October 1, 2015 Colleagues and Friends: The Yakima Valley Appellation is located in both Yakima and Benton Counties and is home to over 30% of the state's vineyard acreage. The combined production of these two counties in 2014 was 9.5 million cases of wine -- 67% of the state's total wine production.* This region’s wine industry (wine production, tourism, and distribution) is responsible for more than 3,600 jobs, $151.7 million in labor income and generates business revenues exceeding $1.01 billion*. These numbers underscore the importance of the Yakima Valley AVA to the local and statewide wine industry. We are pleased to present our 2015 annual report, and we invite you to join our efforts in 2016. During 2015, we’ve continued to focus on establishing Yakima Valley as the world’s premier winegrowing appellation. The result has been increased media interest resulting in more editorial coverage. Our promotional and advertising efforts generated more than 57 million impressions in print, radio, television and online outlets during the past year. Wine Yakima Valley signature events, Red Wine & Chocolate, Spring Barrel Tasting, Catch the Crush and Thanksgiving in Wine Country, continue to be great vehicles to promote the entire Yakima Valley to wine enthusiasts across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. In addition to the standard events we produced a highly successful Secret Crush event as a kick off to Red Wine & Chocolate. This event featured 90+ scored wines from the Yakima Valley. The annual Yakima Valley vineyard tour continues to be successful with another sold out tour in August. The tasting room guild and summer training provided new ideas for tasting room staff to incorporate into existing programs. Following is the 2015 Annual Report. Membership can be processed on line at www.wineyakimavalley.org/winery- membership/. Your support of this region’s wine industry is greatly appreciated. If you have questions or comments feel free to contact me at [email protected] or any of WYV Board Members. Barbara Glover, Wine Yakima Valley David O’Reilly-Owen Roe Winery Wade Wolfe-Thurston Wolfe Winery Kathy Shiels-DuBrul Vineyard Vicki Williams-Kiona Vineyard Winery Matt Rawn –Two Mtn. Winery Julie Grieb-Treveri Cellars Kelly Hightower-Hightower Cellars Todd Newhouse-Upland Vineyard Sarah Fewel-Cultura Winery * Source: Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Wine & Wine Grapes in Washington State. August 2015. Washington Wine Commission/cai Community Attributes Inc. WINE YAKIMA VALLEY 2015 Annual Report Winegrowing region established Firstin Washington state Vineyards in MostWashington state Wines in Washington and beyond showcase ourBest grapes WINE YAKIMA VALLEY 2015 Annual Report Our Vision Establish Yakima MediaTRADE/MEDIA Outreach Valley as the world’s Yakima Valley Grower premier winegrowing Seminar and Trade Tasting appellation. Sharing the story of the Yakima Valley AVA and its wines to trade and media. Yakima Valley’s Our Goal speakers bureau offered presentations to the following groups in 2015: January: WYV Membership Enhance the awareness March: Portland trade and media | Wine Commission | Domestic press group and image of the Yakima Valley wine Press Tours – Yakima Valley AVA region, its vineyards, In addition to sharing the Yakima Valley story outside of the Valley, Wine Yakima Valley hosted and its wineries. the following media during 2015: • Blake Gray The Gray Report • Mary Cressler PDX, Palate Press • Erin Guenther S.F., Wine Business Monthly • Matthew Gaughan S.F., Harpers Wine & Spirit • Michelle Locke Ho S.F., Associated Press • Jessica Yadegaran Brodie local, Bay Area Newsgroup • Dan Dunn Researching a book to be published by HarperCollins • Snellharon McDon Independent travel/food/beverage writer, New York Times, USA Today, American Way, United Airlines Hemispheres and more • Dan Radil Wine Columnist, Bellingham Herald • Viki Eierdam Wine Columnist, The Columbian • Julie Case Wine Columnist • Corinne Whiting Wine Columnist • Jamie Goode UK writer and blogger, UK Sunday paper, The Sunday Express • Richard Hemming Writer for jancisrobinson.com, Decanter, Drinks Business • Treve Ring Wine journalist, editor, and certified sommelier based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia August Media and Trade Tour Wine Yakima Valley hosted thirteen guests for the media and trade tour in August. Highlights included educational presentations by Dr. Cliff Mass of the University of Washington and Dr. Kevin Pogue of Walla Walla College. Topics included Yakima Valley climate, soils, and how these elements lead to growing world class grapes. The tour included five winemaker receptions allowing wineries and growers the opportunity to meet and engage with guests. WashingtonYAKIMA VALLEY WINE YAKIMA VALLEY’S APPELLATION WINE YAKIMA VALLEY’S FIRST GROWTH Washington YAKIMA VALLEY FIRST GROWTH APPELLATION STORIES STORIES Storylines and Messaging WINE YAKIMA VALLEY’S FIRST GROWTH ITS INTRODUCTION TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST hat ITS INTRODUCTION TO THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Washington y. So it’s no surprise t es in STORIES YAKIMA VALLEY s wine industry began in the Yakima Valle everal key grape varieti APPELLATION ashington State’ s pioneered the fi rst plantings of fs Syrah: Yakima Valley vineyard ashington State’s wine industry began in the Yakima Valley. So SyrahW ake, for example, the regional roots o plied enormous the Pacifi c Northwest. T yard in 1973.LembergerW They it’sap no surprise that Yakima Valley vineyards pioneered the first amily established Red Willow Vine ured specialplantings recognition. of several Columbia distinctive grape varieties in the Pacific Northwest. Wine Yakima Valley continues to develop story ideas highlighting the characteristics Mike Sauer and his f ep slopes here, and soon capt roudly Take, for example, the regional roots of little-known Lemberger: effort to cultivating the ste rd-designated wines when it p , ne of America’s fi rst vineya Winery produced o ernet SauvignonJohn in 1981. Williams Ever andsince hisder business partner Jim Holmes established Kiona ow name on its fl agship Cab ITS INTRODUCTION TO displayed the Red Will ce for the YakimaVineyards Valley and& Winery the wi in 1975. They were the first to plant vines on a resented a standard of excellen st from David Lake, THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST sagebrush-covered hillside at the eastern end of the Yakima Valley the Sauers have rep ustry. d his family responded to a reque ndon,” said Sauer, Washington State wine ind tatus dates to 1986.called Sauer Red an Mountain.s of Wine. Eleven “David acres trained were in dividedLo among CabernetCabernet ashington sta te’s wine industrySauvignon ow’s touchstone s shington, he said that the began in the Yakima Valley. So f the world’sSauvignon, few Master Chardonnay,ery start of and his workRiesling. in Wa It was then, Williams Wremembers,Yakima Valley vin Yet the reason for Red Will e added, “David wanted to eyards pioneered t it’s no surprise that ef winemaker at Columbia and ionsone ofo Europe. Andthat fromthey thefound v something interesting. in the Pacifi c Northwest. Take, for exampl he first plantings of se who then was chi hône region of France.” H h.” veral key grape varieties that make Yakima Valley a premium wine grape growing region. This year’s storylines iliar with the great wine reg e style of the northern R aid we needed to grow Syra Fifty nine ye e, the regional r “so he was very fam “Jim and I joined an ad-hoc steering committee for grape growing at Washington State University’s agricultural oots of cabernet sauvigno ited to producing wines in th nd Côte Rôtie. So he s alls the actual ars ago, Otis Harlan plan Yakima Valley was well su experiment station in Prosser,”n Washington he said. State. “We Sauer read rec about theYakima variousnting. 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Brid The He wanted them to p ough so that he brought some ve modern wine town of Grapeview; the And who could blameh a smile,him? Lemberger“Well, after soundsthe mea more liken a buried stinky German industry cheese in therather Yakima than a fine gman—widelred wine. In fact,y noted to have pioneered year our regional industry. En me.” He continued wit the vineyards Valley following the hia the grape variety does havehat Germanic we had just origins. planted. Lemberger We the (also called Blaufränkisch)established across is a popularth red in both Germany the Rôtie to share at lunchti own vine cutting e region during this time tus of Prohibition. Many of d hand-dug a few holes in the rowsat they t were aiming for.” s. featured the Washington’s First Series highlighting Washington wine grapes first vineyard again an and Austria, where demand has inspired hundredse cultivates of additional about acres in recent years. The grape variety is winter-hardy, were planted from s so those fi rst vines knew wh The origina Bridgman’s the French bottle a reliable producer, andd round its wine in 1991, displays and todayripe raspberry h ruit into flavors some with l blocka refreshing of cabernet seam saof acidity.