Month: May 2023

2023 National Wine Policy Conference Recap

May 31, 2023 - WWI News

WineAmerica members from around the country united to carry our messages to over 70 legislative offices, helping us protect and enhance the business climate for the American wine industry.

WWI joined WineAmerica’s Board of Directors, state association leaders, and other key winery members in Washington, DC to bring the American wine industry’s voice to Congress on the week of May 9. Representatives from thirteen different states came to Washington to spread the word about the Farm Bill, USPS Shipping, Nutritional Labeling, Music Licensing, among our 2023 issues. More than 70 Congressional meetings were held, and the entire group met with the senior TTB leadership.

WineAmerica Board Members Ryan Pennington of Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Marty Clubb of L’Ecole No. 41, Josh McDonald of Washington Wine Institute, Dustin Tobin of Precept Wines, Mary Reimers of Washington Winegrowers with Congressman Dan Newhouse (WA-R), co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus. 

We are fortunate to have two Washington wine leaders in Marty Clubb and Ryan Pennington serving on WineAmerica’s Board, which works year-round to advocate for the American wine industry. Congress also needs to hear directly from the businesses they represent to better understand how their policies impact those businesses on a daily basis. WWI will continue communicating our Washington delegation on the needs of Washington wineries, and we encourage all our members to also reach out to their US Senators and the Congressperson representing and let them know we need their help.

Temporary Covid-Era Wine Home Delivery, Takeout, Outdoor Seating Allowances Extended

May 9, 2023 - WWI News

The Washington Wine Institute is excited to share that Governor Jay Inslee has signed SB 5448, which extends COVID-era allowances of cocktails to go for restaurants, wine home delivery, and takeout until July 1, 2025 for winery and wine restaurant licensees that have obtained the specific LCB endorsement. It also makes permanent the outdoor seating rules we accomplished in 2021, modernizing our ability to offer on-premise, outdoor wine service.

We will be involved in another round of rulemaking to continue to modernize outdoor seating. If you have any ideas on how to further improve these rules, please let us know by emailing marie@wwi.wine!

VanArnam Vineyards

May 19, 2023 - Featured Winery

Over the years we, Kent and Allison VanArnam, have been asked many times about how we got started with our dream-come-true creation of vineyards and a winery. In 2007 after years of research as to the perfect place to grow fabulous wine grapes, we found the perfect spot in Zillah – 40 acres of fruit orchards with plenty of water and sun. Kent and his trusty tractor took out over 6,500 fruit trees and prepared the soil for grapes. With the help of family and friends, we planted our first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. Soon after we built our first building for wine tasting and production. Since that time, we have designed and created a production building, outdoor courtyard, concert stage, more vineyards, grill restaurant, rental cottage, several more outbuildings, our home and we are definitely not finished. We have many more ideas so keep coming to visit to see what we will create next. All of the design and most of the work is done by us following our love and passion for delicious wine and an experience of the Yakima Valley.

We focus on making the highest quality wines. Our size allows us to be hands-on every step of the way from nurturing our vineyards, picking the grapes at harvest and through all the wine making in the winery. We are located in Zillah which is in the Yakima Valley of Washington – the leading wine region in Washington state. Our vineyards grow on a southern slope of perfect soils for premium wine grapes. The winery rests on the top of a hill overlooking the vineyard and the Yakima Valley with views of both Mt Adams and Mt Rainer. We think our grapes like the views as much as we do 😊.
Tasting room address is 1305 Gilbert Road Zillah, WA 98953.  Please see our contact page for a map and directions.

Great news for those or you that follow wine ratings and awards.  Recently our 2013 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and our 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon earned first and second place awards in the annual SIP Northwest wine completion in Seattle – over 500 wineries submitted wines.  Our Melange received a 91 rating in Wine Spectator and all of our wines earned medals at both the American Wine Society Awards as well as the SanFrancisco Chronicle Wine Competition!

Our wines can also be ordered for shipment.  Simply use this link.

Source: VarnArnam Vineyards