That's a wrap on audits for the 2026 season. Thank you to all participants — new and returning — for an incredible summer.
Sustainable WA welcomed 51 participants across Washington's winegrowing regions — including 9 growers joining the program for the first time. Together, they enrolled 190 vineyards spanning 18 American Viticultural Areas, from the Yakima Valley to the Rocks District of Milton Freewater to Lake Chelan and nearly everywhere in between.
Our auditor, Heather Muser, conducted 19 on-site audits across the state this season — visiting vineyards in person to walk the rows, check the chemical shed, talk with workers, and see what was happening on the ground. The remaining participants completed annual desk audits, submitting updated plans and records for remote review as part of the program's three-year audit cycle.
Where the 2026 Season Took Us
The 190 certified vineyards enrolled this year represented some of Washington's most iconic growing regions:
- Yakima Valley — 60 vineyards
- Red Mountain — 21 vineyards
- Rattlesnake Hills — 20 vineyards
- Walla Walla Valley — 18 vineyards
- Columbia Valley — 17 vineyards
- Horse Heaven Hills — 12 vineyards
- Royal Slope — 10 vineyards
- Wahluke Slope — 8 vineyards
- Lake Chelan — 8 vineyards
- Rocks District of Milton Freewater — 6 vineyards
- Plus representation from White Bluffs, Rocky Reach, Ancient Lakes of the Columbia Valley, Candy Mountain, Goose Gap, Beverly, and Puget Sound
What Growers Are Saying
We love what we do, and moments like this remind us why. One of our growers shared this after completing their first audit:
"I don't know if I would quite call an audit 'fun,' but I truly enjoyed the process. We learned a lot and were pleasantly surprised by how much we already had in place going into it."
That's exactly what Sustainable WA is designed to be, a chance to take an honest look at your operation, document the work you're already doing, and identify opportunities to keep improving. The audit process doesn't start from scratch; it meets growers where they are.
What's Next
With the 2026 audit season behind us, the program is already looking ahead. The Technical Committee is finalizing updates to the Sustainable WA Winegrape Standard for the 2027 season, and the Governance Council will review and adopt those changes this fall. We're also planning a new grower orientation event and educational programming for 2027 — more details to come.
If you're a Washington winegrape grower and you've been curious about what certification looks like, there's no better time to reach out. The program is growing, the community is welcoming, and the process — as our growers will tell you — is more approachable than you might expect.
Interested in joining Sustainable WA for the 2027 season? Reach out to Program Manager Nathanial Helligso at nathanial@wawinegrowers.org or by phone at 509.881.1970.
