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APRIL NEWS state's industry painted a picture of growth. The latest govern- ment figures showed Washington harvesting a record 160,000 tons in 2010, while figures from WinesVinesDATA indicated the number of wineries in the state had grown to 647, up from 593 in April 2010. The figures cast a bright light on an industry that's been dogged by the shadows of a recession and other symptoms of hard times, even as its ascendance on the world stage has progressed. While wineries shut last year as economic woes shook the indus- Washington Wine Industry Grows K Record harvest boosts attendance at annual convention ennewick, Wash.—As a record 1,700 attendees headed for the annual meeting of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers (WAWGG) Feb. 8-11, new data on the try, and one vineyard reported the theft of grapes (a mystery still unsolved, yet perhaps the most malicious sort of compliment one could receive), new entrants show that prospects for Washington's wine industry remain strong. Rising production is driven by a growth in red varieties—es- pecially Cabernet Sauvignon, which grabbed ground from white varieties. Riesling tops the state's production with 33,500 tons, according to National Agricultural Statistical Service figures, but Cabernet Sauvignon is close behind at 31,900 tons. But more important to growers (and their bankers), prices re- bounded in 2010 after a slump in 2009. While the average price per ton for all varieties hit $1,030 in the state during 2008, it Washington State April 2010 Washington State February 2011 Columbia Valley February 2011 Yakima Valley February 2011 251 53 Source: WinesVInesDATA winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Washington grows." dipped to $989 per ton in 2009 but hit a new high of $1,040 per ton last year. Despite financial changes that have reached every corner of the state, the make-up of the industry is virtually unchanged, accord- ing to Vicky Scharlau, executive director of WAWGG. "Compo- sition has not changed in the industry, nor has the composition of our attendees," she told Wines & Vines in the run-up to the WAWGG meeting. (For more information about the annual meet- ing, see pages 28-29.) —Peter Mitham Washington Wineries by the Numbers 593 647 "Rack-Master" Winning Over Winemakers Throughout North America with Proven Results! "Rack-Master has exceeded our expectations. We are amazed at the plastic barrel rack's stacking strength and durability. " Paul Pender, Head Winemaker, Tawse Winery "Spectacular! We like the rust resistance of the plastic design, and the fact that the barrels are much easier to rotate for cleaning purposes". Milt McPherson, Owner/Winemaker, Hunting Creek Vineyards "The Rack-Master's lighter weight makes it easier to handle within our cellar, and they don't rust or leave rust spots on our cellar floor." Joe Herman, Owner/Winemaker, Karma Vista Vineyards sales@snydernet.com • Phone: 1-888-422-8683 • Fax: 402-465-1220 20 Wines & Vines APRiL 201 1 www.snydernet.com Rack-Master