Washington Wine Institute

YOUR WASHINGTON WINE INDUSTRY ADVOCATE

Washington State Wineries State and Federal Government Advocate

The Washington Wine Institute is the vocal, active, visible advocate and champion of the Washington wine industry in Olympia and Washington D.C. We achieve this vision through a collaborative approach including partnerships that advance shared industry goals.

Every year we work side by side with state and federal lawmakers to shape legislative and regulatory policy decisions that impact the Washington wine industry. We strive to protect the industry’s needs, while promoting its tremendous growth and our work has delivered invaluable results for Washington wineries throughout the years.

As wine laws continue to change at an ever-growing rate, it’s now more important than ever that wineries stand united! Learn more about our membership benefits and join the hundreds of wineries that have chosen to have their voices heard!

Join Us

  • The Washington Wine Institute is working on behalf of all of us, regardless of size. As small as Betz Family Winery is, we choose to support WWI because we know they have our best interest at heart and the skills to get things done in Olympia.

    Bob Betz, Betz Family Winery

  • It’s great to know that WWI is watching out for my interests in Olympia. I’ve been a member for years and consider their work essential to maintaining a friendly business climate for wine sales in Washington.

    Kay Simon, Chinook Winery

  • The Washington wine industry is growing at an incredible pace and, if the continuous opening of new wineries in my district is any indication, it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. It’s imperative all the wineries in my district and across Washington have a strong, united voice. The Washington Wine Institute is that voice and an extremely effective advocate for all Washington wineries.

    Senator Sharon Brown, Deputy Majority Leader, Majority Coalition Caucus

  • The $8.6 billion Washington wine industry is a tremendous bright spot on Washington State’s economy. As this exciting and dynamic industry continues to grow, the Legislature will continue to deal with critical issues that will impact wineries across the state. It’s crucial that winery voices are heard in Olympia and I know I can count on WWI, the industry’s leading advocate, as a source of clear, accurate information when making policy that will shape market conditions for wine in our State.

    Representative Frank Chopp, Speaker of the House

Events

WWI News

New NAFTA Agreement (known as USMCA) Includes Fix to Allow Non-B.C. Wine On Grocery Store Shelves November 2019

October 31, 2018

Early this month the Trump Administration announced a new free trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico. This new trade agreement replaces NAFTA with a new name “The United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement” (USMCA) and includes significant changes to free trade between the three countries. Most importantly, this new trade deal results in trade
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New Warning Notification Rules In Effect For Any Winery Shipping into California

September 6, 2018

All wineries with 10 or more employees shipping wine direct to California consumers, including Washington wineries, must comply with the health warning statements required under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, known as Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”). As of August 30, 2018, the new “safe harbor” warning regulations are in effect,
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CDL Exemption For Wineries

September 5, 2018

In 2015 WWI worked with the Washington State Department of Licensing and the Washington State Patrol to come to an agreement that winery owners and their employees fall under the federal definition of “farmer” and therefore do not need to have a Commercial Drivers License while hauling their own grapes from vineyard to winery. Some
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Featured
Winery

Andrew Will Winery

As you can see from the photo above, the first winery location in 1989 was as simple as a building can be and still call it a building. At one time it had been the walkway between two adjoining structures that had a roof put on. We called it home for five vintages and were able
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Featured
Associate

Garvey Schubert Barer

GSB’s Client Service Philosophy. As a firm, we aspire every day to provide exceptional client service as defined and judged by our clients. To accomplish that aim, we believe the whole is greater than simply the sum of its parts. We know that the experience, knowledge and counsel available from the collective group of professionals
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In Olympia, we strive to protect the industry’s needs & promote its tremendous growth.

Membership Savings