650 and Growing

650 and Growing. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The Washington wine industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and producing a lot of award winning wines. Gary Werner, Communications Manager with the Washington Wine Industry says that 650 was just a brief stopping point. WERNER: The winery numbers in particular don't seem to be abating. Our current number is 671 and that has grown consistently and it's just been a constant growth cycle where we're basically adding a winery every week. The economy has taken its toll though. WERNER: It is a difficult time in the economy for many different industries so I shouldn't paint it as a purely rosy picture. Things are generally going very well but there are challenges. People who are trying to sell their wine in other states through distributors find that very hard right now but on the other side of the coin through direct sales through tasting rooms or mail order clubs seem to be doing very, very well indeed. But Werner says even in this tight economy a lot of people are discovering Washington wines. WERNER: I think price is also an issue. Washington represents very good value in the wine category and people are recognizing this now after coming out of a cycle in which people spent fairly freely on wine, they're watching what they spend when it comes to recreation or discretionary spending with a close eye now and that's making Washington shine in a way that maybe it hadn't in the past for some people. People have discovered Washington wine around the country. More tomorrow. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Info Network.