A History of Success
In the early 1940s, WSU bought an orchard and vineyard in Wenatchee from a certain Mrs. Mihelich. As part of the deal, WSU personnel would harvest the fruits of the land, sell them, and give her the money. In 1948, the orchard superintendent wrote Mrs. Mihelich an apologetic note: WSU could not sell her abundant crop of Zinfandel grapes because “there has been no demand for wine grapes.” Fortunately, the superintendent was able to enclose a check for sales of other of Mrs. Mihelich’s fruit, including apples and pears.
Fast forward to the late 1960s, when Americans were being introduced to European-style wines and a few California giants dominated the market. In Washington, the situation was dire, as protectionist laws kept California wines out of the state and strangled the growth of a regional market for varietals. In 1969, though, the Washington state legislature held hearings with an eye to overturning the restrictive laws.
Testifying before the legislature were two WSU scientists: horticulturist Walter Clore, and food scientist and enologist Chas Nagel. Yes, said Clore, the Washington climate was well suited to the growing of premium grapes. Clore knew of where he spoke, as he had been growing varietals in Prosser since the 1930s. And yes, said Nagel, the grapes are of a quality to make Washington wines competitive with any in the world. Nagel, too, knew what he was talking about: Clore had first convinced him to try his hand at making wine in the early 1960s.
The state legislature unleashed the market and, within a few years, Washington wines were selling all across America. From half a dozen wineries selling a few tens of thousands of cases in the early seventies, the state now boasts the second largest industry in North America, with more than 600 wineries and an economic impact of more than $3 billion per year.
More on the History of Success
1969: The Year that Changed the Washington Wine Industry
Wine Pioneer Ray Folwell Retires after 39 years