In this issue...
Noteworthy (FREE ARTICLES)
-Winegrowers 2025 Awards Recipients
-A Special Partner Announcement from Good Fruit Grower
Policy + Politics
Sustainability in WA (FREE ARTICLES)
-Sustainable WA 2026 Registration Opens March 1
-Sustainable WA Registration Kickoff Event – March 25
Is Your Business in Compliance?
-Restoring Integrity to Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)
Around the Industry
-Beetle Blast--Japanese Beetle Update from WSDA
-From the Washington Wine Industry Foundation
-From Washington State University
Winegrowers Upcoming Events
Membership Spotlight (FREE ARTICLES)
Noteworthy
Winegrowers 2025 Awards Recipients
At the 2025 WineVit celebration, the Washington Wine Industry Foundation and Winegrowers Association honored five outstanding leaders for their impact on Washington wine. Victor Palencia received the Grand Vin Award for his innovative winemaking and growing influence, while Mike Means and Melissa Hansen earned Industry Service Awards for their leadership, research advocacy, and industry advancement. Ryan Flanagan was named Grower of the Year for his exceptional viticulture, and Marty Clubb received the Lifetime Achievement Award for decades of visionary leadership and global recognition in Washington wine.
A Special Partner Announcement from Good Fruit Grower
Good Fruit Grower, serving Washington’s grape and tree fruit growers for 80 years, delivers research, industry news, and practical insights on topics from pest management to new technologies. At WineVit, speakers highlighted consumer misconceptions about added sugar in wine and shifting market demand. Association members can subscribe at a discounted rate for print and full online access.
Policy + Politics
Industry News From Olympia
After House of Origin cutoff, 80+ House bills died—though budget-related measures remain alive—as surviving bills race toward the March 25 deadline. Winegrowers are tracking key ag, alcohol, labor, and environmental bills, celebrating the defeat of a major ag labor measure while opposing others like the .05 BAC proposal. Meanwhile, a new WSDA report shows Washington ranks 50th in net farm revenue, intensifying concerns about ag viability.
Industry News From D.C.
Congress finalized most FY26 appropriations, funding TTB and blocking FDA enforcement of new winegrape Produce Safety rules, while a DHS funding lapse triggered a partial shutdown. USDA opened $1B in specialty crop aid (deadline March 13) as Farm Bill drafts boost research, insurance, and disaster tools for growers. Meanwhile, a Supreme Court tariff ruling sparked new global tariffs and renewed trade tensions.
Sustainability in WA
Sustainable WA 2026 Registration Opens March 1
Sustainable WA’s 2026 certification cycle opens March 1 (applications due May 15), offering growers a structured, Washington-built framework to demonstrate credible sustainability practices and prepare for audits.
Sustainable WA Registration Kickoff Event – March 25
Sustainable WA will host a 2026 Registration Kickoff on March 25, offering growers an in-person overview of program updates, key deadlines, QLBS improvements, and audit expectations. Returning and prospective participants are encouraged to attend to get questions answered early and prepare for a successful certification cycle.
Is Your Business In Compliance?
Restoring Integrity to Issuance of Non-Domiciled Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDL)
A new federal rule effective March 16, 2026 updates eligibility requirements for certain non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses. Meanwhile, Washington’s new “Washington Saves” retirement program launches in July 2027, requiring certain employers without qualified plans to facilitate employee access through payroll deductions, with no employer fees or fiduciary liability.
Around the Industry
Beetle Blast--Japanese Beetle Update from WSDA
From the Washington Wine Industry Foundation
From Washington State University
Join the March 2 presentation of Martin Churuvija, a candidate for Assistant Professor in Smart Machine and Robotics Systems Engineering at WSU, as he shares research on robotic automation for specialty crop production, including pruning, thinning, and harvest systems.
Winegrowers Upcoming Events
New Calendar of Events Feature
The Washington Winegrowers Association calendar now features partner events from nonprofit, academic, and government organizations, highlighting educational opportunities in viticulture and enology across Washington and beyond. Visit the calendar to see upcoming events—or submit your own industry event for approval directly through the site.
Did you miss the WAVEx webinar on January 21—Preparing for Drought: Does it make sense to drop fruit?
Check out the recording here.
Member Spotlight
Meet the Grower—Dineen Vineyards
Perched in the Rattlesnake Hills near Zillah, Dineen Vineyards is a family-owned, nearly 100-acre estate dedicated to thoughtful farming and premium wine grape production. Founded in 2001, the vineyard combines distinctive soils, south-facing elevation, and hands-on care to grow primarily Bordeaux and Rhône varieties. Certified Sustainable under Lodi Rules and Sustainable WA, the Dineen family prioritizes stewardship, quality, and long-term viability.