09/10/07 Red Mountain AVA

Red Mountain AVA. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. In the past, we have talked about one of the newest wine AVA's in Washington State, Red Mountain. It has a great growing climate and is situated in a burgeoning tourism area, the Mid-Columbia. Over the congressional break, Congressman Doc Hastings spent some time touring the area. HASTINGS: That new AVA is one that has tremendous reputation and there's obviously going to be more wine grapes grown I that area and there may be some more wineries growing in that area. I think that because of the quality of product that has come out of that area it certainly enhances our overall wine industry. The Washington wine industry has been growing at a rapid pace and recently surpassed the 500th winery mark. The Red Mountain AVA is also being developed as a tourist destination, part of the so called wine highway. Like many of us Hastings has also sampled a few of the new Red Mountain wines. HASTINGS: I have sampled wines in the past and I will continue to do so, Greg. Okay, I had that coming. But Hastings does say that among his fellows, Washington wines are quite popular. HASTINGS: I get a lot of people back here asking about Washington wines and I say listen, if you can buy any label back here - that is probably a very good wine. Overall, Hastings is enthusiastic about the growth of the wine industry in the state. HASTINGS: It's exciting to see all of this activity going on, it is a way to help diversify our economy and I think that's a plus. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.