2021 consumer trends in Washington wine

What follows is an excerpt from an article published in Washington Tasting Room Magazine. 

Glancing back, last year was certainly one defined by challenges. First there was the pandemic, with wineries scrambling to adjust to a radically changed landscape. Almost overnight, they needed to find new ways to engage their customers and sell wine, changes that were compounded by sharp reductions in restaurant sales and the number of people traveling to wine country. Then after a near ideal growing season, wildfire smoke blanketed the state right in the middle of harvest.

Despite it all, many wineries found creative ways to not only survive 2020 but to thrive. Additionally, while the smoke no doubt added to the stress of the year, most winemakers are cautiously optimistic they dodged serious issues. Harvest numbers reportedly dipped below 200,000 tons for the first time since 2012, due in part to a combination of unrelated factors involving both Mother Nature and market changes.

Some are even saying the 2020 vintage is shaping up to be one of Washington’s best in recent years. After a year no one will forget, we can all toast to that. As we rise to new challenges in 2021, here are the latest consumer wine trends.

Read the full article here. 

Photo by Brittany Komm. 

Bloom begins in eastern Washington

Bloom has begun in the Columbia Valley. Sagemoor Vineyards reports seeing bloom in Chardonnay at its Wienbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope today, May 17th. Bloom took place on this same date in 2020. 

Here's a look at recent bloom dates for this vineyard and variety:

2021: May 17

2020: May 17

2019: May 24
2018: May 17

2017: May 27

2016: May 5

2015: May 14

Image courtesy of Sagemoor Vineyards.

Pic of the Vine May 2021

This month’s Pic of the Vine salutes Marie-Eve Gilla, director of viticulture and winemaking for Valdemar Estates. She was recently selected as the 2021 Auction of Washington Wines Honorary Vintner. Captured here by contributing photographer Richard Duval, Gilla has long been one of the brightest stars in the Washington wine sky.

“I photographed Marie-Eve early on in my wine photographer career,” noted Duval, “and I was instantly enamored with her energy, her dry wit and of course her winemaking magic. Over a decade later, she remains a favorite subject – different settings but always Marie-Eve." 

Read more about the Auction of Washington Wines here.

Desert Wind Winery purchased by Lawrence and Merkle families

Today the Lawrence and Merkle families, two prominent growers in eastern Washington, announced the purchase of Yakima Valley’s Desert Wind Winery.

“We think it’s kind of a diamond in the rough so to speak,” says Josh Lawrence, CEO of Lawrence Enterprises and managing partner of Gård Vintners and Lawrence Vineyards. “The winery has this uniqueness, with its Southwestern feel and appeal.”

Located overlooking the Yakima River, Desert Wind is distinct in that the Southwest-inspired building not only includes a winery and tasting room, it also has a large event space, restaurant, spa, and overnight guest rooms.

“That idea of coming in and staying on-site and really getting the Washington wine experience, I think has a lot of legs,” says Lawrence.

In 2020, the Lawrence and Merkle families purchased Desert Wind’s 480 acre eponymous estate property on the Wahluke Slope. Having purchased well-regarded Connor Lee Vineyard in 2019, the two families now own over 1,100 acres in the Columbia Valley.

With the purchase, Matías Kúsulas was named winemaker at Desert Wind. A Chilean native, Kúsulas brings an impressive resumé that includes master’s degrees in enology and viticulture from Montpelier and Bordeaux. Kúsulas has worked in Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, Châteauneuf-du-pape, and Côte Rôtie.

In 2016, Kúsulas moved to Washington and subsequently worked his way from enologist up to production manager and viticulturalist at A. Morrell Wines and M&L Production. He has also served as viticulturalist for Wautoma Springs Vineyard and head viticulturalist for Lawrence Vineyards on the Royal Slope.

“For me, it's just an honor,” Kúsulas says of becoming Desert Wind’s winemaker. “We'll be able to work directly with the vineyards we manage to bring fruit into this building and make a great product. I’m excited.”

In addition to his work at Desert Wind, Kúsulas also has his own brands Valo Cellars and Massalto. Both share a recently opened tasting room in Vancouver, Washington.

Founded in 2001 by the Fries family, Desert Wind Winery makes approximately 11,000 cases annually.

Photo by Lynn Howlett courtesy of Desert Wind Winery