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24 WINES&VINES February 2017 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS _Publicite_Vineyard-F.indd 1 17-12-15 9:59 AM NORTHWEST Astrophysicist turned winemaker releases new wines Don Hagge, a retired NASA as- trophysicist and founder of Vidon Vineyard winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, released three new wines that honor iconic space programs. The wines include the 2015 Explorer Tem- pranillo, 2015 Saturn Syrah and 2015 Apollo Chardonnay. Accord- ing to a news release announc- ing the wines, Hagge designed, engineered and tested radiation- detecting equipment for many of NASA's most high-profile mis- sions between 1964 and 1970. Hagge founded Vidon Vineyard in 1999 at the age of 69. Winemaker promotion at Reustle-Prayer Rock Wade Smith was promoted to associate winemaker at Reustle- Prayer Rock Vineyards in Rose- burg, Ore. Smith has been with the winery for four years and most recently held the position of as- sistant winemaker. "I am blessed to have Wade working with me. He is instrumental in my decision- making process, and I have come to rely on his skills on a daily basis," said owner and winemaker Stephen M. Reustle. Wineries to move into Kennewick development Two Washington state wineries have plans to move into the Co- lumbia Gardens development on the bank of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Wash. Palencia Wine Co. in Walla Walla, Wash., and Bartholomew Winery in Seattle will occupy the first phase of the development. The Port of Ken- newick's lease agreements with Bartholomew and Palencia bring the long-standing vision for Co- lumbia Gardens to fruition after years of planning. Three winery incubator buildings of 3,200 to 3,600 square feet were originally set for completion and occu- pancy by July 2015. However, construction began in October 2016, and occupancy is now set for summer 2017. CENTRAL Michigan law limits retailer shipments Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law a bill that allows the state's retailers to ship wine directly to consumers but forbids out-of-state retailers from doing the same. The legislation was backed by the state's beer and wine wholesalers. The new law allows retailers to use FedEx and UPS to make wine deliveries and bars consumers from using those companies to deliver wine from stores in other states. EAST Long Island winery owner dies in car accident Jason Damianos, owner and winemaker at Jason's Vineyard in Jamesport, N.Y., died of inju- ries from a car crash on Dec. 30, 2016, in Riverhead, N.Y. Damia- nos, 49, was also the director of winemaking at Pindar Vineyards, one of the oldest and largest wineries on Long Island. A grad- uate with a degree in business from the University of Hartford, Damianos also earned an enol- ogy degree from California State University, Fresno, and studied at the University of Bordeaux. Jason's Vineyard in Jamesport, founded by Damianos in 1996, currently has 20 acres of vine- yard and produces 3,500 cases per year. The Damianos family, which also owns Duck Walk Vineyard, plans to take over the operation of Jason's Vineyard. Don Hagge