05/18/06 Wine Expo (Pt.2)

Washington Wine Expo. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Last week the Washington Wine Commission played host to over 65 international wine industry guests playing a little show and tell with Washington wine industry. Robin Pollard is the Executive Director of the Wine Commission. POLLARD: Well it's an opportunity for us to do what we call a reverse trade mission to bring the marketplace to the Washington wine industry and we firmly believe, and it's been proven true based on sales information over the past several years that it is very, very effective to give them a first hand look and feel and taste of the wine product. It is such a selling point when they can actually meet the winemaker, get out into the vineyard and taste the product. And the whole purpose is to really open up additional markets for Washington wines. The export market is a growing importance of our industry and again this is an opportunity to increase sales. Pollard says they'll be traveling to Hong Kong next week to exhibit Washington Wines. The Washington Wine Commission is responsible for the promotion and development of the Washington wine industry. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.