YAKIMA, Wash. ” The good news keeps coming for Washington's grape growers and winemakers: A new study shows the industry contributed $3 billion to the state's economy in 2006.
Industry leaders say the report released Thursday confirms that the state's wine industry is leading to increased visibility for Washington's wines and driving efforts to tout the state as a tourism destination.
"One of the important messages is the fact that we need to routinely measure ourselves and stand up and be counted," said Vicky Scharlau, executive director of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers. "Without this kind of proof of our economic impact to the state, it's difficult to continue growing."
Washington's wine industry has exploded in the past two decades, from fewer than 20 wineries in 1981 to more than 500 today.
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