OLYMPIA—Washingtonians in many parts of the state will soon be able to sample some of Washington’s award-winning wines and microbrews at a nearby farmers market.
Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed into law a measure by state Rep. Phyllis Gutiérrez Kenney (D-Seattle) that would allow up to 10 farmers markets across Washington to have at least six days of tastings, with each day being limited to products from a single winery or microbrewery.
“These tastings will provide another way to promote Washington’s wonderful wines and microbrews and all the jobs they support,” said Kenney.
House Bill 1172 builds in several safeguards to avoid potential problems at the beer and wine tastings, including limits on advertising and the size of samples, and a requirement that servers have a Mandatory Alcohol Server Training permit from the state. Customers would only be allowed to sample the beer or wine in the booth or stall where it is offered.
“Many Washingtonians don’t realize that our wines and beers are an important part of our economy and rank with the best in the world in terms of quality,” said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle), who sponsored a companion bill, Senate Bill 5029, in the Senate. “Once people get a taste of Washington’s wines and craft brews, the products practically sell themselves.”
Washington has over 700 wineries and well over 40,000 acres of wine grapes, according to the Washington Wine Commission. The Washington Beer Commission web site notes that more than 100 craft breweries are operating in Washington State.
The beer and wine tasting bill won broad support in public hearings from farmers and representatives of Washington’s beer and wine industries, including the Washington Wine Institute, Washington Brewers Guild and the Washington Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association.
Wade Bennett, who owns Rockridge Farms in Enumclaw, told lawmakers that people are reluctant to buy fine wines they haven’t tasted and that Kenney’s bill would be particularly helpful at a time when the recession has hurt sales of wines costing above $10 to $12.
“We think it’s very important to our prosperity and to most of the other small wineries that we know,” Bennett said.
Beer and wine are currently sold in about half of Washington’s farmers markets. The sampling days would take place between September, 2011, and November, 2012.
“Washington wines and beers support jobs in every corner of our state, and we believe these tastings will lead to even more jobs in the years ahead,” said Kenney.