Webinar: Washington Edition of the WineDirect DTC Sales Report
2019-10-29 10:00 UTC
Join us at 10 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, October 29th for a deep dive on Washington-specific data from WineDirect’s 2019 Direct-to-Consumer Sales Report, hosted by Marketing Director Adrienne Stillman. We’ll look at how Washington wineries stack up against the rest of the Pacific Northwest, California and the broader United States, identifying key opportunities and trends to help your winery improve your DTC sales strategy.

– Highlights include:
– Insights from the largest repository of DTC transactional data available

– Mobile traffic and purchase volume

– Wine club, tasting room and online sales trends

– Opportunity areas you can leverage today
Can’t join the live webinar? Sign up anyway and we’ll send you a recording!

WWI Fall Board Meeting
2019-11-19 13:00 UTC

Washington State Wine Commission Board Meeting
2019-11-22 09:00 UTC | The Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center, 2140 Wine Country Road, Prosser, WA, United States
This Washington State Wine board meeting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The agenda will be posted here one week prior.

Per the Open Public Meetings Act, this meeting is open to the public.

Oregon Wine Symposium
2020-02-11 - 2020-02-12 | Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR, 97232, United States
As the premier educational event and trade show for the Northwest wine community, the Oregon Wine Symposium covers the most relevant topics in viticulture, enology and wine business. Presented by leading wine industry experts, the Symposium is a must-attend event for winery and vineyard owners, vineyard managers, winemakers, marketing and sales managers and winery staff.

Registration Opens September 16th, 2019

Wine Industry COVID-19 Requirements, Relief & Recommendations Webinar
2020-04-10 10:00 - 11:30 UTC
Wine Industry COVID-19 Requirements, Relief & Recommendations

Presented in Partnership by Washington Wine Institute & Washington Winegrowers Association

Date: Friday, April 10, 2020

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Location: WEBINAR (instructions will be provided day-of webinar to registered attendees)

Vineyard and winery employers are invited to join us for this free COVID-19 webinar with experts from Foster Garvey PC and Moss Adams. We’ll break down the CARES Act, update you on federal tax changes, identify some key considerations in contracts and insurance recovery, and review Washington liquor laws for producing and selling wine in this unprecedented time.

Registration is required; there is a maximum cap on attendance.

Due to anticipated attendance and our desire to provide as much valuable information as possible in a short time frame, Q&A will not be conducted during the webinar, but upon registering, you will be asked to submit a question to help shape content, and we will be taking questions for follow-up responses post-event.

REGISTER HERE

Stay Safe

Grassroots Day of Action
2020-04-22
Washington State Wineries and Wine Industry
As part of our craft beverage alcohol coalition’s efforts to secure more aid for the beverage alcohol industries, we need your help. Today we are holding a national “Day of Action”to contact House Members and Senators. We are asking that you send a note to Congress to let them know that our industries need help. It is very simple and will only take a minute of your time.
Please go to this website (Covid-19 Day of Action) and enter your zip code to generate an automatic letter asking your House Member and Senators for aid. The Washington Wine Institute joins our national association leaders at WineAmerica in asking for the following:

Suspension of all federal excise taxes on domestic and imported alcohol products, effective January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
Enact a permanent extension of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (H.R. 1175/S. 362), which now has bipartisan support from 74 senators and 343 representatives and would provide certainty amidst economic instability and help ensure craft producers respond to economic duress and withstand this crisis.
Approve additional funding to support no- and low-interest loan and grant programs administered by the Department of the Treasury and Small Business Administration, including the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Authorize the Department of the Treasury to create a Workforce Stabilization Fund for the hospitality and travel sectors that will allow distilleries, breweries, wineries, and cideries to keep workers employed, maintain operations, and meet financial obligations.
Create temporary tax incentives that encourage consumers to return to on-premise dining and drinking establishments when public health officials determine it’s safe.
Encourage the Administration to suspend tariffs on beer, wine, and distilled spirits products.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to WineAmerica’s Vice President Michael Kaiser at mkaiser@wineamerca.org. Our thanks to WineAmerica for leading the federal effort and coordinating this national day of action for all Washington State wineries.
Thank you for your help!

State Night - #WAwine and #WAdine
2020-05-01
This Friday, May 1st, is the 40th night of our statewide stay-at-home order. Since we still all can’t go out together, we’re proposing that we all “go in” together: a statewide stay-at-home order of take out of #WAwine and #WAdine.

Why? Because we’re all in this together. Also, the word “quarantine” comes from quaranta giorni, meaning forty days, and so we’ve decided to turn an arbitrary day into a meaningful night that mobilizes our industry and supports our local communities. We’ve all been doing what we individually can to support each other.

And so, we’re declaring this Friday be “State Night” a night when our entire state goes on a date with itself. A part of our @SipGlocal initiative, State Night brings together two incredibly important industries — the #WAwine and #WAdine worlds — and serves up a powerful reminder to people: step up to the plate and support whatever local means to you.

LOGISTICS: HOW TO PARTAKE

It’s as simple as a one-two step:

Order take-out on Friday from a local restaurant you love, or a restaurant that has been an ardent supporter of your wine and winery; and
Post a picture to your feeds or stories on social media, tagging the restaurant as well as @SipGlocal.

WineDirect Webinar: How to Drive Online Wine Sales
2020-05-07 10:00 UTC
The Washington Wine Institute has partnered with Adrienne Stillman, Director of Marketing at WineDirect, for a deep dive on how to keep online sales going during – and after – our Stay Home Stay Healthy order currently in place.
You’ll learn how two:

Effectively segment your customer database to deliver personalized offers
Design email campaigns that convert sales
Re-engage past club members & nurture new buyers
Use social media to boost engagement & sales

Can’t join us live? Sign up and we’ll send you the recording.

RSVP to Reserve Your Spot Today!

Can’t make the live webinar? Sign up anyway and we’ll send you the recording!

We are excited to bring you this Direct-to-Consumer educational opportunity via our DTC experts and partners at WineDirect. We hope you can join us to learn and gather some takeaways to improve your winery’s direct wine sales experience.

About Adrienne Stillman:

With a passion for wine, small business and technology, Adrienne currently serves as Director of Marketing for WineDirect where she oversees all aspects of marketing and communications.

In her current role, Adrienne spends much of her time researching industry trends and best practices, with a particular focus on email marketing and online sales. Her professional experience includes PR and digital strategy for a variety of wine and spirits brands, product marketing in financial services and authoring the book Where Bartenders Drink a global guide to the world’s best bars (Phaidon, 2017). Adrienne is also a Certified Sommelier. A New York City native, she lives in Napa Valley with her husband and their dog.

Restaurant Re-opening Guidelines: WALCB Q&A Webinar
2020-05-19 10:00 UTC
The Washington Hospitality Association will go over key points from the official reopening guidelines released by the state with the WA State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Presenters from the Liquor and Cannabis Board, Washington Wine Institute, and the Brewers Guild.

May 19th

10am – 11am

Register Here

Winery and Brewery Phase 2 Reopening Requirements and Best Practices: Q&A with DOH and L&I Webinar
2020-05-26 13:00 UTC
Presented by the Washington Wine Institute, Washington Brewers Guild, and Washington Winegrowers Association
Join us for this FREE Online Webinar
Winery and Brewery Phase 2 Reopening Requirements and Best Practices: Q&A with DOH and L&I
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Washington brewery and winery owners and tasting room managers are invited to join us to clarify COVID-19 Phase 2 reopening state requirements and recommended best practices for breweries and wineries. Submit your questions in advance and experts from the Washington State Department of Health, Labor and Industries, and WSU’s School of Hospitality and Director of the Wine Business Program will review and answer as many questions as possible.
Topics Include:

Dine-In Service Requirements During Phase 2

Employee Health and Safety Requirements During Phase 2

Dine-In Service and Employee Health and Safety Best Practices

Winery Tasting Room Reopen Checklist/Final Q&A
Speakers:
Susan Shelton – Washington State Department of Health

Pamela Cant – Washington State Labor and Industries

Byron Marlowe, Ph.D and MBA – Don Smith Distinguished Professor of Hospitality Management; The School of Hospitality Business Management; Washington State University | Tri-Cities Campus; Carson College of Business; Director, Wine and Beverage Business
REGISTER HERE

Consumer & Trade Perceptions of Sustainable Wine Webinar
2020-06-05 09:00 UTC
As part of a multi-state group dedicated to raising awareness about sustainable wine growing, the Washington State Wine Commission is helping to host a webinar on June 5 at 9:00am. The focus will be on recent consumer and trade research that indicates an increasing market for sustainably grown and produced wine.

Webinar Details:
Two of the top experts in wine industry research will present new data and insights from recent consumer and trade research on perceptions of sustainable winegrowing, certification and practices. A Wine Intelligence survey and focus groups explored national and international consumer perceptions. Full Glass Research explored similar perceptions among the trade through focus groups and a survey of the Wine Opinions Panel. A question and answer session will follow the presentations, along with some tips for communicating sustainability to trade and consumers.

Speakers:
Lulie Halstead, Chief Executive, Wine Intelligence
Christian Miller, Proprietor, Full Glass Research
Allison Jordan, Executive Director, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance

This webinar is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about the market for sustainable wine.

Register Now

2020 WWI VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2020-06-25 10:00 UTC
Thursday, June 25, 10 AM – 12:30 PM
RSVP to CT Moen at ct@wwi.wine
Please join us for our first ever virtual 2020 Washington Wine Institute Annual Membership Meeting!
This year we will again have a fantastic lineup of speakers and are excited to have them join us to educate, update, and inform you on various COVID-related topics of importance to the Washington Wine Industry.
The agenda for the meeting is below.

10:00 AM – Introduction and Welcome

10:05 AM Board Member Renewals

10:15 AM Sponsor Introduction

10:20 AM Sponsor Speakers

10:25 AM WWI Update

10:55 AM Experience Audit for Progressive Stage 2 and 3 Openings in Washington Tasting Rooms

11:20 AM Five Ways to Increase Cash Flow

11:50 AM Sponsor Introduction

11:55 Sponsor Speakers

12:00 PM Marketing in the Time of COVID

12:30 Closure

We are allotting 25 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A for each speaker. If you have a specific question for any of our speakers you want to make sure is addressed, please send to us prior to June 25 at ct@wwi.wine.

Tasting Room Reopening Round Table Webinar
2020-07-21 10:00 UTC
Tasting Room Reopening Round Table:
Implementing Compliant Operations
Presented in Partnership by Washington Wine Institute & Washington Winegrowers Association
Date: Tuesday, July 21 2020
Time: 10:00 – 11:30am
Location: WEBINAR (a link to the webinar will be provided in the registration confirmation email)

Purpose: Gain insights and innovative ideas from peers; learn from others’ experiences and creative solutions

Target Audience: winery owners, tasting room managers

Brief Description: An opportunity for peer learning, this webinar will be driven by industry discussion and is designed to act as a community problem-solving opportunity. Hear from industry members who are implementing COVID-19-compliant practices in their reopening. Gain insights and innovative ideas to consider in your tasting room. An opportunity to ask questions and share your best practices will also be included.

Speakers include:

Carrie Arredondo, Marketing and Events Manager – Cave B Wine Estates

Deb Stadelman, Director of Retail Operations – DeLille Cellars

Tiffany Stetson, GM Direct to Consumer Sales – Goose Ridge Winery

Industry Moderator:

Shae Frichette – Co-owner, Frichette Winery/Sashay Wines
Register Here

State Night - Date Night
2020-08-28 - 2020-08-30
August 28-30, we’re hosting our second official “State Night,” which is a statewide date night, encouraging all Washingtonians to sip and support local wineries and restaurants. This will celebrate the end of Washington Wine Month and bring together the #WAwine and #WAdine communities.

Since we still all can’t go out together, let’s “go in” together and support our grape state. Looking to do something meaningful? Want to be in community with each other? Want to support the places you love most? Then join us by participating in “State Night” by ordering takeout one or more nights between August 28-30 from a local restaurant you love and pair it with your favorite local wine.

Step up to the plate and support whatever local means to you. Let’s rally and support local!

Webinar - Wineries, Breweries, and Taverns
2020-09-23 10:00 UTC
Wineries, Breweries and Taverns: Learn how to meet the temporary indoor service requirements with the LCB, DOH and Sysco

Presented in Partnership by Washington Wine Institute, Washington Hospitality Association, Washington Brewers Guild

Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Time: 10:00am – Noon

Location: WEBINAR

REGISTER HERE

Brief Description:

With changing weather upon us, learn how to keep your doors open this fall and winter for business by meeting the new minimal dining requirements for indoor service. On September 23rd, representatives of the Liquor and Cannabis Board and State Department of Health will discuss the new food requirements for indoor dining for wineries, breweries, and taverns under their existing licenses. A consultant from Sysco will share ideas on how to create a simple menu. This is a great opportunity to ask the tough questions and learn how to pivot your business for cold weather success.

Speakers include:

WSLCB

Chief Justin Nordhorn, Director of Enforcement
Becky Smith, Director of Licensing

WSDOH

Joe Graham, Food Safety Public Health Advisor

Sysco

Celester Gray, Sysco Seattle Business Resources
Chef Zack Oakes

Emerging Winemakers Competition & Symposium
2021-04-24 09:30 - 14:15 UTC
Emerging Winemakers Competition & Symposium Returns Virtually to Yavapai College
April 24, 2021
2 seminars. 3 speakers. 7 judges. 1 Best in Show
In the past decade alone, the Arizona wine industry has grown from 20 to over 100 licensed wineries. On Saturday, April 24 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. PDT, the passion and talent of those helping to shape this flourishing industry will be celebrated at the Emerging Winemakers Competition & Symposium. Organized by the Grand Crew, a Yavapai College Viticulture and Enology student/alumni organization, at the Yavapai College’s Verde Valley campus in Clarkdale, Arizona, the FREE virtual event will feature two wine seminars with three speakers and the competition’s seven judges will choose the one “Best in Show.” “After canceling last year’s event due to COVID-19 safety precautions, we are excited to return this year as a virtual event for wine lovers throughout the state,” said the Competition Organizer Bill Anderson. “As one of our state’s fastest growing industries we created this event as a platform for those new to the industry to be recognized for their efforts in helping it flourish,” An “emerging” winemaker is anyone at least 21 years of age whose wine is not available commercially. Wine submissions are being accepted for the competition until March 31, 2021.
For entry forms and submission details, visit www.emergingwinemakers.com.

This is a great opportunity to learn from industry leaders and winemakers.
The Symposium Agenda is:
9:30-10:15 a.m. PDT
Welcome + Introductions:
Bill Anderson + Michael Pierce
Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Montgomery
Topic: Different Beginnings, Same Destination

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. – Seminar 1
Lisa Froncioni-Hai:
California Sustainable Winegrowers Alliance
Topic: Sustainability from Grapes to Glass

11:30am – 12:15 p.m. – Seminar 2
Philippe Corderey:
Introduction to Biodynamic Viticulture

12:15 – 12:45pm
Break for lunch

1:00-2:15pm
Awards Presentation + Roundtable Discussion

The Symposium is FREE and open to the public. For more information on this event, the full rules of the
Competition and entry forms, along with acquiring virtual Symposium tickets, visit:
www.emergingwinemakers.com.

Be Confident, Be Compliant Webinar
2021-06-17 09:00 UTC
Thursday June 17, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

REGISTER HERE

Be Confident, Be Compliant

This webinar is free for Washington Wine Institute or Washington Winegrowers members, $40 for non-members

Join the Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers Association for the WSLCB and TTB webinar for WA Wineries. The webinar will take place on Thursday, June 17th, from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM.

The Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers are partnering to make both Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulatory experts accessible to you. This webinar will break down top compliance issues with the goal of making lawful operations easier to understand and implement! We’ll also review beneficial policies each agency has recently implemented. And, you can submit your anonymous questions in advance! Submit your questions at time of registration or send them to josh@wwi.wine or sara@wawinegrowers.org.

Registration Details
Members of WWI or Winegrowers: FREE
Non-Members: $40

REGISTER HERE

Speakers and Topics

Director of Licensing Rebecca Smith, Director of Enforcement Chandra Brady, Customer Service Manager Beth Lehman, and Policy and Rules Coordinator Audrey Vasek will join us to review the impacts of 2021 legislative session, new licenses, permits, and endorsements, new rules in effect, COVID guidance, and common enforcement issues
Erin Hogarty, TTB Investigator, will cover include common compliance issues relating to product integrity investigations, taxes, and labeling. She will also discuss key provisions of the Craft Beverage Modernization Tax Reform Act, which are now permanent.

If you are a Washington Wine Institute member, please contact Josh McDonald, josh@wwi.wine, directly for your promo code. If you are not a Washington Wine Institute member and would like to sign up, doing so is easy and can be done by clicking here!

WWI Annual Membership Virtual Meeting
2021-06-22 13:00 UTC
Tuesday, June 22, 1-4 PM

RSVP HERE

Please join us for our 2021 Virtual Washington Wine Institute Annual Membership Meeting!

This year we will again have a fantastic lineup of speakers and are excited to have them join us to educate, update, and inform you on various topics of importance to the Washington Wine Industry. These topics include:

WSWC Research Update with Program Director Melissa Hanson and Smoke Exposure Research Update from Dr. Tom Collins WSU Wine Chemist and Expert on how Smoke Exposure Impacts Wine Grapes
Washington Wine Institute Update: 2021 Legislative Session, WWI work in the time of COVID, Membership and Financial Updates
Direct-To-Consumer, Online Wine Sales, and Shipping Compliance in the Pandemic and Post Pandemic World
Update on Federal Politics and WA Wine: USPS Shiping Equity Act, Federal Excise Tax Reform Made Permanent, COVID Relief Grants, Cannabis, Immigration Reform and More
Washington Sustainability Certification for Vineyards: What Does this Mean for WA Wineries?

We are allotting 25 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A for each speaker. If you have a specific question for any of our speakers you want to make sure is addressed, please send to us prior to June 22 at ct@wwi.wine.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!!

Red Level Sponsors

White Level Sponsors

2022 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2022-06-22 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Tuesday, June 21, 1-4 PM
WWI Members Only Membership Meeting
RSVP HERE

This year we will again have a fantastic lineup of speakers and are excited to have them join us to educate, update, and inform you on various topics of importance to the Washington Wine Industry. These topics include:

Washington Wine Institute Update: 2022 Legislative Session Outcomes, Membership and Financials, WA Wine License Plate and Event Season Updates
Washington State Labor and Industries: Wine Industry Specific Rules and Regulations Every Winery Needs to Know
WineAmerica Update Federal Politics and WA Wine: USPS Shipping, Federal Cannabis Reform, Ready to Drink Cocktails Positioning, and more
Sustainable WA Update: Washington Sustainability Certification for Vineyards:
Ground2Ground Glass: Presentation on A Closed-Loop Glass Recycling System in Walla Walla and Potential for the Future of Wine Glass Recycling

We are allotting 25 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for Q&A for each speaker. If you have a specific question for any of our speakers you want to make sure is addressed, please send to us prior to June 21 at ct@wwi.wine.

Our annual membership meeting is for WWI members only. If you are interested in joining WWI, please contact Josh at josh@wwi.wine, or sign up here

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!!
Red Level

Be Confident, Be Compliant Webinar
2022-07-19 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Tuesday July 19th 9-10:45 am
WSLCB and TTB Webinar for WA Wineries
Presented in Partnership by: Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers Association
The Washington Wine Institute and Winegrowers are partnering to make both Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulatory experts accessible to you. This webinar will break down top compliance issues with the goal of making lawful operations easier to understand and implement! We’ll also review recent legislation and rule changes.
You can submit anonymous questions in advance! Submit your questions at time of registration or send them to josh@wwi.wine or sara@wawinegrowers.org.
$20 for members of WWI or WA Winegrowers Association
$40 for non-members
Registration is below. Once registration is processed, each participant will receive a link to the zoom webinar via email on Friday July 15th

Terms and Conditions Cancellation Policy: Attendee cancelation 7 days or more in advance of event, will be refunded less a 10% administration fee per attendee. Cancelations within 7 days of event will not be refunded.

Washington Wine Institute Annual Sponsor:

Washington Winegrowers Association Annual Partners:

Taste Washington Weekend
2023-03-11 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Lumen Field Event Center
Taste Washington returns in March 2023!

Taste Washington is the nation’s largest single-region wine and food festival. We have so many ways for you to discover and celebrate our beautiful state.

Join us at The Grand Tasting on March 11 & 12 at the Lumen Field Event Center where we feature 200+ wineries and 50+ restaurants! Be sure to check out our lineup of Signature Events where we create unique experiences around wine and food. Cheers!

March 11th & 12th, 2023

2:00-5:00pm

1:00-5:00pm with VIP Ticket

Last Day to Apply for the Washington Hospitality Grant Program
2023-04-06 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
The Washington Hospitality Grant Program – brought to you by the Washington State Department of Commerce – is now accepting applications.

This program will award one-time grants to eligible restaurants, hotels, motels, and other small hospitality businesses in Washington State that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Begin your application for a Washington Hospitality Grant!

Restaurants, bars, caterers, food trucks, bakeries, lodging businesses and other small hospitality organizations are eligible to apply for a one-time grant award. Use the application checklist to guide you through the application process and APPLY NOW.
The portal will be open for 24 days. It will open the morning of March 14, 2023, and will close on April 6, 2023 at 5:00 PM PT.
Our goal is to reach as many eligible businesses as possible who could benefit from this grant!

Woodinville Wine Country Hospitality Job Fair
2023-04-17 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Sparkman Cellars, 14300 NE 145th St. #102, Woodinville, WA, 98072, United States
12:00-4:00 p.m.

Meet and interview with wineries and other hospitality businesses that are looking to fill permanent positions, temporary/seasonal positions, or internship openings in the Greater Woodinville Area. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Participating Wineries Include: Novelty Hill-Januik Winery, Sparkman Cellars, Love That Red Winery, DeLille Cellars, Ste Michelle Wine Estates, Bayernmoor Cellars, Matthews & Jaine Cottage, Cave B Estate Winery, Latta Wines, Milbrandt Vineyards, and more!

Learn more & RSVP at woodinvillewinecountry.com/jobs

WineAmerica Spring 2023 National Wine Policy Conference
2023-05-09 09:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | WineAmerica, 200 Mass. Ave. NW, DC
WineAmerica returns to to Washington DC for our annual National Wine Policy Conference this May 9-10th. The conference combines learning, advocacy, and networking. Taking place at WineAmerica’s office, minutes away from Capitol Hill, this meeting is the industry’s major opportunity to make its voice heard.

The two-day agenda will feature speakers and presentations on the politics and policies affecting our industry. It includes business meetings of the WineAmerica Board of Directors and the State and Regional Association Advisory Council (SRAAC), and a wine reception for all attendees. The policy-focused conference is your opportunity to make a difference regarding the laws that affect you.

All WineAmerica members are encouraged to attend. Members of the Wine Growers of America and National Grape Research Alliance are also welcome to register.
Leadership ● Policy ● Grassroots ● Advocacy ● Regulation ● Legislation •
Taxes ● Trade ● Ag Labor ● Music Licensing ● Government Funding

Register

2023 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2023-06-13 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
WWI Members Only Membership Meeting

The Washington Wine Institute Annual Membership Meeting is happening via webinar on June 13! We invite you to save the date and register here.
Join us and industry partners including WineAmerica, Sovos ShipCompliant, and Oregon Beverage and Recycling Cooperative, to hear the latest insights and information pertinent to your winery.

This year’s meeting will focus on some complex topics currently facing the wine industry including nutritional labeling and music licensing for your winery and wine events. We will also have the latest on the Farm Bill and USPS shipping.

Michael Kaiser, WineAmerica

Please take a moment to think about any questions or concerns you might have around these topics as Michael Kaiser and Tara Good of WineAmerica will be present to address them during the Q&A portion of the meeting. You may also include any questions you have on the sign up form here.

Tara Good, WineAmerica

The meeting will also feature a DtC shipping compliance presentation from WWI annual sponsor Sovos ShipCompliant and their Regulatory General Counsel Alex Koral. He will provide the latest state-by-state updates as well as basic need to know topics on how to protect your winery license and make sure you understand laws and rules regarding Direct-to-Consumer shipping.

Alex Koral, Sovos ShipCompliant

Eric Chambers, Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative

A complete overhaul of our state’s recycling system continues to be a growing conversation in Olympia. We are looking to Oregon for ideas for a working bottle deposit program for the Washington wine industry. To learn more about Oregon’s approach and how it might work in our state, we are excited to have a representative from Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative join us for our Annual Membership Meeting and speak directly to these topics as well as answer all your questions.

We are allotting five minutes of Q&A for each speaker. If you have a specific question for any of our speakers you want to make sure is addressed, please include it on your registration form prior to June 13.

The annual membership meeting is a Washington Wine Institute member benefit. Any wineries, partners, or suppliers to the industry that may be interested in attending and are not currently members may be referred to Membership and Programs Manager Marie Schurk at marie@wwi.wine. Thank you!

2023 Be Confident, Be Compliant Webinars
2023-07-19 09:00 - 2023-07-26 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Be Confident, Be Compliant
WSLCB and TTB Webinar for WA Wineries

Presented in Partnership by: Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers Association

Date: Wednesday, July 19 (TTB)
And
Wednesday, July 26 (WSLCB)
Time: 9:00am-10:45am
Location: Zoom Webinars
Registration: Members: $20 (package deal—includes both webinars and recording)
Non-Members:$40 (package deal—includes both webinars and recording)
Washington Wine Institute Members contact marie@wwi.wine for the member code.

Register Here.

If you are a Winegrowers member, please login with your membership credentials. If you are a Washington Wine Institute member, please contact marie@wwi.wine, directly for your discount code. You will receive a Zoom link in advance of the webinar to the email you provided.

The Washington Wine Institute and Washington Winegrowers Association are partnering to make both Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulatory experts accessible to you. This webinar will break down top compliance issues with the goal of making lawful operations easier to understand and implement! We’ll also review recent legislation and rule changes. And, you can submit your questions in advance to be asked anonymously! Submit your questions at time of registration or send them to josh@wwi.wine or sara@wawinegrowers.org.

Nancy Lalic, TTB Auditor, Will cover Federal laws and regulations that the wineries are subject to. She will also discuss how TTB interacts with industry, product integrity, tax audits and best practice including data collection and record keeping.

The WSLCB speakers, will cover current wine legislation, permitting, compliance, and enforcement issues.
Joining us from the WSLCB are:

Heidi Braley, Licensing

Lt. Bob Knowles, Enforcement

Beth Lehman, Customer Service

Terms and Conditions: Cancellation Policy: Attendee cancelation 7 days or more in advance of event, will be refunded less a 10% administration fee per attendee. Cancelations within 7 days of event will not be refunded.
Washington Wine Institute Annual Association Sponsor

DtC Compliance Partner of the Washington Wine Institute
Washington Winegrowers Association Annual Partners

Auction of WA Wines Winemaker Picnic and Barrel Auction
2023-08-11 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Chateau Ste Michelle Winery, Woodinville
Join our largest wine and culinary event on the beautiful grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle! You’ll get an opportunity to meet winemakers, or you can choose from over 100 wines at the tasting bars. Try your hand at a game of chance or step up to place your name on the board to bid on a case from 30 Washington wineries in the Barrel Auction.

Date: August 11, 2023

5:00-8:00pm

California Bottle Bill Webinar
2024-02-01 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Address all of your need-to-knows about the California Bottle Bill during Washington Wine Institute’s upcoming webinar featuring attorneys and experts in the alcohol industry at Foster Garvey PC. Last year California added wine and spirits bottles to California’s beverage container recycling program. Starting January 1, 2024, every Washington winery that ships wine to California needs to register with California’s CalRecycle, file monthly reports, and pay processing fees as wine is shipped into their state. Also, starting July 1, 2025, wine bottle labels for wine in California will be required to include CRV, or California Redemption Value. Our Association legal team of expert alcohol attorneys from Foster Garvey PC Emily Gant and Adena Santiago will detail the recent changes, products subject to the new requirements, the required markings and labels, how to register for the program, and more.
RSVP by emailing marie@wwi.wine.
You will receive the Zoom link and information to your email.

Emily is a shareholder in the Hospitality, Travel & Tourism practice, where she works as an alcohol beverage and cannabis attorney. Emily serves as the Chair of the Commercial, IP & Tech Transactions practice at Foster Garvey PC in Seattle. She counsels wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, hotels and other retailers on liquor licensing, trade practice compliance, distribution issues, contracts, dispute resolution and other liquor-related matters. She is also the Chair of the Cannabis practice, where she advises licensed producers, processors, retailers and ancillary service providers. Like alcohol, cannabis is a highly regulated industry. Emily helps clients structure their business entities, contracts and strategic partnerships to ensure compliance with Washington’s complex regulatory scheme. Emily was recently named to the National Law Journal’s 2022 Cannabis Law Trailblazers List. An Oregon native, Emily graduated with honors in History from Whitman College in 1999 and received her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2004.

Adena Santiago is Counsel at Foster Garvey PC in their Washington DC office. Adena advises companies on the three tiers of the alcohol beverage industry – licensing, labeling and compliance – and has industry experience with the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and in all 50 states, which is critical in the heavily regulated sector. For nearly two decades, Adena has counseled clients on liquor licensing and compliance, representing distillers, hotels, restaurants, brewers, wineries and distributors that need licenses to launch or expand their businesses. She also advises clients on labeling and formulation regulations, marketing and advertising compliance, franchise protection, and all manner of industry related agreements. She has extensive knowledge concerning licensing violations and transactions involving licensed businesses in the industry. Adena works to ensure the long-term stability of her clients’ businesses by anticipating issues likely to arise, and works hand-in-hand with clients to verify they are properly licensed and in compliance with all government rules as they grow, expand and change their business models and reach.

L&I Business Essentials for Wineries Webinar
2024-05-15 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
L&I Business Essentials for Wineries Webinar
Address common small business questions on workplace rights, workers’ compensation, safety consultations and more during the L&I Business Essentials for Wineries Webinar.

L&I experts will provide an overview of the business requirements and resources essential to your winery and answer your questions following the presentation, free to all Washington State wineries. Register today at the link below. You will receive the webinar link and information to your email prior to the webinar. To view the L&I Business Essentials page, click here.

Mark Your Calendars!
Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Time: 10:00- 10:30 a.m.
Register for the free webinar here.

Andrew Bryan, L&I

Andrew Bryan is the Small Business Liaison and manager of the Small Business Office at the Department of Labor & Industries, which is dedicated to assisting small business owners navigate state government regulations and requirements. He has been with the agency for seven years, providing direct customer assistance, training, customized presentations, and publishing the quarterly Small Business Newsletter. He is a recovering archaeologist that enjoys long strolls in the forest and ruthlessly subjecting people to dad jokes.

WWI 2024 Virtual Annual Membership Meeting
2024-06-26 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. via virtual meeting

We invite members to join us and industry partners including WineAmerica, California Wine Institute and WineDirect, to hear the latest on direct-to-consumer sales trends, consumer and policy-focused wine messaging, and legislative and regulatory updates impacting your winery.

Register Here

WWI 2024 Legislative Session Review

The Washington Wine Institute will provide an in-depth update on successes and challenges during the 2024 legislative session, detailing any major topics impacting the wine industry, including:

.05 BAC: A bill to lower the state’s blood alcohol concentration level for driving from .08 to .05 was again introduced for the second consecutive year. Washington Wine Institute’s leadership along with a coalition of partners in the hospitality and beverage industries, resulted in this bill failing to receive enough support to pass the Senate. We continue to encourage support from all WA wineries by becoming WWI members in preparation to build our messaging in opposition to this bill next year.
EPR and Bottle Deposit Program: An effort to overhaul the state’s waste management and recycling systems to create an OR-style beverage container return system died on the House floor due to strong opposition from stakeholders.
Emergency Permit: Creates temporary retail space sharing for wineries/breweries/distilleries in times of man-made or natural disaster emergencies.

WineAmerica 2024 Federal Laws and Rules Updates

This year’s meeting will focus on some complex topics currently facing the wine industry including nutritional labeling, ingredient labeling and music licensing for your winery and wine events. We will also have the latest on the Farm Bill and USPS shipping.

Michael Kaiser, WineAmerica

Tara Good, WineAmerica
Please take a moment to think about any questions or concerns you might have around these topics as Michael Kaiser and Tara Good of WineAmerica will be present to address them during the Q&A portion of the meeting. You may also include any questions you have on the sign up form here.

2024 Direct-to-Consumer Sales Analysis and Key Strategies

Analyzing Q1 2024 direct-to-consumer sales data, this presentation highlights Washington wineries’ successes compared to other regions and identifies areas for improvement. Kari will offer actionable strategies for wineries to enhance their performance and achieve a strong finish in the second half of 2024.

Kari Scott, WineDirect

An Introduction to the New Initiative Engaging Wine Consumers

Honore Comfort, California Wine Institute
During a time of increasing headwinds for the wine sector, the California Wine Institute (Wine Institute) is undertaking a significant initiative to develop a new narrative for the wine category for both consumers and policy makers. The focus of the initiative is to engage with younger LDA consumers as well as communicate the positive and unique aspects of wine to government stakeholders. Wine Institute is looking for WA, OR, and NY to join them in tackling these challenges.

Hear from Wine Institute Vice President, International Marketing Honore Comfort on the efforts to reach consumers and Vice President, Federal & lnt’I Public Policy Charles Jefferson on the policy side of this initiative.

Charles Jefferson, California Wine Institute

We are allotting five minutes of Q&A for each speaker. If you have a specific question for any of our speakers you want to make sure is addressed, please include them on your registration form prior to June 26.

The annual membership meeting is a Washington Wine Institute member benefit. Any wineries, partners, or suppliers to the industry that may be interested in attending and are not currently members may be referred to Membership and Programs Manager Marie Schurk at marie@wwi.wine. Thank you!

A big Thank You to 2024 meeting sponsors
