunch, rounding out the weekend with one of the Winemaker Dinners on Sunday, May 25. There are only a handful of spots left and tickets will sell out. The Vineyard Tour is a wonderful opportunity to learn all about your favorite wines, starting at the source.
Scott Williams will share his extensive knowledge of the unique Red Mountain AVA and walk you through his vineyard. Then, taste the final product as you sample Kiona Winery’s current releases.
Next, head over to the famed Ciel du Cheval Vineyards and unlock the mysteries of the Red Mountain soil, weather and vines with one of Eastern Washington’s most successful grape growers, Jim Holmes. Jim was one of the first growers to plant grape vines on Red Mountain in 1975. Participants will take a break for a catered lunch in the vineyard and taste some of Jim’s favorite wines featuring his very own grapes.
During the second half of the tour, walk through the Hightower estate “Out of Line” vineyard. Learn more about this vineyard’s unique vine orientation and consider the importance of microclimates and sun exposure on the grapes. Sample the results at Hightower Cellars with Jackie Hightower.
Finish the day at Hedges Family Estate and learn more about the 2014 Honorary Vintners Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges. Join their daughter Sarah Goedhart for a tour of the estate vineyards, get an exclusive peek at the beautiful European-inspired gardens and finish your tour with tastings from Hedges Family Estate’s current releases and delicious hors d’oeuvres.
This exclusive tour is only available to Revelry on Red Mountain guests. Buy your tickets today to reserve your spot!
To register for the vineyard tour and lunch please contact:
Melissa Pederson, Auction of Washington Wines
P: (206) 326-5770
mpederson@washingtonwine.org
2+2 equals success for students pursuing wine science, agriculture
With a growing demand for graduates in the field of agriculture, Washington State University is offering second-year students at Walla Walla and Yakima Valley Community Colleges an opportunity to seamlessly transfer into a variety of four-year degree programs.
The unique partnership between the community colleges and WSU establishes a streamlined pathway for students interested in pursuing a four-year degree in agriculture-related fields, including viticulture and enology, after two years of community college classes.
The latest collaboration has built a bridge connecting both the Enology and Viticulture program at WWCC and the Vineyard Technology program at YVCC to the Viticulture and Enology program at WSU. The partnership also provides a geographic advantage for students seeking an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the heart of southeast Washington’s wine country.
“This agreement creates an ideal framework for students to transition seamlessly into the WSU Viticulture and Enology program,” said Ted Baseler, President and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and a member of the WSU Board of Regents. “The Washington wine industry now contributes $8 billion to the state’s economy, and a vital component for sustaining this success is the graduates who are trained to support our grape and wine industries.”
Students who begin their education at YVCC or WWCC and transfer to WSU in the next several years will be some of the first to experience their education at the new WSU Wine Science Center under construction in Richland.
“It provides a great opportunity for students in agriculture and viticulture and enology and the educated workforce the industry needs,” said Thomas Henick-Kling, director of the WSU Viticulture and Enology program. “I am excited about our partnership with WWCC and YVCC and the articulation agreements signed.”
The research and teaching conducted at the Wine Science Center will be specific to the challenges and opportunities faced by grape growers and winemakers in the Pacific Northwest. When the center opens in early 2015, it will be the most technologically advanced wine research and education center in the world.
“The partnership with WSU provides students the opportunity to learn from both practitioners and researchers in their field while taking advantage of our unique hands-on teaching approach and gaining the necessary skills to qualify for high demand, high paying jobs,” said Jessica Gilmore, Dean of Business, Entrepreneurial Programs, and Extended Learning at Walla Walla Community College.
Learn more about Yakima Valley Community College at http://www.yvcc.edu/Pages/default.aspx. Learn more about Walla Walla Community College at http://www.wwcc.edu/CMS/. Learn more about the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences at WSU http://www.cahnrs.wsu.edu.
New Online Master’s Degree for the Ag Industry
Washington State University is launching a new online degree program to meet the growing need for highly skilled field practitioners and managers in today’s technologically advanced agricultural industry. The Master of Science in Agriculture with emphasis in plant health management (PHM) couples WSU’s plant sciences and plant protection programs with business management courses. The result is a new degree that gives students the ability to go from field to lab to executive boardroom without breaking stride.
The program is accepting applications now for its first cohort this fall and is offering online information sessions for prospective students wishing to learn more.