The research part of the assessment will be used to improve and expedite the process of making new varieties available, Burns said. Washington has a quarantine rule, and new wine grape root stock must be tested before growers can plant a new variety. She said so many factors affect the price of wine, that the extra assessment alone probably won't change the cost to consumers. And the assessment is equitable, she said. Kris Watkins, executive director of the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, said the new assessment dovetails with her efforts to attract more visitors.
People conjure up an image of rolling vineyards, wine-tasting rooms, beautiful weather.
That's certainly the image I like to have portrayed of the Tri-Cities. The visitor bureau is a key part of the second Washington Wine Tourism workshop Wednesday in Yakima. The session is on how wineries, hotels, restaurants, other businesses and tourism officials can work together to attract visitors. Call the bureau at 735-8486 for more information. That's why we're doing this.