Washington Wine Industry Proposes Special License Plate to help Push Tourism Efforts

3,500 signatures needed for wine license plate needed. You MUST be a Washington State resident to sign. Please include First and Last Name. Anonymous signatures will not be accepted.

(Image is a sample only. Final design will be announced later.)

1/1/2022 Update: Sign Now and be entered to win PRIZES!

Prizes Include;

* A rare VIP Private tour at Fortuity Cellars with the owners and winemakers of the production and overall winery space with one of Washington wine's newest up-and-coming wineries in the heart of Yakima Valley.

* Enjoy a summer concert of your choice at Arbor Crest Wine Cellars for up to 8 people on Thursdays or Sundays from May to September. This includes tickets and VIP table service, dinner from Chef Chad White's creations while enjoying local bands on the beautiful Arbor Crest Estate with panoramic views in Spokane!

* $50 gift card to the DeLille Cellars Tasting Room at the Old Redhook Brewery in Woodinville, and a $50 gift card to The Lounge at DeLille Cellars, the winery's new restaurant located in the Old Redhook pub in Woodinville.

* 2 general admission tickets to a 2022 summer concert at Woodinville's Chateau Ste Michelle.

The Washington Wine Institute, in partnership with the Washington State Wine Commission, is working with prime sponsor Rep. Kelly Chambers (R-Puyallup) and lawmakers in Olympia this session to create a specialty license plate. If approved, revenue from the plate would be donated to the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) to support tourism efforts throughout the state.

“It would be thrilling to see a license plate to celebrate our state’s world-class wine industry,” said Steve Warner, President of the Washington State Wine Commission. “WTA is a perfect benefactor considering our 1,000+ wineries are a major tourism driver in the Northwest.”

WTA is a membership-based nonprofit organization that was established after the closure of the Washington State Tourism Office in 2011. The organization supports broad tourism economy throughout the state.

“Through supporting the idea that Washington wine is what our residents should choose first when picking wine, to creating new revenue for the WTA to utilize in telling the country and world to visit Washington’s rural wine regions, the Washington wine specialty license plate is a clear win-win for our industry,” said Josh McDonald, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Institute.

The Washington wine industry accounts for $8.4B in-state economic impact including 36,500 related jobs and $2.4B in wine revenue. In 2018, an estimated 2.6 million people visited wineries across the state.

The Washington Wine Institute is currently collecting the 3,500 signatures needed for a new specialty plate as part of the approval process. Click here to sign the petition to push the wine plate forward.

About the Washington State Wine Commission:
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, WSWC provides a marketing platform to raise positive awareness about the Washington wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSWC is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987. To learn more, visit www.washingtonwine.org.

About Washington Wine Institute:
WWI is the vocal, active, visible advocate and champion of the Washington State wine industry in Olympia and Washington D.C. To propel the industry’s growth, the Washington State Wine Institute acts as the unified voice to seek out and encourage opportunities which enhance the business environment for the Washington State wine industry through proactive government relations in Olympia and Washington, D.C. www.wwi.wine

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Heather Bradshaw, Washington State Wine Commission

(206) 326-5752 / hbradshaw@washingtonwine.org

Josh McDonald, Washington Wine Institute

(253) 228-1590 / josh@wwi.wine