Washington State Wine Commission

#WAugust Is Back! The 31-day state-wide celebration of #WAwine brings the fun! Whether you’re dining on the patio at your local restaurant, shopping for #WAwine in your neighborhood, or sipping rosé in your backyard – there’s no wrong way to #WAugust. Find events near you at WAugust.com and be sure to sip and support #WAwine all month long.

Huge congratulations to Gwendolyn Elliott, who was awarded the inaugural Allen Shoup Memorial Fellowship for emerging writers and communicators. “We were overwhelmed by the response to this fellowship, which garnered interest from so many talented, emerging writers and communicators,” said Dane Narbaitz, Shoup’s stepson and President of Long Shadows Vintners. “Gwendolyn’s writing samples, story ideas and overall enthusiasm stood out.” The Allen Shoup Memorial Fellowship was established in 2024 in memory of Allen Shoup, who played a pioneering role in developing the Washington wine industry. Funded entirely through donations, the Fellowship awards one writer or communicator each year with an immersive trip to Washington’s vineyards and wineries, wine samples, and a stipend. The Fellowship is an industry-wide collaboration that brings together the Washington State Wine Commission, Auction of Washington Wines, Washington Winegrowers, WASHINGTON WINE INDUSTRY FOUNDATION, individuals, wineries, and growers. An expert panel chose the recipient, with input from an industry advisory committee.

Big announcement for #WAwine sustainability! 📣 🍇 📣   Sustainable WA, #WAwine’s sustainability certification for winegrapes, has partnered with SALMON-SAFE, a leading U.S. regional eco-label focused on watershed protection. This means vineyards can now obtain a dual certification for both Sustainable WA and Salmon-Safe.   “The certification partnership between Sustainable WA and Salmon-Safe adds a layer of credibility to Washington’s program by ensuring that vineyards are using verified environmental practices that protect our local watersheds,” said Sadie Drury, Vineyard Manager at North Slope Management and Sustainable WA winegrower. Check out the full story below.

Happy Taste Washington Wine Month! 🎉 It's Taste Washington Wine Month! Get creative. Get curious. Get tasting. March is the perfect month to sip #WAwine and support your local vineyards and wineries, so get out there and explore a new winery - or wine region! From Albariño to Zweigelt, there's something for everyone in Washington. The countdown is on to our favorite event of the year, Taste Washington. Explore new wines and culinary adventures at Taste Washington events throughout March to get curious and get tasting. Buy your tickets today!

Washington Wine on Every Table. How will we get there? Read through the newly-released Strategic Plan for the Washington State Wine Commission, developed by the #WAwine board and staff in partnership with the entire industry.

It was wonderful watching the #WAwine industry come together at WineVit® 2024 this week. 👏 . The Washington State Wine Commission was part of four sessions: The Next Generation of Wine: A Future of Possibilities, Reimagining Your Customer Experience, Industry Research Snapshot, and State of the Industry. Thanks to Washington Winegrowers for hosting such an engaging, educational conference. We can't wait for next year!

Attention emerging writers and communicators! The #WAwine community is launching a fellowship in memory of industry pioneer Allen Shoup. The ideal recipient will be a strong communicator with a gift for storytelling, talents in the digital world, and a keen interest in Washington wine. Applications are now open!