3,500 signatures needed for wine license plate
SEATTLE (February 27, 2020) – The Washington Wine Institute, in partnership with the Washington State Wine Commission, is working with prime sponsor Rep. Kelly Chambers (RPuyallup) and lawmakers in Olympia this session to create a specialty license plate. If approved, revenue from the plate would be donated to the Washington Tourism Alliance (WTA) to support tourism efforts throughout the state.
“It would be thrilling to see a license plate to celebrate our state’s world-class wine industry,” said Steve Warner, President of the Washington State Wine Commission. “WTA is a perfect benefactor considering our 1,000+ wineries are a major tourism driver in the Northwest.”
WTA is a membership-based nonprofit organization that was established after the closure of the Washington State Tourism Office in 2011. The organization supports broad tourism economy.
“Through supporting the idea that Washington wine is what our residents should choose first when picking wine, to creating new revenue for the WTA to utilize in telling the country and world to visit Washington’s rural wine regions, the Washington wine specialty license plate is a clear win win for our industry,” said Josh McDonald, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Institute.
The Washington wine industry accounts for $8.4B in-state economic impact including 36,500 related jobs and $2.4B in wine revenue. In 2018, an estimated 2.6 million people visited wineries across the state.
The Washington Wine Institute is currently collecting the 3,500 signatures needed for a new specialty plate as part of the approval process. Click here to sign the petition to push the wine plate forward.
About the Washington State Wine Commission
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, WSWC provides a marketing platform to raise positive awareness about the Washington wine industry and generate greater demand for its wines. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSWC is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987. To learn more, visit www.washingtonwine.org.
About Washington Wine Institute
WWI is the vocal, active, visible advocate and champion of the Washington State wine industry in Olympia and Washington D.C. To propel the industry’s growth, the Washington State Wine Institute acts as the unified voice to seek out and encourage opportunities which enhance the business environment for the Washington State wine industry through proactive government relations in Olympia and Washington, D.C. www.wwi.wine
MEDIA CONTACTS
Heather Bradshaw, Washington State Wine Commission (206) 326-5752 / hbradshaw@washingtonwine.org
Josh McDonald, Washington Wine Institute. (253) 228-1590 / josh@wwi.wine
