Sammamish Valley & Winery Industry

Written and submitted by Paulette Bauman, Woodinville Citizen and Woodinville Council Member 2010-2014. I live, work and play in .

How do we protect farms, jobs, local and state economy without destroying the beauty and richness of the Sammamish Valley. How can the two Coexist in the Valley?

What happened to the King County and City of Woodinville joint study that was agreed to in the years between 2010 and 2014?

How can King County and the City of Woodinville work together to create a resolution to the angst over how to balance preservation of the Valley and allowing current wineries and tasting rooms to continue their current uses allowed by King county?

The City of Woodinville and King County have taken the position NOT to adjust or move the Urban Growth Boundary. Therefore, each jurisdiction needs to resolve the tension created between the two sides and create a balanced solution.

How do the two Coexist?

• Every tasting room is tied to a farmer, agricultural lands, and farm workers who help bring crops from “farm to table”. • Tasting rooms and wine making came to Woodinville for many reasons. In recent years, out of a need to respond to the Great Recession and bring wines closer to the consumer base in Seattle. • The winery industry in is 2nd in the United States to California in production output and continues to grow in market recognition as World-renowned wines. • The Valley has designated Agriculture Production Districts • Wineries in the state of Washington have grown from 620 wineries in 2009 to over 890 wineries in 2015. ( Commission 2015 Grape Growing Season Report listed on the Commission’s website in PDF.) • Of those 890 plus wineries, over 100 are situated in and outside the city limits of Woodinville. • King County has allowed the building of 21 Acres in this rural valley – How? • Other agricultural uses in Valley: Root Connection, Sammamish Valley grange education, festivals and out reach, farms along south end of valley at 124th, Apple cidery, Lavender farms… • “Woodinville Wine Country” is a combination of winery production facilities and tasting rooms in and outside of the Woodinville City limits, which spill over into the Sammamish Valley as currently allowed by King County. • No grapes are grown in the valley for winery production that I am aware of. Grapes are brought in from Eastern Washington Vineyards and 13 AVA’s. • According to Woodinville Wine Country’s website there are 108 wineries or tasting rooms, 8 micro-breweries, distilleries and cideries, and 26 eateries and restaurants • There are 2 distinct Winery Districts in Woodinville Wine Country – The “Warehouse Winery district” is located just north of downtown Woodinville inside of the Woodinville City limits. Many of the wineries and tasting rooms are homes to new wineries like an “incubator district”. The Hollywood / West Valley / Downtown Winery District is located west of Woodinville within the city limits south and south east in and outside of the Woodinville City limits into King County unincorporated areas. • For example, Chateau Ste. Michelle along with the State’s largest micro-brewery, Redhook, are located in the Hollywood Winery District within the City Limits while others are located in King County, unincorporated Woodinville. • City of Woodinville’s incorporation date: March 31, 1993 • 1976 a French style winery Chateau in Woodinville was built and the name of the vintner changed to Chateau Ste. Michelle. Built under King County regulations 17 years prior to the incorporation of the City of Woodinville. Redhook Brewery was built in Woodinville in 1994 under the City of Woodinville’s regulations 1 year after incorporation. Likewise, Willows Lodge was built in 2000 within the City limits of Woodinville. Each property is located in the City of Woodinville’s and zoned “Industrial” with a “Tourist District Overlay”. • Total jobs supported by the wine industry reached 25,900 in 2013, up from 18,700 in 2009. Community Attributes Inc., a Seattle research and analysis firm led by Chris Mefford, prepared the report called “The Economic Impacts of Wine & Wine Grapes in Washington State.” Spencer Cohen, senior economist, led the analysis. It is the most accurate economic impact analysis of its type and has been peer-reviewed by Dr. William B. Beyers, professor emeritus from the University of Washington and one of the forefathers of economic analyses. The peer review process is a common academic process for publications. Other Annual Economic Impact Facts: • Full Economic Impact: $4.8 billion • Winery Revenues: 1.5 million • Taxes Paid: $61.9 billion • Wine-related tourism spending: $193 million

Stakeholder working group members for the study include: NAME ORGANIZATION Roger Porter Cherry Valley Winery Rob Odle City of Redmond Bernie Talmas City of Woodinville Greg Lill Delille Cellars Carrie Force Majeure Winery Alexander Louise Miller Former King County Councilmember Bryce Yadon Futurewise Dave Witt Greater Woodinville Chamber of Commerce Ron Baum Hollywood Hills Association Roger Calhoon King County Agriculture Commission Tom Quigley Sammamish Valley Alliance Carol Munro Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

(Facts and Information collected from Washington Wine Commission, Woodinville Wine Country, and City of Woodinville websites along with questions and opinions submitted by Paulette Bauman)